In every one of our dog breed articles, we genuinely try to find some pros and cons for choosing a particular dog so that if one of our readers is actually thinking about adopting that particular dog, they can get a better idea of what it might be like to own that particular dog.
This way…
Six months from now they won’t find themselves regretting their decision!
This is what…
We typically like to do. But in the case of the Brittany, finding something negative to say about them is REALLY, TOUGH! You almost have to HATE dogs to not like a Brittany, and that’s certainly not the case with us here at IndulgeYourPet!
That said however…
We still want to make sure that only “true” Brittany fans decided to adopt a Brittany so we’ll still try our best to give you a “realistic” idea about what it will be like to own a Brittany.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right into it!
Brittany Fast Facts
Country of Origin: France
Original Purpose: Companion Dog, Sporting Dog
Height: 17.5 to 20.5 inches tall
Weight: 30 to 45 pounds
Life Span: 12 to 14 years
Dog Breed Classification: Sporting
The Origins of Brittany
The Brittany is a French dog that is believed to have originated from the Brittany province (which incidentally is a great place to visit!). It is there that French hunters in the mid 1800’s decided to try and mix small spaniels (probably French Spaniel breeds and Welsh Spaniel breeds) in the area with English Setters.
The result was…
A “great” retriever with a super strong sense of smell that could be used to seek out small game and “point” to it so that his human master could then “score” the kill.
What made the Brittany so…
Valuable was that this “gundog” or pointing dog could be used in nearly any part of the country. Meaning that hunters all throughout the country from thickly forested areas to wide open grasslands soon began to value the Brittany for his many talents.
Now while it is true…
That we’re not sure who first had the “idea” to create this “mix” we do know that the Brittany was first recognized as a hunting or pointing dog breed in 1907.
The Brittany comes to the U.S.A…
In 1925, the first Brittany was brought to the United States. And despite the fact that there were plenty of hunters and sportsman in the US at that time, the “Brittany” wasn’t an immediate sensation.
But like we said…
In the beginning of this article, it’s really hard to find any “fault” with this particular dog breed which why it really was only a matter of time before the Brittany won the heart of America!
By 1934…
The American Kennel Club (AKC) officially recognized the breed and set the breed standard as was really the only barrier standing in the way of the Brittany to eventually becoming one of the most popular “hunting dogs” in the country.
Physical Characteristics of Brittany
Brittany is a mid-sized dog that weighs between 30 to 45 pounds and stands about 17 to 20 inches tall. He going to have a short coat, usually of the color combinations of white and liver, white and orange or white and “roan”.
For those who…
Aren’t totally familiar with what a Brittany looks like, it’s fair to say that they look a bit like an English Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel which makes sense… right?
Now…
Over the years, there has been a bit of controversy with regards the Brittany tail. You see, some are born with them and some are born without. Traditionally, those born without have been favored, however most folks will simply have those with tails “docked” in which case they are “considered” every bit as good as those born “tailless”.
What about grooming?
The Brittany coat isn’t one that requires too much maintenance or grooming since it’s not too long. That said however, you should give him or her a good “brush down” once or twice a week to avoid excessive shedding.
Brittany Temperament
The Brittany has a very pleasing personality. He is one of those dogs who is always happy, active and looking for something to do. Which means that you’re never really going to see your Brittany sitting in a corner, sulking by himself, whining, complaining or moaning!
And maybe…
This can be the one complaint that we have about the Brittany!
If you’re looking…
For a dog that will simply sit around the house all day and not want to do much, or really be “into” you all that much, well then… You definitely don’t want to get a Brittany.
You see..
Brittany’s are very friendly dogs…
Very friendly dogs that love kids and kids love them back. And while it is true that your Brittany is likely to be very protective by nature, he is also going to be, kind, generous and understanding.
The one thing that Brittany’s hate…
…Is being ignored. So, if you’re someone that doesn’t want to have a dog that follows them around the house or is someone that goes off to work 10 to 12 hours a day, you may want to reconsider adopting a Brittany because he or she isn’t going to be happy with that!
Training the Brittany
At its core, the Brittany is a very fast, athletic and active dog that is always on the move. In fact, the Brittany can almost be considered a “terrier” in many aspects except, this “terrier” is going to be a whole lot easier to train!
This is probably due…
To his desire to please his owner. And if you’re serious about training your Brittany and you start early when he or she is just a puppy, you’ll be amazed at all the tricks he or she can learn. It’s probably why these dogs perform so well in the field and at field trials.
What about the health problems common to the Brittany?
The Brittany is generally a healthy breed, but even he is known to suffer from certain health issues such as:
- Hip dysplasia,
- and elbow dysplasia.
Both of which can develop into arthritis as your Brittany ages. And unfortunately, when it comes to hip dysplasia, Brittanys’ are almost twice as likely to suffer from this condition compared to other common breeds his size.
Which brings us to…
The last topic we wanted to mention here in this article which is the need to at least “consider” purchase a pet insurance policy for any new pet you are considering.
Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?
No, probably not. But if you don’t give yourself the opportunity to understand what these types of policies “will” and “won’t” cover and if you don’t at least find out how much these “types” of policies cost, how will you ever know if purchasing one will be right for you?
Here at IndulgeYourPet…
Don’t think you can know. Which is why we’ve also written our Best Pet Insurance Companies article so that you can quickly determine for yourself if it make sense to purchase a pet insurance policy for your new family member.
thx