How to Train Brittany Dogs
Brittany spaniels are energetic dogs that have been bred for assisting hunters. The breed has a natural hunting instinct, even if the dog is just a pet that is not used for hunting. Brittany spaniels are intelligent and train easily, but you must take care not to be harsh with them as they are sensitive to punishment. While training a Brittany spaniel, use positive reinforcement. You can train a Brittany to be useful for hunting or use general training for a pet that is not used for hunting.
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Instructions
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Train your Brittany spaniel to use the crate by providing a treat to your dog when he enters the crate. Praise your Brittany for exhibiting good behavior while in the crate. Use 10-minute sessions to start crate training a puppy and work slowly up to longer periods of time so that your Brittany has time to adjust.
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Drop a pan from another room while your Brittany is eating dog food. This will condition your Brittany to loud noises, similar to those that the dog will be exposed to while hunting. Monitor the dog's reaction to the loud noise and gradually work on bringing the noise closer to the dog over the course of several days until the dog is used to the startling noise.
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Teach your Brittany to retrieve by tossing a hard dog toy and giving the command "retrieve." When the dog returns with the toy, provide a treat to reinforce the positive behavior.
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Introduce your Brittany to water retrievals by allowing your dog to get used to a body of water gradually. Walk with the dog along the water until the dog is comfortable, then toss the dog's toy into the water and praise the dog when he retrieves it.
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Fire a toy cap gun outdoors when your Brittany is in a fenced-in area. This will condition your dog to the sound of a gun so that the dog is not afraid of the noise while hunting. Allow the dog to sniff and look at the toy gun to become accustomed to the gun.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use positive reinforcement with a Brittany spaniel as this breed does not respond well to negative reinforcement.
