Brittany spaniel

Overall description of the breed

The first appearance of the standardised Brittany Spaniel dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, however its true origins would be much further back, some historians have been able to observe its presence on tapestries dating back to the 17th century, thus some of its distant ancestors would have been noticed around 150 BC.

The cradle of the breed as we know it today is located in France, notably in central Brittany, where it can be observed as early as 1907. At that time, the breed was already very popular and the first provisional standard was published the same year. It is the oldest French spaniel breed, resulting from crosses between local spaniels and Oysel dogs, Pointers and Setters, most of its hunting dogs are of British origin.

A long and rigorous selection process has resulted in a complete, balanced dog with great olfactory qualities, particularly appreciated by hunters of small and medium-sized game. The first breed club was founded in 1908, called the "Club de l'Épagneul Breton à courte queue naturelle", and was officially recognized by the International Cynological Federation almost 50 years later, on November 19, 1954. The last update of the official standard in force was published on 25 March 2003.

Highly appreciated for their vigour and courage at work, the Brittany Spaniel is a wonderful companion and a remarkable hunting companion, with many qualities, such as endurance, willingness and patience. Moreover, they have a morphology adapted to all types of terrain and climate, they are among the smallest pointing dogs in the world, short and compact, their muscles are well developed, their chest is ample, their chest is full, they have exemplary agility and suppleness, associated with a great finesse of movement, which makes them extremely elegant.

The head is well proportioned to the body, the skull slightly rounded, the muzzle moderately long and the stop discreetly marked. The Breton Spaniel's coat is short, thick and slightly wavy in places, usually white with black, orange or brown patches. The tail is ideally between 3 and 6 cm when docked, although some purebreds may be born without a tail.

The character of this French hunting dog is very gentle, showing affection for his loved ones whenever he has the opportunity. He is not only an outstanding working partner, but also an exceptional domestic dog, sociable with everyone, whether it be his fellow dogs or people he does not know. Docile and dynamic, he needs to spend a lot of time each day, he is an energetic animal, but without excess, his natural joy of living will quickly channel itself indoors, so he will have no difficulty in being peaceful in the company of his owners by the fireplace.

His endurance is limitless, resistant and tenacious, he adapts to all types of terrain, specializing in duck hunting, he can be used easily to track other game. In conclusion, the Brittany Spaniel is an endearing and profoundly kind companion that will bring you satisfaction, loyalty and tenderness on a daily basis.

Adult: The Brittany Spaniel will weigh approximately 28.6-39.6 lbs, with a height at the withers of approximately 18.5-20.4" for males and 18.1-20" for females.

Breeders of Brittany spaniel

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Serge L.

France

4/30/24, 9:40 AM

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