How to Identify a Brittany Dog

The Brittany spaniel is a hunting dog that was used and kept by French peasants in the province of Brittany as early as 1896. Its exact lineage is not known, but it’s believed that the breed resulted from the crossing of an orange and white (English) setter and an unspecified breed of French spaniel. It is formally classified as a gun dog in that it sniffs out and directs a hunter to small game, particularly birds, then retrieves the game animal once the hunter has shot it. Unlike most spaniels, this breed does not do well hunting waterfowl as it is not happy in the water. It makes up for this by working particularly well rooting through dense cover after game thanks to its high energy and agility. Here's how to identify a Brittany spaniel.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Identifying a Brittany

1. Start by guessing the dog’s rough size and weight. While small for most pointers, a Brittany can be up to 20 inches in height at the shoulder, which is very tall for a spaniel. The dog should average between 30 and 40 pounds. It should have long, muscular legs and a deep, but narrow chest that stops just before the dog’s front’s elbows. It can be either completely tailless, or have a docked tail no longer than four inches. This is to prevent injury or snagging when navigating through thick brush and branches.

2. Examine the dog’s fur. The coat will be thin and short, with long fringes along the ears, legs, and chest. It will usually have a two color pattern incorporating tan and white, brown and white, or black and white. The white will be the primary color and spots of the secondary color can be found on the flanks, face, chest and rear.

3. Finish by looking at the dog’s head. The high-set ears should be short for a spaniel and in a triangular shape, slightly fringed and hanging close to the head. The color of the nose will match the dark color of its fur. It should have a rounded skull of medium-length with a straight muzzle and a pronounced stop. The dog’s eye color should be amber, but dogs with black in their fur will have darker eyes. If the dog matches this description, then it’s a Brittany.

Tips & Warnings

• A Brittany is equally content when out hunting or at home with its family, though that is not to say they are ever sitting still. This dog is very energetic and needs a fenced yard to run around in as well as good long walk each day in order to stay healthy and out of mischief. They work well with children and strangers provided they’ve been socialized since birth; otherwise they can be shy and timid, but never dangerous.
• In the U.S., the dog is simply called a Brittany.
• Keep a Brittany away from other non-canine animals. They are primarily a hunting dog after all and though they are not likely to do harm to other animals, they will most certainly give chase. Never let this breed loose without a leash or identifying tags, as they have a great tendency to roam.

Resources

• List of reliable Brittany breeders