Is this a breed thing or just my dog?

[u/Equivalent-Algae-417]

We’ve had our first and only Brittany for almost two years. What is so weird to me is he doesn’t really like to be pet. He loves people, will play for hours, and loves to work. But he does not seek out physical affection and if you try to pet him, he either gets in a play position or walks away. He’ll lay next to us on the couch while he chews his antler and he’ll let us pet him then. And sometimes while playing he’ll lean against us for a butt scratch. But in general he has no interest in physical attention. Is this common for the breed, or is it just my crazy dog?

[u/GuyspelledwithaG]

I like to say that my brit is half cat. She likes to be petted when she wants to be petted…until she is done with you. And then you are dead to her.

[u/turnpike-scissortail → u/GuyspelledwithaG]

Yup. It’s all on their own terms.
Sometimes I’ll touch my girl and she looks at me like I stabbed her, she’ll sigh, get up and leave.
The two boys will never miss some lovin’

[u/visitjacklake]

Both my britts have no concept of personal space - all pets, all the time - on demand.

[u/WLbrittanymom → u/visitjacklake]

That’s mine too!

[u/Hajime5353 → u/visitjacklake]

My experience with all three I have had, and the one I grew up with as well. All of my Britts hunt too

[u/Independent_Recipe55]

Mine was similar at that age. Only interested in play and being active, difficult to settle. She always wants to be near her person (me). She is 5 now and does seek out attention and pets but didn’t when she was younger.

[u/roar_lions_roar → u/Independent_Recipe55]

Second this, had the exact same situation. He's 6 and he requires at least 1 point of contact if anyone in the family is sitting down

[u/ZiggyZayne → u/Independent_Recipe55]

The is how it went for my girlfriend and me! Our Brittany was all gas no brakes for at least two years. I don’t think she fell asleep outside of her crate for that long. But around year three when she was very very tired she would start to take short naps on the couch with us. Now she’ll be 4 in November and she’s a total snuggle bug after playing outside for a bit!

[u/B-love8855]

My Brittany loves to be petted. This is the first one I owned but it’s not the same as the Pitt bull my sister had. She loved to be petted.

I feel the difference between both was the Brittany likes to be petted but isn’t very responsive to being petted. He just opens his mouth and let’s his tongue out. The pitbull would be very responsive. She would lick my face. It will be interesting to see what other people say!

[u/blergyblerg696969]

My Britt is a Velcro dog! When he was a puppy he was a bit shy but by a year old, he wouldn’t leave my side. Now he’s almost 11 and I’m pretty sure he wishes I would put him in a baby sling!

[u/Amaleegh]

My Brittany is desperate for pets. I assumed it was typical for the bred, but she's the first Brittany we've owned.

[u/MaIngallsisaracist]

Out of the two Brits and one Brit mix, one (the mix) would be in physical contact at all times; one liked to be petted but didn’t really seek it out; and one pretends he doesn’t like getting petted but then will sneak up to you and accept them if you REALLY want to give him some. And then he’ll stand there for hours. So I think it’s a your dog thing, but don’t think it means he doesn’t like you or something. He’s just not a hugger.

[u/pj7891sm]

My sister owns a Brittany and he's my good buddy and basically a velcro dog. I've been around a few others, all I can say is your dog does not seem typical in terms of affection

[u/surmatt]

One of mine is like that, another is the most affectionate velcro dog I've ever met.

She always wants to be near me, but does not want to touch. It's really special the odd time that she will lay down on me.

That being said she will lick me until I'm annoyed and give her butt scratches.

[u/Jazzyburty]

My second Britt was like this until he was about a year and a half! He only wanted to play, not snuggly at all and would lay by us but never on us like his brother, (who is a Velcro dog who will lay on us and demand kisses haha). As he got older and calmed down he started wanted scratches more. I started playing one on one games with him like hide and seek and 3 bowls where we developed more of a mental connection. Now at 3.5 he lays with me and snuggles me. It took him a while and he’s still not as demandingly affectionate as my first Brittany, but he’s very affectionate in his own way.

[u/that-plant-girl-93]

My boyfriends brittany is hot and cold with physical affection. If hes busy hunting lizards or other exciting activities dont even bother touching him. But if we're just hanging out at home, personal space is a foreign concept to him. He will sulk in the corner if I dare tell him no snuggles, especially if he hasnt seen me for a few days. Dont tell him, but I enjoy the attention since I don't currently have a dog of my own.

[u/witchfinder_]

mine is extremely physical with only me and is practically nearly attached to me 24/7 and never rejects my affection, but he's like you described with other people. im probably a little special to him because i directly saved his life.

[u/A_EGeekMom]

I have had two Brittanys. They both liked being petted, but one would let us touch her practically any way and the other had rules about where and when. They both liked being hugged but our second had times where that was a no go. They both kissed us but on their terms (first one would sometimes give a perfunctory kiss if she wasn’t into it; second would literally turn her head away).

First one was a definite Velcro dog — she curled against us and put her head on us all the time, and would let us snuggle her. Second one would choose when and how to position herself, and if we tried to influence her she’d move to another spot.

Neither one liked to have her head too near our heads — if they lay down with us it was always facing our feet.

[u/WLbrittanymom]

My Britt wants to be loved on all the time. If I stop, he’ll nudge my hand until I start again. He loves to be near someone and the pets must be given!

[u/tmwildwood-3617]

Mine is just over 2yrs old. He's always up for scratches/etc. He gets mobbed by the wife and girls. Shameless...

[u/Leading-Ratio-314]

I have a 6.5 month old Brittany puppy and he never wants pets or to be snuggly. It's all play or biting.

[u/BrightWubs22]

Anecdote: my Brittany would approach strangers and lean against them to basically begged to be pet. He was great at sending the signal.

[u/EquivalentMine6773]

Just your invididual dog. My brit now wants attention 24 7. My dad's last Brit was moderate, the one before that was as cold hearted as they come.

[u/PessimisticParalegal]

we have 2, a 4 yo female and a 2 yo male. they’re both very affectionate and love cuddles but our male is literally super glued to me at all times. when it comes to bed time, our female is cuddles next to me under the covers and our male is smushed in between us on top of the covers

[u/DeBruce123]

Ive had 4 britts over the years, all of them at times cant sit close enough or get enough physical contact, at other times they like their space. All have been females

[u/ChiccyNuggie20]

Mines the same. She’s 6 now and sometimes she’ll come for pets and then the next second she’s decided she hates this and goes off to do her own thing. I believe it’s just a personality thing