Dog class - Sporting
Average height - 17.5 to 20.5 inches
Average weight - 30 to 40 pounds
Size - Medium and strong
Coat - Dense, flat and wavy.
Average life span - 10 to 14 years

The Brittany is a medium-sized and active dog that stands about 17-21 inches at the shoulder and typically weigh 30-40 lbs. The Brittany is an athlete built to run, and its body should look as though it fits this bill. The coat of a Brittany is dense and flat or wavy, but not curly. Coat color can be orange and white, or liver and white, either can be in a clear or roan pattern. The tail of the Brittany is usually around 4 inches long, either naturally or artificially docked. A well-bred Brittany should be active, eager to please, and friendly.

There is a lot of speculation about the past of the Brittany. It is believed to have mainly developed in the French province of Brittany. The breed was originally labelled as a spaniel, but in 1983 the name was modified to just ""Brittany."" The main difference of the Brittany compared to other spaniels is that the Brittany ""points"" birds, whereas the spaniels ""flush"" birds.

The Brittany was designed and bred as an upland bird hunter. When it scents its prey it moves in close and freezes into a point, which ideally causes the game bird(s) to freeze as well. The hunter then moves in and flushes the birds into flight where they can be shot at. The Brittany is expected to retrieve any birds that have been knocked down.

The Brittany is a good upland bird hunter who freezes on point when it finds a bird. This dog is a good choice for the upland hunter who wishes to include their dog in the family as well. There are many competitions Britt's do well in; such as, hunting tests and trials for pointing breeds. Though not as popular with show people as with field people, some owners compete with their dogs in the show ring. Obedience and agility are also events at which Brittany's excel. These dogs enjoy being active with their families, and love to run, so they make very good companions for joggers and runners. Some also enjoy swimming when the water is warm.

Their eagerness to please allows the Brittany to respond to fair and gentle training fairly easily. Overall, Brittany's do well with children, strangers, and other dogs and proper socialization greatly increases these positive tendencies. Plus, they are a good size for many families, neither being too large nor too small.

This breed will thrive in a household where it can get a lot of exercise, attention, and training. Well-bred and well-taken care of Brittany's are happy, alert dogs which are neither aggressive nor shy. They are a good dog for a family with active children.

As with many breeds, hip dysplasia is a concern. Both parents of your pup should be checked and cleared. Brittany's are susceptible to glaucoma, and to a lesser extent spinal paralysis. In general, this breed has very few health problems.

The Brittany is an active dog that needs exercise and other stimuli such as training. Lacking these, this breed may develop destructive or other unwanted behaviors. Besides walks, this breed will be much happier and healthier if it can get a good off-leash run on a consistent basis. Walking on a leash, alone, is not sufficient exercise for this breed. Brittany's need to run. You will need to run or jog with your Brittany daily, or find a suitable off-leash dog area where your Brittany can safely run off-leash. If you have a large yard and active children who enjoy playing with a dog, this can provide terrific exercise for your Brittany as well.

The longer coat of this breed requires more attention than short-haired breeds, but not more than other breeds with similar coats. This breed has a tendency to be distracted easily and may roam off, even in the owner's presence. A close eye should be kept on your Brit when it is outdoors and off leash.

Further Brittany Dog Resources

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