I grew up in northern Michigan grouse hunting in the fall. We didn’t have any bird dogs growing up, so we would be busting through the brush ourselves trying to flush some birds. Don’t get me wrong I always had a blast doing that, but getting a bird dog was my biggest dream. I always had a passion for dogs, so to get a dog that I could hunt with was definitely on my priority list.
When I was 14 my parents sold their chicken coop. The couple that came to buy it had 2 French Brittany’s with them. At the time I didn’t know anything about them, as I didn’t know anyone with a bird dog, but I was instantly drawn to them based on looks, and when they told me that they were bird dogs I knew I had to get one.
As soon as they left, I ran inside and starting researching the French Brittany and other bird dogs. I didn’t get my Brittany until I was 24, but from the time I was 14 until 24 I researched everything I possibly could about bird dogs and how to train them.
I was a little biased from early on, so most of my research was geared towards either an American Brittany or French. Everything I researched about the Brittany I knew it would be for me. I wanted a pointing dog, and I liked the smaller build of the Brittany. The only reason I got the American over the French at the time was because I found a breeder that had a litter available and I happened to get first on his list. Their was a lot I still didn’t know before I got my first bird dog, but I knew enough to pick a good breeder, and I spent hours, and I mean tons of time watching youtube on how to train a dog well before I got mine.
Six years later and not a day goes by that I regret my choice. He might not be “perfect” for people that have been around a lot of bird dogs, or for professional trainers, but he is everything I ever dreamed of and he hunts how I think he should. I’m not sure if all Brittany’s are as easy to train as mine was, or if I was lucky with him and with watching youtube for 10 years before getting mine. Outside of hunting he is the most laid back dog, the “on-off” switch is incredible. At home he is constantly in laid back mode, but as soon as we go hunting or he assumes we are he is bouncing off the walls. It’s almost impossible not to want to hunt with him when you see how excited he gets to go.
I’ve learned so much from hunting with him, I couldn’t imagine not owning a bird dog. He has set the bar high for me on my next bird dog, but I know at some point in the near future I will be getting another. I’m still not sure what I will get next. I love everything about my Brittany, but there is so many different breed that a part of me wants to try something new. Part of me wants to get a flusher next, but I absolutely love having a pointing dog. Luckily I still have a couple years to decide.