Brittany Spaniel

Originating from the province of Brittany, France, where they were crossed with French Spaniels and English Setters, Brittany Spaniels are a bundle of energy and smarts that have well-earned a reputation as excellent gundogs.

While Brittanys are the smallest of the Pointer and Retriever breeds, their keen noses and outstanding work ethic has made them premiere hunting companions.

While Brittanys are officially Spaniels, they are often thought to be more akin to Setters and Pointers. They are also known simply as the Brittany or sometimes as the Breton.

Personality

Intelligent, tireless, lively, kind-hearted, affectionate and devoted
Wonderful companion dogs
Exceptional at “yodeling”/whining for a game of fetch or a treat; they like to express themselves

Size

30-40 pounds
18-20 inches at the withers (shoulder)

Lifestyle

Ideal companion for an active person or family
Excellent jogging companion or hiking buddy; however, no amount of exercise will really ever be enough
Couch potatoes would be a horrible mismatch with this breed
Love children and get along great with them, but Brittany puppies are likely too exuberant for small children or elderly adults
Will suffer extreme separation anxiety if left alone too long
Suited for a suburban or urban environment as long as there’s an outlet for all that energy: a dog run, secured park or fenced-in yard
Fine watchdogs, they’ll alert you to strange noises or unfamiliar people,
They will also bark at lots of other things and will likely have to be trained when not to bark

Training

Eager to please and very fast learners
A pleasure to train despite a small stubborn streak
A patient, repetitive, reward-based approach is the best method of training
These extremely sensitive dogs do not react well to harsh words or rough handling; positive encouragement and praise is the best bet

Exercise

Extremely high-energy dogs that require lots of exercise with 1-2 hours of walking plus plenty of running and fetch in an open, secured park or yard
They need mental stimulation as well, be it hunting, agility competitions, expert obedience training or working trials
Require a daily task to focus their energy on, such as a morning walk or fetching the newspaper; without a decided role, they can be very hyperactive

Coat

Colors range from orange and white, liver and white, black and white, roan and the less common tri-color, with any array of spots and flecks
Requires brushing two times per week, paying extra attention to the ears
Light to moderate shedding

Health

Rugged and healthy breed
May be genetically inclined to hip dysplasia, deterioration of light receptor cells in the eyes, epilepsy, hemophilia and some skin ailments