Hi,

I was just going through the NAVHDA testing manual and noticed it classifies the Brittany as a Versatile hunting dog. I was always under the suspicion that these were outstanding Upland dogs. Are they also used in Waterfowl hunting? My brother's father in law has one. Absolute champion on ruffed grouse, but wouldn't retrieve a duck in toe deep water if it was going to save her life.

Ideas?

Cheers,

The brittany is considered a veratile dog. Funny thing about water though, it's all individual. I've met GSPs who hate water. I've even met labs and goldies that won't go in water.

You might try a wounded duck or pigeon.......they bobble around and intice a young dog in! Next thing is.....IT"S TIME TO GET WET FOR THE BOTH OF YOU!

Some times I would put the owners of the dogs in a paddle boat and make them coax their oowns dogs out......Just have to use a little tricks here and there.

Ad like Mite said......There are some that just flat out wont do it!

Good luck!

Phil
REO

I think the term "versatile" gets used way too loosely. Some people think if their dog points AND retrieves it is versatile. I think versatile goes beyond ducks and pheasants.

MT, where do you see the breaking point between what is versatile and what isn't? I guess my thought was if they can hunt upland (more than just pheasants) and waterfowl (both in field and in water), it is a versatile dog. I was just surprised to see that Brittany's will do this (retrieve in water) on a consistant basis.

Cheers,

I HAVE A BRITTANY THAT I MESSED WITH ABOUT A YEAR TURNING HER LOOSE WITH MY DEER HOUNDS. AT FIRST SHE DIDN'T LIKE WATER AND WOULD GET HUNG UP ON A DITCH OR CANAL AND I WOULD HALF TO GO TO HER. IWOULD GET HER AND HOLD HER BY THE COLLAR KEEPING HER HEAD UP AND SHE WOULD SWIM BACK WITH ME. SHE NOW KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES FOR WATER GOING ANYWHERE MY OTHER HOUNDS GO.

I would expect a "bird" dog to hunt upland and waterfowl, maybe barring a true specialist like an English Pointer. I have shot pheasants that landed in water before, the dog better swim. But a versatile should also hunt fur as well, track, point rabbits, close with and dispatch furred predators, like cats, coons, oppossum, fox. Blood track wounded deer. There are those that use their versatile gun dog for treeing bears and lion, or holding at bay a boar.
Granted you have to look to countries like Germany, where much of this started, and where as a hunters you are virtually obligated to have access to a fully trained utility dog. I know most Americans by far do not push the "fur" part of a versatile breed, they want no part of it. I have no illusions about this. That is what makes certain breed clubs out there special, they are keeping the work on fur in the lines and in the breeds. To each his own. Is my drahthaar a versatile breed? Yes. Is she a versatile dog? Not yet, but we are working on it.

Good luck in trying to getmy setter to sit down even for a few minutes. She'll see wide open spaces and be itching to see what's out there. I also see alot of GSPs bred the same way, hyper.

Well, true. I was thinking even if you were to jump-shoot some ducks. The dog better be heading out after it.

The britts I've seen have also been hyper. As for jump shooting ducks, I guess I could in rare circumstances. But she usually ranges way too far.