Brittany (dog)
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| Brittany | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Adult Brittany |
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| Other names | American Brittany Brittany Pointer Epagneul Breton |
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| Country of origin | France | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. Brittanys were developed in the Brittany province of France in the 1800s.
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[edit] Description
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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). The tails of working or companion dogs are rarely left long, and breed standards in some countries require tail docking for conformation showing.
[edit] 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.).
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] References
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2007) |
- Thoms, Jerry. "The French Brittany". Gun Dog Magazine.
[edit] External links
- Club L'Epagneul Breton Australia
- The American Brittany Club
- Brittany Club of Great Britain
- The Brittany Spaniel Club of Canada
- Club de l'Epagneul Breton (USA)
- French Brittany Gun Dog Association of America Inc.
- American Brittany Rescue
- National Brittany Rescue and Adoption Network
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