Brittany

Adult Brittany

The Brittany is a breed of gun dog that is primarily bred for bird hunting. Although the dog is often referred to as a spaniel, the breed's working characteristics are more akin to a pointer or setter.

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Appearance

The Brittany should be athletic, compact, and solidly built without being heavy. It is long-legged and elegent. Its expression should be one of intelligence, vigour, and alertness. It should never be heavily built or cumbersome. Its gait is elastic, long, and free.

Coat and color

Brittanys are mostly white with orange or liver spots, but very cute. Individuals can have spots in combinations of these colors. Some individuals also have black spots but in the United States this is contrary to breed standard. The coat is of moderate length, dense, flat, or wavy, with slight feathering on the ears and legs. Too much feathering is undesirable as it impedes the dog’s work in thick brush.

Size

They are between 39 - 51 cm (17½ - 22 in) at the withers, with the UKC and AKC preferring smaller dogs. They weigh 14 - 20 kg (30 - 45 lb). The dog is squareish when viewed from the side, with shoulder height equaling body length (from withers to base of tail). Show dogs have their tails docked in some countries. The tails of working or companion dogs are rarely left long.

Types

French Brittany, or Epagneul Breton

Many breeders differentiate between "American" Brittanys and "French" style Brittanys. Although generally recognized as sub-sets of the same breed, there are recognizable differences between the two. The American Brittany is taller and faster. It has been bred to cover more ground in order to hunt wide open spaces common in the United States. The French Brittany appears more "spaniel-like" in that it is smaller and the French Brittany generally works more closely to the guns.

Temperament

Brittany Puppy

The breed is noted for being easy to train, sensitive, and sweet-natured. Many enthusiasts agree that it takes little more than a stern look or cross word to chastise a Brittany. As a consequence, care must be taken during training so as not to break the dog’s spirit. Brittanys are excellent with children but they are an exuberant breed and if not well supervised may accidentally harm a small child. Brittanys get along well with other dogs and enjoy working with other dogs as a team. Many Brittany enthusiasts encourage new Brittany owners to be a two dog family. The dogs are active and require frequent exercise and room to run. As pets Brittanys are first-rate companion dogs but they do need plenty of exercise. Their outgoing nature makes them poor candidates for protectors.

Health

Brittanies are generally healthy dogs, though some genetic disorders are prevalent. They can be prone to Hip dysplasia, and Epilepsy. Their ears can be prone to infections.

History

As the name implies, Brittanys were developed in the Brittany province of France in the 1800s.

Training, method of work

Brittanys are happiest when hunting but make no mistake, Brittanys are excellent companion dogs and can be wonderful family pets. See the related sections in the gun dog article for details.

References

• Thoms, Jerry. "The French Brittany". Gun Dog Magazine.