Other names/Nicknames:
- Epagneul Breton
- Brittany Spaniel
Country/Date of origin:
- France
- 1700′s
Height:
- 17-1/2 to 20 1/2 inches
Weight:
- 30 to 40 pounds
Personality:
- Tends to be a one-person dog.
- Fearless and aggressive in the field.
- Somewhat reserved with strangers.
History:
This breed was already a common hunting dog in 18th century Brittany (a region of France). It bears the name of the place that nurtured it, and was once called the Brittany Spaniel. The name was changed to reflect the fact it is the smallest of the pointing breeds and does do the retrieving work of the spaniel. Brittanies were imported to the United States in 1931. They are still a popular choice for the single-dog hunter. They were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1934, attesting to their instant popularity.
Body Type:
- Smallest of the true pointers.
- It is built more along the lines of a spaniel, although it is square in shape. It is about as tall as it is long.
- Short ears, with rounded tips, hang close to the head. They are not altered.
- Tail is usually naturally short. It is docked, however, if it exceeds four inches in length.
Coat:
- Coat is dense and wavy, lying close to the body.
- There is moderate feathering on the legs.
- Colors permitted are dark orange and white, or liver and white.
- The color patches are either clear or roan.
- No black is allowed in the United States, and tricolored dogs fancied in Europe are severely faulted.
- Moderate grooming required.
Health and Wellness:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Hemophilia.
- Complement deficiency.
- Spinalmuscular atrophy.
- Lip fold pyoderma.
- Idiopathic epilepsy.
- Discoid lupus erythematosis.
- Hypothyroidism.
What you should know:
- There are more dual champions (bench and field) than in any other breed.
- Make no mistake, the Brittany’s first love is birds. Humans come in second place.