The Brittany is a hunting dog from the Brittany region of France. He
has a spaniel's ability to retrieve from land or water but is also very
setter-like in that he is the only spaniel-type to also point his game.
It is this characteristic that has caused the American Kennel Club to drop
the term Spaniel from his name and refer to him only as a Brittany since
1982. He is still refereed to as a Brittany Spaniel in Great Britain. He
was imported to America in 1931 and officially recognized by the American
Kennel Club in 1934.
The Brittany is popular as a shooting dog who hunts beyond gun range and
has a superb nose. These characteristics have great appeal to bird hunters.
He is agile, light of bone and quick of movement. He is also rugged without
being clumsy. He is trustworthy, reliable and an obedient companion. He
is good with children and an excellent house dog but does need plenty of
exercise. His great desire to please precludes that he should not be harshly
trained.
The skull of the Brittany is of medium length, rounded and slightly wedge
shaped. There is a well defined drop (called the stop) between the skull
and muzzle. The muzzle is approximately two-thirds the length of the skull.
The eyes, preferably dark, are well set into the head with heavy eyebrows
to protect from briars. Ears are set high, above the level of the eyes and
hang flat against the head with slightly rounded tips. They are well covered
with dense but relatively short hair and little fringe. The bite is scissors.
The neck is of medium length. The back is straight and of the same length
as height, giving the dog a leggy look. The chest is deep, reaching to the
elbow. The tail is no longer than four inches, either naturally or docked.
The legs are neither too fine boned nor too heavy boned. The movement should
be smooth, efficient and ground covering. Coat hair is dense, flat or wavy.
It must not be silky. Acceptable coat colors in the United States and Canada
are dark orange and white or liver and white while in France, black and
white and tricolor are also recognized. Average eight is between seventeen-and-one-half
to twenty-and-one-half inches. Average weight is between 30 and 40 pounds.
joreill2@concentric.net of Connecticut writes:
"Pet quality" dogs p; who would want anything else?
When we got our Brittanys, someone mentioned they weren't "show
quality," but were "pet quality." I can't think of a higher
recommendation! These pups (and they're more than twelve years old now)
are PET QUALITY defined. They like people (especially kids), and they're
enthusiastic about almost everything. As an owner of many dogs, including
Shepherds and Boxers, I can say this is a great breed.
Name withheld by request of New Hampshire writes:
The ideal companion.
I was raised with Brittanys and would be lying if I said they weren't
wonderful dogs. Their reputation of being hyper is only true if you raise
them that way. They are great with kids and other animals and are animated,
charismatic, loving dogs!
Name withheld by request of North Carolina writes:
Wonderful dogs p; full of fun and energy.
We've had a number of different breeds but this is our first Brittany.
I was looking for a dog that was intelligent, gentle, not too big, and not
requiring too much grooming (our other dog is a Newf!). Brittanys are a
delightful breed! There is something so endearing about their sweet faces,
upbeat spirit, and energy. We've found ours to be really affectionate (to
EVERYONE, not just us) and never aggressive. He is a remarkably fast learner.
I have taught him tricks in a matter of a couple of minutes. However, although
he learns really fast, he can be highly distractible and fail to follow
commands when there's something interesting going on. He gets along great
with other dogs. He loves to interact with us, but he's not a cuddler p;
he wants his people to play with him rather than pet him. Any game that
involves ACTIVITY is his thing. This is not a dog for an inactive person.
If he doesn't get enough exercise he gets mischievous and stirs up some
action. If he gets his active playtime he is well behaved in the house.
This is the perfect dog for an active older child who likes to play outdoors.
And I really like that they always seem so happy!
Name withheld by request of Michigan writes:
Way too hyper.
We had a liver and white Brittany, a very pretty dog, sweet to everyone
but unlimited energy. He was a terrible housedog because he never ever stopped
running around the house or yard all day. This is a hunting dog that belongs
in a kennel.
Name withheld by request of U.S. writes:
Awesome.
I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this breed. I own two
females and both are loving, obedient companions. They love everyone, so
if you are looking for a watchdog, do not get a Brittany. They are happy
sitting next to you or running in the field. They can excel at obedience,
agility and conformation. Their size is also a great characteristic of the
breed, they are not too big and not too small, in addition to being a hearty
little dog. The only thing that they need is adequate exercise and having
more than one is easier as they will play together.
Name withheld by request of U.S. writes:
Very friendly and loving, but has seizures.
I love my dog p; he is really easy-going and fun-loving without
being overly boistrous. He is AWESOME with children, very tolerant of vet
visits and baths, very cuddly and kind. The only problems are that he has
seizures about twice a week when he gets excited, and that he throws up
anything other than a specially formulated pet food. He scores high on the
lovability scale, but gets low points for his vigor.
Name withheld by request of Nashua, NH writes:
Brittanys are a great breed.
Brittanys are an awesome breed! They are great with kids and are great
bird dogs. The only major health problem is hip dysplasia, but it is not
found in every dog. I would recommend a good-sized fenced in yard for exercise
as they are an active breed, but not hyper. I love this breed and I know
you will too!
Name withheld by request writes:
Excellent choice for a family dog.
I've had the privilege of working with four Brittanys. It's well within
a Brittany's capability to do hunting, tracking, obedience, agility, flyball,
conformation, pet therapy, etc., but they really thrive as part of the family.
If you're looking for a couch potato to lounge around with when you get
home from work, look elsewhere. Laid-back Brittanys are the exception ...
NOT the rule. The four I worked with were all very willing to please, and
learned exceptionally well when we started clicker training. Positive reinforcement
is the only way I could get a Brittany to excel, and they WILL give you
110% if you go about it the right way.
Just a warning ... NOT ALL BRITTANYS WILL HUNT! Brittany rescue has tons
of dogs that were abandoned by hunters who gave up on them and left them
in the middle of nowhere. If you want a Brittany that hunts, do your pedigree
research and find a proven, reputable breeder. But these dogs should always
be foremost a part of the family.
klkelley4@aol.com writes on 5/4/00:
Perfect all around pet for the family and the hunter.
Out Brittany is 6 years old and has been a wonderful companion to my children
as well as being very intellegent and a good watch dog. My Brittany grew
up with small children so it has a very gentle nature and is very friendly
and playful. It actually plays hide and go seek and tag - you would have
to see it to believe it. It does shed, and it helps to comb it a few times
a week and to keep it's coat trimed. It must be a companion dog, as it would
be miserable outside full time. I had read that Brittanys are known to be
nervous and high strung, but my dog is the complete opposite. It's very
quiet and content.