The Brittany, sometimes referred to as the Brittany Spaniel, is a versatile sporting dog, that is also popular as a companion and family pet, due to its wonderful temperament. The name comes from the French province of Brittany where the breed originated. Unfortunately, much of the early breed records no longer exist, but what is clear is that the Brittany has always been used as a retriever and pointer by bird hunters.
The Brittany first came to broad public attention when it debuted at the Paris Dog Show in 1900. In 1920, the first Brittanys reached American shores, with AKC recognition following in 1934.These athletic, medium-sized dogs have a compact build, with long legs. The tailed is either naturally short, or may be docked, although docking is now outlawed in many countries. Acceptable coat colors are The coat can be orange and white coat, liver and white, orange roan, liver roan, or black and white. (NOTE: The AKC considers black and white coats a fault, although all other registries accept it).
These are wonderfully balanced dogs, energetic, intelligent and affectionate. They bond closely with their human ‘pack’, and are know to get on with everyone, and to have a special affinity with children.Due to their intelligence, Brittanys are quick learners and easy to train. Training should be kept positive though as they are quite sensitive and don’t respond well to harsh treatment.
They love everyone, although they may build a special bond with one particular person. And their affection also extends to other pets, although given their history they may not do well with pet birds.
The Brittany is a health dog breed that lives 12 to 14 years on average. They are prone to few genetic diseases although, hip dysplasia, epilepsy and ear infections are known to occur. Grooming a Brittany is quite easy. The coat will need to be brushed every second day or so, but unless your dog spends time in open fields, that’s about it.Dogs that spend time in open fields or woodland will have to be checked regularly for ticks.
A big plus with this breed is that they are single coated, and therefore shed very little.
As sporting dogs, Brittanys are highly active and require regular vigorous exercise. They can do okay in an apartment due to their small size but will need, a least, a daily walk. The ideal living situation for the breed is in the countryside or a large house with an active family. Dogs that are under-exercised and receive little interaction or mental stimulation may be prone to behavioral problems and self-mutilation. But in the right circumstances and with the right owner the Brittany makes an exceptional pet.
Finding good dog names, for a Brittany can be a challenge. Your best bet is to use an online dog names database like Puppy Names HQ, which has literally thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-list of female dog names.