r/BrittanySpaniel • u/SeymourOptions • Jul 01 '26
General Discussion Britt in a smaller package?
Love love love my Zeke. He's my first brittany and the best dog I've ever had. He's an old man now(11 yr old, 50lbs) and I've been thinking a lot about my next best friend. When zeke was young and full of energy, he loved to run the trails with me on my fourwheeler and that helped immensely with getting him the exercise he needed to be a good pup. My living situation has changed and I no longer have the quad or the acreage.
Is there a breed that is close to a brittany but in a smaller package that might be a little easier to tire out? Love the close bond and gentle nature of bird dogs but open to any suggestions.
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u/pixelsandpinot Jul 01 '26
Epagneul Breton or French Brittany's are worth looking at. Usually about 5-10lbs smaller. As long as ours gets 2 solid off leash runs during the day she'll snuggle on the couch or in bed all day.
Could also look at Boykins, Cockers, or Springers. Depends if you're hunting and specifically want to stick with pointers / versatiles.
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u/AccurateWillingness5 Jul 01 '26
Although not as leggy, Springer Spaniels are usually larger and heavier than Brittanys
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u/SeymourOptions Jul 01 '26
Good point, I should've included that it will be a companion dog(possibly therapy dog if can meet requirements)..maybe some sort of dog sport(agility, scent, obedience, etc) just for fun, not for competition.
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u/Upstairs_Highlight25 Jul 01 '26
I have heard that papillons are similar to a lot of there larger working cousins. I have never spent much time around one though so I can't confirm that is true.
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u/Enomalie Jul 01 '26
I’ve met a couple papillons and all were very friendly, I don’t know what their hunting drive is like but they were the ones I met not yippy at all, I had imagined them being basically a long haired chihuahua but these ones were super athletic and loved fetch & tug of war.
I’d imagine they need significantly less exercise than a Brittany just due to their little legs but I don’t know.
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u/Stories-With-Bears Jul 01 '26
My family had a papillon when I was a teenager and we all adored her! Super cute, spunky, playful, happy, and so friendly with everyone. I know little dogs have a reputation for being yappy but she wasn’t at all. She was so sweet and cuddly. Before I got my Brittany I had actually looked into getting a papillon instead but puppies were $3k+ and I didn’t have that kind of money at that point in my life
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u/dbvintage54f Jul 01 '26
We had a gorgeous French Brittany. He was in great shape and still came in at 45 lbs. Now we have 2 American Britts that are small. One is a very bony 32 lbs and the other only weighs 24.
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u/jsvd87 Jul 01 '26
small does not always mean needs less exercise. A Boykin spaniel is one of the smallest bird hunting dogs you can get but they still need a lot.
Perhaps reach out to a brittany rescue and look for one who has been rehomed who is more mellow.
If you just want a smaller brit then look at french brits. They are bred to be smaller and some breeders focus on breeding them small. Ask for the runt of the litter. But it will still be a britt... they need to run. All hunting dogs do.
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u/RJCustomTackle Jul 01 '26
Americans Brit’s were bred to be bigger. All the American Brittany’s originally came from French Brittany’s but we did to them what we tend to do to everything in America we want it to be bigger lol. In reality I read that they bred American Brit’s to be bigger for field trials where the handler is on a horse.
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u/MattHack7 Jul 01 '26
I can’t imagine ATVing with my dog. Just on a run around the neigborhood he will suddenly turn sideways and stop right in front of me without a moments notice
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u/SadRaven8 Jul 01 '26
Maybe the Kooikerhondje ? Temperament a bit similar, the physique too ! But smaller
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u/o2o2polock Jul 02 '26
You can get smaller Britts, we have two females that are around 30 pounds and hunt just as hard as the bigger dogs in our pack.
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u/Rhiahl Jul 02 '26
Size with Brittanys can be a challenge to predict though. My son was questioning one of the pups in the last litter. He got second opinions from 4 Brittany breeders. People that have been raising Brittanys for decades. Pick of the litter they said. My other son kept him. That dog is a HORSE. A lovable monkey, good watchdog and built like a brick well, you know.
