Want to have a Brittany? The entire guide to Brittany puppies is provided here.

The leggiest of the Sporting breeds, the Brittany is square-proportioned, the height at the shoulder equaling the length of the body. This breed is medium-sized with light bone and stands slightly higher at the withers than the rump.

Please take your time reading this article.

About the Breed

Sportsmen on both sides of the Atlantic cherish the agile, energetic Brittany as a stylish and versatile gundog. Brittanys need a lot of exercises, preferably with their favorite people. They are bright and eager at home and tenacious outdoors.

Brittanys are smaller than setters but leggier than spaniels, standing about 20 inches at the shoulder. Their stunning, flamboyantly patterned coat is available in the liver (reddish-brown) and white with vivid orange accents.

Although tough and powerful, they move with ease, cleanliness, and speed. Bird-dog enthusiasts prize the “softness” of the face, and the breed’s characteristic eagerness is conveyed by the high-set ears. Dog sports are a great way to use the zeal and adaptability that make Brittany hunters unmatched.

This trainable breed is capable of anything, including obedience, agility, flyball, and dock diving. The Brittany is a good choice for those looking for a versatile hunting partner, a dog-sport teammate, or a friend who can fit in with active, outdoor family life.

Appearance

brittany puppies

Leggy and agile, the Brittany is a muscular, medium-sized, happy dog that ranges from 30–40 pounds. Their gorgeous coat, which can be either flat or wavy, comes in eye-catching white and orange or white and liver.

“A typical Brittany has a colored mask over their eyes and ears, and a pinto pattern of color over their body,” says a Gold Level Breeder of Merit in central Virginia named Karen Hanson of Labyrinth Brittanys.

This athletic dog is essentially a walking advertisement for what they were designed to do: hunt. They can move quickly and cover a lot of ground thanks to their strong bodies and long legs.

Their stunning coats serve a purpose beyond aesthetics; a little feathering on their ears and legs gives them just enough fur to keep them warm while working but not enough to get tangled or caught in branches.

While some Brittany puppies are born tailless, others may have a docked tail. This practice is controversial, with supporters believing that docking the tail helps to prevent injury in the field; however, the American Veterinary Association says this claim lacks substantial scientific support—and docking can be painful for the animal!

They were used by poachers to hunt pheasants and other games illegally, so their not-overly-large size is also connected to a mischievous past. “The Brittany was developed as a poacher’s dog—a smaller-sized pointing dog that could slip onto the neighboring estates to hunt both game birds and rabbits,” Hanson says.

Even their faces play a role in hunting: Those heavy eyebrows help protect their eyes in the field, and although their gentle expressions might not technically help them hunt, most Brittany owners will readily admit that those adorable faces have frequently gotten the boisterous dogs out of the proverbial doghouse!

Temperament

brittany puppies

The Brittany is a quick-thinking, inquisitive breed that is constantly searching for fun or birds. These dogs enjoy playing, running, and scouting. While being sensitive and highly responsive to human direction, they have an independent nature consistent with any pointing breed.

Given daily mental and physical exercise, Brittanys make good pets. If not given sufficient exercise, they can become destructive.

Personality:

Brittany is an enthusiastic, intelligent, and friendly dog. His sweet disposition is good for children and he usually does not mind some roughhousing. Brittanys are quick learners and eager to please. They enjoy being taught the fundamentals of obedience.

They thrive in a home with an active owner who will spend time training and going on hunts with the dog. A fenced-in yard would be sufficient for Brittany. They may have a tendency to roam or bark excessively when they are restless. Daily exercise, socialization, and early obedience are essential.

Health

There are very few genetic health problems in the Brittany breed. Breeding stock will be examined for conditions like hip dysplasia and eye disease by a responsible breeder. Regular brushing of the teeth is recommended, along with routine ear examinations to remove foreign objects and prevent wax buildup.

Grooming

The flat or wavy coat of the Brittany is typically quite short and requires little maintenance. He should always look his best with a quick comb-through of his featherings and a once-over with a soft brush or hound glove.

For the show ring, there is some light trimming done to neaten the dog’s head and neck. The nails should be trimmed every month if not already worn down naturally, and the underside of the ears should be checked frequently and cleaned if necessary.

brittany puppies

Exercise

Brittany is a bright, high-energy dog who is bred to hunt, and he needs lots of exercises. Brittanys are a good choice if you’re looking for a versatile hunting partner, a dog-sports teammate, or a devoted friend who fits in well with an active, active family life.

He enjoys a wide range of activities that occupy both his mind and body, such as long, brisk walks and hikes, running on a leash alongside his human and other similar pursuits. In addition to field trials, canine competitions like agility, FAST CAT®, and dock diving offer fantastic venues for the breed’s talent and boundless energy.

Living Needs

Brittany is a high-energy dog that requires daily exercise. The ideal family for this breed is one that is active and will help the dog fulfill its instinct to hunt and exercise. The best houses have a large yard that is fenced in. Like many active breeds, Brittany can get bored if left alone too frequently and become prone to barking, roaming, or other negative behaviors.

Brittany needs to have their coat brushed once a week to get rid of extra hair and dirt. The breed will shed somewhat year-round, with heavier periods in the warmer months. Brittany is a highly intelligent, adaptable, and sociable breed.

They typically get along well with other animals and are friendly to guests. Brittanys adores people, so allowing them to live in the same house as their family will make them the happiest.

History

Legend has it that the first ancestor of the modern Brittany was bred in the mid-1800s in a town in the Valley of Doron. The Welsh Springer and Brittany today share many physical traits, suggesting that the dogs of Brittany and Wales likely shared common ancestors.

The French region from which it originated gives Brittany its name. The Brittany spaniel was the official name of the breed at first. The breed combines a variety of skills, including pointing like a setter and retrieving like a spaniel.

The American Kennel Club changed the breed’s official name from spaniel to Brittany in 1982, giving up its classification as a spaniel. The Brittany is categorized as a utility gun dog, which means that it can flush, point, and retrieve the game. Of the breeds referred to as adaptable gun dogs, they are the smallest.