Brittany
Overview
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.
Appearance
A Brittany is typically quite athletic, compact, and solidly built without being heavy. They have long legs and an expression of intelligence, vigor 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 one to four inches (3 to 10 centimeters). In countries where docking is illegal long-tailed Brittanys should carry their tails level with the back or slightly lower.
Size
Brittany Spaniels are almost always between 17.5 to 20.5 inches (44 to 52 centimeters) tall at the withers, with the United Kennel Club (UKC) and American Kennel Club (AKC) preferring smaller dogs. They weigh 30 to 40 pounds (13.5 to 18 kilograms). The dog is squarish 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 Brittanys. Although generally seen 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 like a spaniel in that it is smaller; they also generally work more closely to the guns.
Health
Brittanys are generally healthy dogs, though some genetic disorders are prevalent. They can be prone to hip dysplasia and epilepsy. Their ears can be prone to infections. They usually live 14 to 15 years.
Personality
Brittanys are very affectionate and, if allowed, may climb on your lap and rest their head on your shoulder. Brittanys get along well with other dogs and thrive in households with multiple animals. Brittanys are excellent with children, but they are an exuberant breed and if not well supervised may accidentally harm a small child. Their outgoing nature makes them poor candidates for protectors.
Training
Britanys are known to be easy to train, sensitive and sweet-natured. It often takes nothing but a stern look or word to chastise a Brittany. As a consequence, care must be taken during training not to break the dog’s spirit.
Source: All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
Ask Your Dog Question Now.
