Brittany
History
- In the mid 1800s, French sportsmen in the Bretagne region of France crossed spaniels with setters from England. These setters probably were related to, but not the same as, today's English Setters.
- The resulting dogs were excellent woodcock dogs, both pointing and retrieving. Not only were they popular with the gentry, but poachers liked them because they were obedient and versatile.
- Many of these dogs were tailless or stub-tailed.
- The Brittany came to North America around 1925. Initially, sportsmen had a hard time accepting them because of their short tails, but their field trial abilities soon put an end to any problems of acceptance. The dogs were so good at field trials that they became the most popular pointing dog at competitive events.
- The AKC recognized them as the Brittany spaniel in 1934.
- In 1982, the name was changed to simply Brittany, because the dog's hunting style is more setter-like than spaniel-like. It is a pointing dog, not a flushing dog.
Brittany Behavior Concerns
- Makes an energetic and adventurous companion.
- Very good with children.
- Eager to please and quick to learn, overall a biddable dog.
- Somewhat independent.
- Does best with reward-based training involving food.
- Very outgoing toward strangers.
- Gets along well with other pets and dogs.
- Enjoys retrieving and swimming.
Brittany Suggested Exercises
- Makes a fairly calm housedog if given adequate exercise.
- Requires daily exercise in the form of a long walk, jog or energetic games.
- This is not a breed for lazy people.
- Hunting and retrieving are favored activities.
- A good candidate for dog parks.
- Obedience training is essential not only for control, but for the mental exercise it provides.
Brittany Grooming
- Coat is of medium length, either flat or wavy.
- The coat needs brushing and combing one or two times a week.
- Shedding is average.
Suggested Brittany Nutritional Needs
- Brittanys tend to stay in good weight or to be slightly overweight.
- Adult dogs should be fed a balanced diet, with restricted calories if the dog starts to gain too much weight.
- Puppies should be fed a balanced a puppy food.