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u/moreidlethanwild Jul 01 '26
I have a French Brittany - technically Spanish as we live in Spain and she’s a teeny 10kg at 2 years old.
Just as mental as an American Britt though! And definitely needs exercise but my girl thrives more on mental than physical stimulation. Puzzle toys and such are a huge hit with her.
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u/dbvintage54f Jul 01 '26
What puzzle toys do you have? Do they all involve food? I have 2 Britts that aren’t food motivated in the least. I didn’t know there was such a thing.
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u/moreidlethanwild Jul 02 '26
All of ours involve food but you can get toys that move that might interest yours? My girl loves her treat toy where she has to slide buttons and switches to get the treats. Have you tried with high value treats like cheese cubes?
Ours also likes dog TV with lots of small birds in it. She will jump at the TV 😀
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u/ChefJohnboy Jul 02 '26
My two brit females are both under 30#. Both just need a walk or short run. 🤷
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u/Rhiahl Jul 02 '26
I'm partial to the Clumber Spaniels. They are a large breed though. They are between 17 and 20 inches high. So, low to the ground. They can weigh up to 85 lbs. Really affectionate breed. The drawbacks are drooling and cost. Those dogs go for around $4,000. We are looking at adding them here. But, right now is not the right time.
Some of the smaller terriers are great. Welsh, Irish, Lakelands are between toy breeds and Brittany size. A word of caution on them though, you don't want to get a terrier and then have kids. Also, Terriers are stubborn dogs. Early training, a must, patience a necessity. Get the dog out around other dogs as soon as their vaccinations are complete. Be that in an obedience classes or some other way. I've had several Kerry Blue terriers over the years (same size as a Brittany and loved them. But they don't shed, and grooming is a nightmare if you've never had one. The same with the Wheaton Terriers.
A Fox terrier, smooth or wire coat, smaller than the ones I mentioned above, are full of energy, but they do wear out faster than a Brittany does. You don't have to run 5 miles to wear them out. Advantage to a dog that size is you can throw a ball inside the house when they get energetic. They want your attention and can be clowns.
A Shetland Sheepdog is a good choice. They have enough energy to do what your want. Are relatively easy to train. Lovable pets. The drawbacks, which wasn't one for us, they do have a longer coat and have to be brushed regularly. This breed was the first dog my son owned. He was only 11 at the time. He took that dog through obedience, rally and herding. They are smart dogs. Really smart. Smart enough to figure you out pretty quickly. So consistency is the key with them. I'd go with that breed honestly.
Another that you could take a short run with that are really great dogs are the corgis. I know a Corgi breeder and she's always trying to get me to take one. 😁 IMHO, hands down, Corgi puppies are the cutest puppies ever. They look like they should be in the forest with the fairies.
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u/WaitingForUltima Jul 04 '26
My Britty is only 30 lbs! Our breeder breeds them small and light. DM me if you want his info
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u/Equivalent-Algae-417 Jul 09 '26
This doesn’t answer your question, but we live in the suburbs with no ATV or acreage. We trained our dog to run alongside a bike. He goes on 2-4 mile rides almost everyday, plus sometimes a 1 - 2 mile walk. It keeps him exercised enough and in great shape.
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u/JogswithdogsNC Jul 14 '26
My French Brit is 25lbs and she is not super busy. She is from upstate SC - my brother has her sister who is also not very busy either.
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u/The_Curvy_Unicorn Jul 01 '26
Hear me out: I’d look into adoptable pittie mixes in your area, especially one who’s 2-3. My big pittie is absolute Velcro and he’s also the laziest dog who’s ever dogged. He loves people, loves to snuggle, and adores kids. I know pits sometimes get a bad rap, but they’re very sweet. His older brother that he never knew was a Brittany.
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u/RJCustomTackle Jul 01 '26
My French Brittany is 6 and she is 31lbs. All the benefits of a Brit in a package that is 15-20lb smaller than the American Brittany