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Brittany
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The Brittany is a breed of gun dog primarily bred for bird hunting.
Although the Brittany is often referred to as a spaniel, the breed's
working characteristics are more akin to a pointer or setter.
Brittanies were developed in the Brittany province of France in the
1800s.
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Description
Appearance
A Brittany is typically quite athletic, compact, and solidly built
without being heavy. Other characteristics include long legs, and
their expressions are usually of intelligence, vigour, and alertness.
Their gait is elastic, long, and free.
Some Brittanies are born with naturally short tails and others with
long tails. If born with a long tail it is normally docked to a length of
3 to 10 centimetres (1 to 4 inches).
Brittanies come in a variety of colors, where an orange and white
coat or liver and white are most common in the American Brittany;
other colours include orange roan and liver roan, all of which are
acceptable in the show ring. The American Brittany Standard does
specify an acceptable tri-color of liver, orange, and white with very
specific color placement which is also acceptable in the show ring.
Size
Brittanies should range in a height of 17 inches to 20.5 inches at
the withers (17.5 to 20.5 in America), with females at the lower end
and males taller. A properly constructed and healthy Brittany
maintains a weight between 36 and 43 lb (16 to 19 kg), depending
upon height. North American field lines tend to be larger, with many
dogs reaching a healthy weight of 45 to 50 lb (20 to 23 kg).
Types
Many breeders differentiate between "American" Brittanies and
"French" style Brittanies. Although generally recognized as
sub-sets of the same breed, there are recognizable differences
between the two. The French Brittany appears more "spaniel-like"
in that it is smaller and the French Brittany generally works more
closely to the guns, but will work according to the local terrain.
However, some breeders consider these "differences" to be
unsound generalizations and that American standards should be
updated to reflect the breed's standard in its country of origin, i.e.
France, where black has become an acceptable coat colour since
1956 while it is still considered a fault in America. Originally known
as the Brittany Spaniel, the word "spaniel" was dropped in the USA
some years ago, as the American Brittany Club persuaded the
American Kennel Club to discontinue the use of the term "spaniel"
for this breed. When translating the Latin version of the Brittany's
name, it was assumed that spaniel was attached, as the Brittany
does resemble a spaniel-like dog. Spaniels, such as Springers and
Cockers, are used for flushing game, while Brittanies are more akin
to pointers and all-purpose sporting dogs. Known in the Uk as an
HPR breed (hunt, point, and retrieve), they are expected to point &
retrieve all birds and ground game up to and including hare.
Temperament
The breed was originally bred as a hunting dog and noted for
being easy to train, sensitive, and sweet-natured. Brittanies are all
around sound dogs, as they are excellent family pets as well as
working dogs in the field. The dogs are active and require frequent
exercise and room to run, and a fenced yard is essential. At least
one long walk and an off-leash run are required daily to satisfy the
needs of most Brittanies. The breed sometimes gets a reputation
for being crazy or uncontrollable, but these problems are almost
invariably due to lack of exercise and training, and are not
commonly seen in well cared-for dogs. If not given sufficient
exercise, love, and socialization, Brittanies can become destructive
or develop compulsive or neurotic behaviors. The Brittany makes a
good house pet as long as it receives daily mental and physical
exercise, as well as superb socialization on a regular basis.
Brittanies can become very shy if not thoroughly socialized, and
even among well-socialized dogs there is significant variation in
levels of friendliness. Some are highly gregarious and actively
seek companionship, others are more aloof.
With more American dual champions (dogs with titles in both
conformation shows and field trials) than any other breed, the
Brittany maintains strong hunting instincts in all bloodlines.
Health
Brittanies are generally healthy and hardy dogs. Because of their
floppy ears which tend to trap moisture in the ear canal, Brittanies
need their ears cleaned regularly. They usually live 14-15 years.
Hip dysplasia is not uncommon and epilepsy has been known to
occur in the breed. American fanciers encourage owners of
affected dogs to submit DNA to UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Lab
for their ongoing research into the Brittany and canine health.
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Brittany
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Country of origin
France
Weight
35-45 lb
Height
17-21 in
Coat
Medium length, flowing
Color
Variety; orange/white or
liver/white most common
Life span
12-15 years
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A liver and white Brittany
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