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The
Brittany Spaniel: An Extraordinary Bird Dog
By Michael Russell
The Brittany Spaniel originally was found in Breton. In a
painting by Oudry in the early 1700s there is a portrait of a
tail-less spaniel about the size and color of the Brittany that
is pointing a partridge. The breed became popular with local
poachers in the 1800s because of its agility and small size and
its extraordinary ability to point and flush the birds, combined
with a desire to retrieve and a willingness to work.
Brittany Spaniel - Dog Breed Info
By Jim Hodges
The Brittany Spaniel, a member of the Sporting Dog Group is a
fantastic all around dog. Known as a hunter. They also have a
great disposition and very friendly. Could a Brittany Spaniel be
the right dog breed for you? Choosing the right breed dog is
very important for you and for the dog. Here are the dog breed
standards and other important information you should read prior
to buying a new dog or puppy for your home.
Brittany Puppy And Dog Information
By Mitch Endick
The Brittany Spaniel is basically a bird dog. She can make a
good family pet and watch dog. She likes children and does well
with other pets. She prefers to have plenty of space to
exercise. She may be a poor choice for an apartment. A properly
fenced in enclosure for exercise would be ideal. She needs
weekly brushing and monthly bathing. Her breed is considered to
be generally healthy.
Brittany Spaniel Facts
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. Brittanys
were developed in the Brittany province of France in the 1800s.
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 Brittanys 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). In countries
where docking is illegal long-tailed Brittanys should carry
their tails level with the back or slightly lower.
Size
Brittanys are almost always between 44-52 cm (17.5-20.5 in) tall
at the withers, with the UKC and AKC preferring smaller dogs.
They weigh 13.5-18 kg (25-30 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
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. However, many
breeders consider these "differences" to be unsound
generalizations and that North-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
color since 1956 while it is still considered a fault in
North-America. Originally known as the Brittany Spaniel, the
word "spaniel" was dropped in the USA some years ago, as
fanciers thought the Brittany was "the only pointing spaniel"
and therefore they wanted to avoid confusion with English
spaniels (Cockers, Springers, etc.), which are flushing and not
pointing dogs. But this was probably in total ignorance of the
existence of many other pointing spaniels well known in Europe
(French Spaniel, Épagneul Picard, Munsterlander, etc.).
Temperament
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. Many of these loveable dogs
will, if allowed, even climb upon your lap and rest their head
on your shoulder. 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.
The Brittany makes a good house pet as long as it receives daily
mental and physical exercise. If not given sufficient exercise,
it can become destructive.
Health
Brittanies are generally healthy dogs, though some genetic
disorders are prevalent. They can be prone to canine hip
dysplasia and epilepsy. Their ears can be prone to infections.
They usually live 14-15 years.
Brittany Spaniel Wallpaper image |
