The Brittany spaniel is exceptionally energetic for a medium-sized dog breed. If you lead an active lifestyle and spend much of your time outdoors, then this dog is a good match for you. They need lots of outdoor space to gamble about and play at home – their playful nature makes them excellent with children.
Brittany spaniels are not ideal for people with limited living space, like apartments, as they thrive with acreage. Surprisingly size isn’t everything regarding searching for a perfect apartment dog. Brittany spaniels bark a lot, which is not ideal when you have neighbors nearby, so they are too noisy to live in an apartment aside from being active.
The characteristics to look for when searching for an apartment dog include bark-level, low-energy count, and temperament. This article hopes to reveal more of what apartment life could be like with Brittany Spaniel.
We will also discuss if Brittany Spaniels are good house dogs and what you must do to ensure a harmonious life with your pet.
Do Brittany Spaniels Do Well In Apartments?
Looking for the ideal apartment dog isn’t easy. You must consider that some buildings have weight restrictions and may not allow “apartment dogs” like Great Danes and Greyhounds due to their size. However, there might be limitations, many other excellent small and medium-sized dog breeds that happily live in apartments.
Brittany Spaniels are not considered great apartment dogs, but some owners make it work. The Brittany Spaniels can be an excellent companion in an apartment because they are affectionate and love their owners’ company.
If you get your Brittany as a puppy, he must be well-socialized, not because he’s aggressive, but this dog breed is extremely timid. Brittany Spaniels are very sweet and weigh between 30 to 40 pounds, so they are manageable.
Brittany Spaniels need daily exercise. Many Brittany owners will tell you not to live with this dog in an apartment because they are so energetic that they need a fenced yard.
However, if you are active and can provide sufficient exercise opportunities every day, they should be fine in an apartment.
Brittany Spaniels have genetically carried their origins as a hunting dog, so being active comes with the territory.
Additionally, these dogs bark a lot, which is part of their hunting instincts, and if you live in an apartment, you must train your dog to bark only when necessary, or you could get an eviction notice. While it’s unreasonable to expect your dog to never bark, it can create problems when it becomes excessive.
Your first step to correct barking is to figure out why your Brittany is barking. This isn’t a dog breed you can leave on his own, especially for more than a few hours, so you can observe what triggers your dog to make such noise. Consider the most likely reasons your Brittany Spaniel barks:
FEAR BARKING – this is when your dog feels uncomfortable in a particular situation (barks at thunder, fireworks, etc.). This is your dog warning you of impending danger.
TERRITORIAL BARKING – this occurs when ‘intruders’ are present, an intruder could be neighbors walking past your door, the landlord, etc. This bark is to warn the intruder to keep out, and they will alert their pack members of the threat.
BOREDOM BARKING – this is very common with Brittany Spaniels. If they don’t have enough to do and are under-stimulated, they are likely to engage in destructive behaviors, like barking. Your dog is creating his own fun by barking.
REQUEST BARKING – Brittany Spaniels occasionally bark when they really want something. Usually, these dogs only have to turn on the charm to get what they want.
When you have to share a building with your neighbors, there is more pressure on you to eliminate excessive barking than if you lived in a house in the country with lots of lands.
Understandably, you will want to know how to control your Brittany Spaniel’s barking:
Fear Barking
You must determine what is frightening your dog so that you can begin desensitizing your dog to his fears. If your pet is afraid of strangers, be sure to carry tasty treats with you at all times and ask strangers to offer the treats to your dog.
Also, if your dog is afraid of thunder, play thunder noises on your computer at a low volume while doing something your dog enjoys.
Territorial Barking
Teach your Brittany spaniel an alternative habit. For example, when he hears the doorbell ring, teach him that if he stays down, he gets a treat, once he learns to stay down.
Practice by ringing the bell and giving the command. When your dog stays down, give him a treat. You may need to redo this training step a couple of times, but, eventually, your dog will understand that the doorbell ringing means ‘down stay’ then he gets a reward.
Teach your Brittany Spaniel a ‘quiet’ command. When he barks, draw his attention to you with one of his favorite treats; when he’s quiet, say ‘good quiet’ in a calm voice. Then offer him a treat for being quiet.
Many dogs tend to bark in the front rooms of a house (or apartment), so consider blocking your dog’s access to the front of your home.
Boredom Barking
Brittany Spaniels needs lots of activity to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. If that is lacking, they will bark excessively. Also, this is not a dog that you can leave alone for too long, or he will undoubtedly bark. He needs to hear a voice, even if it is his own.
Make sure that you can be continuously present with your dog or hire a sitter. Aside from needing company, your Brittany Spaniel needs a walk at least once every day.
It would also benefit your dog to partake in obedience classes or positive training classes like tricks or agility. Doggie day-care can allow your dog to frolic and play with other dogs and keep him stimulated.
Request Barking
This is perhaps the most straightforward bark to cure. This type of barking entails your dog trying to communicate with you that he wants something.
He will only go quiet when he wants something. The trick here is to ignore the barking entirely until it stops, then you can give your dog what he wants. Your Brittany Spaniel will soon understand that being quiet is the best way to get what he wants.
If you usually give your dog what he wants every time he barks, he will bark longer and louder when you ignore him initially.
It’s essential not to give in when your dog barks or whines, as Brittany Spaniels often do to get what they want; eventually, your dog will cease this behavior.
Are Brittany Spaniels Good House Dogs?
Brittany Spaniel has many fantastic qualities making him an excellent addition to any household. This is a highly active dog breed, who is playful and athletic, not to mention an ideal running companion.
These dogs excel at canine sports like fieldwork and agility. Brittany spaniels are great company for children, being very protective of them; they can also get along with other pets.
Brittany Spaniels are fast learners that are eager to please their owners – this combination makes them exceptionally trainable.
This breed is easy to groom as they have a short coat with light feathering on their belly and legs, so they are light shedders. A weekly brush is sufficient to keep your dog’s coat neat, and it helps keep flyaway hairs off your floor.
If you are searching for an excellent guard dog that isn’t aggressive, then the Brittany is a great dog for you. Unlike numerous other sporting breeds, the Brittany Spaniel is generally wary of strangers – an excellent trait for a watchdog.
The Brittany Spaniel is undoubtedly an excellent family dog, but for the right family. If they get enough exercise to keep them mentally and physically stimulated, they will thrive in your home.
However, they need training and socialization from day one to bring out their best qualities. Be aware that these dogs are highly sensitive and prone to submissive urination.
You must be careful how you approach your pet and avoid punishing him; instead, encourage alternatives to submissive behavior by teaching him confident postures such as sitting or standing.
Final Thoughts
Many Brittany Spaniel owners would dissuade you from getting a Brittany Spaniel to live with you in an apartment; you would be told it can’t be done.
There are numerous dog breeds of all shapes and sizes that would be perfect for apartment life. However, there is no reason you can’t train a Brittany Spaniel puppy to acclimate to living in a smaller space once you can provide plenty of exercise opportunities outdoors.
Brittany Spaniels are not perfect. No dog is perfect, but since Brittany Spaniels are reasonably intelligent, trainable, and eager to please, you can teach them to behave in your apartment or house. Training is crucial with any dog as it benefits them and you.
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