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The Canine Chronicles Directory
Brittany Spaniel
Brittany's are a medium, square built dog. Their coat is dense with slight feathering.
The coat is either orange and white or liver and white. Tri-coloring (liver, orange,
and white) is allowed and black is not permitted when showing this breed. The round
skull should have a stop that gently slopes. Depending on the coat color, the eyes
are brown, amber or hazel. The triangular shaped ears should sit high on the head
and the strong jaw should have teeth with a scissor-like bite. The nose should not
be black. The moderately long neck should merge smoothly into the shoulders. The
strong back should have the topline either level or gently sloping from the withers
to croup. The straight forelegs should have close set elbows and good bone structure.
The broad thighs should have a moderate bend of stifle and the feet should be small
and firm. The tail is naturally short. Some are even born without tails. The tail
can also be docked to less than 4 inches.
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Temperament
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Brittany's are very active, affectionate, alert, and enthusiastic. They need both
mental and physical stimulation and need to feel like part of the family. Canine
sports are excellent for this breed. They are a good natured breed.
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Height, Weight
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Male Height: 17-21" ; Weight: 35-40 lbs.
Female Height: 18-20" ; Weight: 30-40 lbs.
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Health Problems
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The Brittany is a hardy breed. Minor health concerns include hip dysplasia and seizures.
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Living Conditions
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Brittany's should never live in an apartment as they need lots of acreage to be
healthy and happy. They are resistant to cold and hot weather conditions.
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Exercise
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This breed requires lots of exercise and does best with an outdoor person or a hunter.
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Life Expectancy
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About 10-12 years
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Grooming
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The Brittany is easy to groom. Only bathe when necessary. More grooming should be
given in order to show. They are average shedders.
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Origin
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Brittany's originated from Brittany in the Callac region of France. In 1865, British
Lords came to France for Partridge and Woodcock shooting parties. Due to quarantine,
the dogs (mainly pointers and setters) they brought with them had to remain in France
with local farmers. These dogs were crossed with the local spaniels. The mating
produced a colorful hybrid, the Brittany. The hunters noticed that their Brittany
dogs had a keen scent with an enhanced working style. The first Brittany was shown
in France in 1896. The standard for this breed was developed between 1907 and 1908.
This breed is the most popular gundog in France to date. The Brittany is recognized
by the AKC and the UKC.
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Group
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AKC Sporting, UKC Gun Dog
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