by Bill Allen » Fri 27 Nov 2009 7:48 am
Hi again Bill.
I know this is not a recent post of yours but I've only just joined the list & felt I'd like to add my own 2 bobs worth to this one.
I doubt we've got many Britt owners on the list (as they are not usually the dog one would get for 'retrieving' work) so i thought I'd add a Britt owners perspective on this one.
As stated, I am an owner/handler of Britts & as such I believe that 'home management (Ie housing environment, etc) has a very important bearing on how my dogs perform. To me it's an extention of their training.
These dogs aren't great retrievers (although some have a great drive to retrieve - mainly from 1 particular bloodline), but there's the draw - get a Britt with the desire to retrieve (& some others do have little to no desire when it comes to retrieving as we think of it in the context of this list - Lab/Golden/Chessy type retriving work - waterfowling/trialing etc.) & then making even an average retriever of him is a big achivement with this breed that takes quite a lot of thought & work, but it's very rewarding when it is achieved. We've only ever had 2 dogs win at all age NSRT level & never had a RT Ch within the breed - it just ain't their strength.
Britts are very sensitive/intelligent dogs that very quickly learn to 'play you' if they think they can get away with being spoilt & take over the house (& they will). They are not a dog that will allow a great deal of physical chastisement, so it's important to always be 1 step ahead of them by pre-empting their thoughts & cutting off avenues of transgression - even in the yard.
The saying "it's better to avoid a problem then to have to correct it" could very easilly have been coinded by a Britt owner.
'Housing management' has a big impact on their psyche. It let's them know that they are NOT at the top of the pecking order & can't do whatever the hell they want any time they want to.
Don't get me wrong - there's no substitute for correct/consistent training but it can all be bought undone very easilly if the dog thinks he can better you when he's at home. Let em get away with running the house/home & they'll definitely try to run things when you take em out hunting/training. It's just their nature. Great dogs but don't let em get the drop on you or you'll forever be chasing em trying to play 'catch up'.
Bill Allen