If that's what is being aimed for in Brittanies then if I were a Brit breeder I would opt out . I would breed dogs that can do it in practice ,not in theory . I would be very pleased never to win a damn thing in the showring if my dogs had to look like that to do it ! Thank god they don't yet look like that.
They have been bred to resemble this cob for almost 160 years. They should still look like this. Mine do. They win in the show ring and they can hunt as well as any other gundog if not better.
Anyway - enough of this for the moment. Perhaps we can agree that this is beautiful - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb3XAP0c8WU _________________ Aberdon HPR's. Good-looking AND Intelligent.
Nope I've never been hunting on a cob . Been on a carthorse to shoot foxes though ! It was steady to shot thank goodness and made a superb "stalking horse ."
I have also been on an Arab and on a "cold blood" - but I didn't try shooting from their backs !
So why would a stifled gait be wanted in a hunting dog ?
My original brittany bitch would win no shows whatsover now but she did win two trials on grouse moors competing against G.S.P.'s and the other "big boys." She was not "cobby" - she could open out and really run. She had to in those grouse trials . The judge kept her running for 25 minutes on her 1st run - longer than any of the other dogs because he wanted to see if she could keep going - she did and she won. How many "proper or cobby" Brits have won a couple of grouse trials ? I really don't know the answer to that but I don't think there'll be many.
I like dogs that can run with some fluidity - it seems like the brittany is being bred well away from my idea of a good running dog.
Bill T. _________________ Breed for the best - train for the rest.
is being bred well away from my idea of a good running dog.
Not 'IS BEING' - ALWAYS HAS BEEN. Remember Vicky was half American - a different breed altogether nowadays, they have really changed it. _________________ Aberdon HPR's. Good-looking AND Intelligent.
And so have the French . I have seen the old pics of brits - some looked like what you are breeding and some looked like Vicky ...........rather setterish. I prefer the settery type ,you prefer the horsey type. We always have just got to agree to differ.
Bill T. _________________ Breed for the best - train for the rest.
I think a little confusion is creeping in. The Brittany was not a dog that was originally bred for the grouse moor but to work woodland and small pasture. The ability to weave in and out of thickets and around fallen trees, an ability to do that for an extended period. It was developed by a peasant economy for a peasant economy - it therefore had to be a good house dog as there were not always kennels. It was a dog about putting game in the pot not about 'sport'
The fact it is fast and it has endurance and is totally hung up on game finding brought it to a wider audience - it is now the most popular hunting dog in its home country.
If you want manoeuvrable you need short, if you want endurance you need muscle and lung volume.
It's nice if the dog can handle the grouse moors and the close in stuff though Guy . As you say its horses for courses, I just happen to like "dual purpose !"
Bill T. _________________ Breed for the best - train for the rest.
I had two of mine out on heather the other day and was pleased with their performance; I enjoyed watching their two different styles. It was only a 40 min session - but neither stopped; although I think the dog had more still in him at the end than the bitch, but I think he is generally fitter.
I have an invitation to come North and work them your way later this year - am looking forward to that. It is all very well me saying my dogs are good - but much nicer to see them being good alongside other good dogs - that is real pleasure.
Getting back to the thread a bit - these two dogs are of different conformation - it is hard even working them together to separate endurance because of conformation from endurance from physical fitness - I suppose it is an age thing? _________________ Guy; Ellie Topaz Catja. http://www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
An "age thing" is something I have great sympathy for !
I noticed years ago that Vicky the Brittany who when young could easily keep up with G.S.P.'s - or even outrun the less able ones - on a grouse moor was having trouble accepting her age.
I had two G.S.P.'s by then and both of them were "grouse moor dogs." The younger G.S.P. was about 4-5 years younger than Vicky and he happened to be the best running dog I've ever owned . Vicky could never accept being left behind by him .........I eventually ceased to allow her to hunt with him because I think she would have killed herself trying to keep up.
The "age thing" is a bugger .........................
Bill T.
_________________ Breed for the best - train for the rest.
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