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Brittany |
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Description... |
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 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 colour 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.
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History...
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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.
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Traits...
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 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.
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Good aspects...
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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.
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Health...
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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.
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Be aware...
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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 behaviours.
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.
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Summary...
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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.
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source: petcare information centre-
petcare.umn.edu
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Further resources... |
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