Ever Wonder if Your Brittany is Bored? 

Brittanys need more than just food and walks to thrive. Keeping them physically and mentally engaged is a vital component of their overall well-being. Even well-cared-for dogs can become bored if their daily routine does not provide enough variety or engagement. Just like people, they can experience boredom, and when they do, it often shows up in their behavior. 

Here are some common signs of boredom, and what it often looks like in their everyday behavior:

• Destructive behavior - Chewing furniture, pillows, windowsills, or personal items such as shoes or clothing
• Excessive barking - Including whining or howling without an obvious trigger
• Restlessness - Pacing, difficulty settling down, being a velcro dog (following you constantly), wandering aimlessly
• Attention-seeking behaviors - Pawing, nudging, jumping
• Withdrawal/Loss of interest - Sleeping more than usual, lack of enthusiasm, low energy, no interest in toys or food
• Repetitive behaviors - Licking their paws, tail chasing
• Escape attempts - Door-dashing, fence digging, chewing crates

If your Brittany experiences any of these behaviors, there is hope! By integrating a mix of interactive play, sensory exploration, and different types of challenges into their daily routine, you can transform their environment into a stimulating sanctuary. Understanding how to channel your Brittany’s energy not only helps prevent boredom, but also strengthens the bond you share.

Some fun and effective ways to help combat boredom include:

• Increase physical activity. This can include adding a short midday walk, changing up their normal walking route, or increasing play time with games like tug of war, frisbee, or fetch to help burn off excess energy. 
• Provide mental stimulation to engage their brain. Even after a long walk, some dogs can still exhibit signs of boredom if their brain isn’t engaged. Try incorporating puzzle toys, food dispensing games, lick mats, sniffing or scent games, or motion-activated interactive toys.
• Rotate their toys regularly to make old toys feel new again. Limiting your Brittany to only a few toys at one time helps prevent overstimulation. My Brittanys also have a few special toys that are only for outside play and a couple of high value toys they love to play with when we have guests. 
• Schedule dedicated one-on-one time. This time can be used for training new skills, reinforcing commands, teaching tricks, or playing games.

In summary, preventing boredom involves providing a balanced routine that includes regular exercise, interactive play, mental challenges, and opportunities for social interaction. Simple changes can significantly improve your Brittany's engagement and quality of life. Signs that your Brittany is getting enough exercise and mental stimulation include being calmer and more relaxed indoors, chewing only appropriate toys, sleeping well, and showing fewer attention-seeking behaviors.



Keep in mind general exercise guidelines are based on your Brittany's age and health status. The recommended exercise time for puppies and seniors is less than most adults. On average, most adult Brittanys need a mixture of physical and mental exercise totaling between 30 and 90 minutes per day (which can be split into multiple sessions).

Shasta

Regi

Harley

Gwennie

Our American Brittany Rescue success story started in August 2024.  My wife, Mary Ann, and I decided we wanted to get another Brittany following the loss a couple of years prior of our 12-year-old Brittany Riley.  We started the search and found a couple of dogs on the ABR website. We struck up a conversation with ABR volunteer Rebecca Wallace regarding possible adoption. 

Around the time we started talking, Rebecca mentioned two Brittanys (Pearl and Ruby) in Mandeville, Louisiana who were surrendered because they wouldn’t hunt.  Both were heartworm positive and suffered from physical and emotional neglect.  Both girls were treated for about two weeks at Monroe Street Animal Hospital in Mandeville for pregnancy check, labs, spay, microchip, vaccines, and first dose of preventative.  

During this time, Rebecca provided an air kennel suitable for part-time confinement while they were going through heartworm treatment.

Pearl was the pup we decided on. She was approximately 2 years old, weighed 27 pounds, and had bald spots showing through her coat.  On September 9, 2024, I drove to Mandeville from Starkville, MS and Pearl (now  Belle) began her foster journey with us with the end goal of adoption.

We had to keep Belle on a leash and confined to a small space during the day (laundry room) and a kennel at night due to her heartworm diagnosis. This was to restrict her activity level and help prevent potentially fatal clots caused by dying worms.  The first heartworm treatment occurred on September 24, 2024 and she tolerated the shot incredibly well.  Rebecca Wallace with ABR coordinated Belle’s treatment plan and payment with the veterinarian’s office.  Belle never appeared to experience discomfort or soreness throughout the entire heartworm treatment protocol.  Belle was accepted by our other two dogs:  Lucy a 13-year-old mini-Aussie and Aspen an 11-year-old Golden Retriever.  We kept Belle in her small area and put up a pet gate which permitted the older dogs to get used to Belle and visa-versa.

By the end of October 2024, heartworm treatment was complete and by the end of November Belle finished all the medicines she needed.  Belle’s coat was filling in and started appearing shiny and she began to gain a little weight.  By the end of January 2025 Belle was heartworm negative and Rebecca sent the adoption contract for us to sign and officially adopt this special dog.  

Brittanys are incredibly bright dogs with big personalities, zoomies, silliness, and lots of love and affection.  We believe they are one of the best family dogs, with a gentle demeanor and bond quickly.  Trust is a big part of the journey. Mary Ann was Belle’s person, since she was around while I was working or traveling.  I’ve since retired, and my bond with Belle has grown deep too.  

Belle enjoys riding to town every day, and would even visit my office when I was in town working.  Our little girl is a happy, healthy, well-adjusted member of our family.



Thank you American Brittany Rescue and especially your volunteers.  Special thanks to our ABR volunteer Rebecca Wallace for helping us and Belle throughout this journey.

Lee Harris

Starkville, MS

Don't forget to include your dog's name!

EMAIL PHOTOS TO: social.networks@americanbrittanyrescue.org

Photo: Sully

Gibb and his yogurt! He won't stop til the last drop is gone!

We have so much fun celebrating those funny things our Brittanys do that make us love them extra. Keep us smiling and submit your Quirky Britt photos to: 

social.networks@americanbrittanyrescue.org

FOSTER WITH US—BRITTANYS NEED YOU! 

Why is fostering awesome?



"For one, the Brittany snuggles are amazing (who could resist those?!), but that’s just the bonus. The real reward is watching a dog who needed a second chance to find their forever family and seeing the joy they bring to each other. Knowing that by opening my home to a Brittany in need, I’ve helped create new memories, laughter, and love for a family is more than enough to keep me fostering again and again."

-- Isabelle S., Kansas

ABOUT AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE

American Brittany Rescue, Inc. is an organization that was formed in 1991 as a cooperative effort of Brittany owners, breeders, trainers, and fanciers who ABR believes have a responsibility not only for their own dogs and the dogs they produce, but for the breed as a whole.

THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE MISSION

ABR's mission is to provide the leadership and expertise via a network of trained volunteers to take in stray, abandoned, surrendered and/or impounded purebred Brittanys, provide them with foster care, health and temperament screening, an opportunity for any necessary rehabilitation and to assure their health and placement into new homes. In order to fulfill this mission, ABR's volunteers remain flexible and adaptable to current and future business environments and they remain dedicated to the organization.  

ABR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Terry Mixdorf, President

Michelle Falkinburg, Vice President

Wendy Boyce, Secretary

Terrie Johnson, Treasurer

Sandra Oelschlegel, Chair

Deb Grove

Joe Herslip

Peter Stastny

Carol Weaver

AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE E-NEWSLETTER TEAM

Brittany Boler

Jeannine Connors

Kristin Davis

Christina Johnson

Melissa Tapply DiLello

American Brittany Rescue, Inc.  | 866.274.8911 |  Visit Our Website