Brittany

Regular brushing of the medium-length, flat coat is really all that is needed to keep it in good condition. Bathe or dry shampoo when necessary. A low-maintenance dog, but careful trimming is necessary if you plan on showing them. Check the ears carefully, especially when the dog has been out in rough or brushy terrain. This breed is a light shedder.

The Brittany’s flat or wavy coat has a little feathering on the legs and belly, and it’s easy to care for with a weekly brushing. His coat sheds moderately, but regular brushing will keep loose hair off your floor, furniture and clothing. A bath is necessary only when he gets dirty.

Easy Training: The Brittany has a well deserved reputation for being easy to train due to its intelligence and obedience. It has a strong desire to please its master and is usually ready to accept direction. Brittanys are highly sensitive; any discipline beyond a harsh word or stern look is strongly discouraged and unlikely to prove beneficial.

The leggiest of the sporting breeds, the Brittany is square-proportioned, the height at the shoulder equaling the length of the body. It stands slightly higher at the withers than at the rump. It is medium-sized with light bone. The combination of long legs and light bones endows the Brittany with remarkable agility and speed. In fact, the breed is very quick and is noted for its ground-covering side movement at the trot. The Brittany may be born tailless or have the tail docked to about 4 inches. The breed's coat is far less profuse than that of spaniels and is either flat or wavy. An overly profuse coat is detrimental when hunting in briars and is considered a severe fault. The Brittany's expression is alert and eager, but soft. The eyes are protected from briars by a fairly heavy eyebrow. The Brittany is an extremely athletic, eager dog that should be ready and able to run in the field for extended periods.

In temperament, the Brittany is friendly and eager to please. These friendly little dogs hunt more like a Setter due to their pointing ability, and are higher on their legs than other Spaniels. The Brittany does not require a heavy hand in training. In fact, they may quit if the discipline is too stern. Much more is accomplished with a gentle hand. They seek human attention, which makes them easier to train than some other hunting breeds. They make close working hunting dogs, fine companions, and family pets.

The Brittany (also known as the ‘American Brittany’, ‘Brittany Spaniel’, and ‘Epagneul Breton’) originated in the Brittany province of France in the 1800’s from crosses of the English Setter and small Spaniels. It is a skilled bird hunter with excellent scenting abilities. The Brittany’s pointing and retrieving skills and high level of obedience made it popular among hunters, particularly poachers. Brittanys were first imported to North America in the 1920’s and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1934 (the registered name was changed from ‘Brittany Spaniel’ to ‘Brittany’ in 1982, out of recognition of its more ‘setter’-like hunting style), but took a while to catch on popularity due to the absence of a long tail. The Brittany has slowly risen in popularity due to its small size, easygoing personality, and excellent hunting skills. It is today the most popular pointer in field trials.