Brittany

The Brittany is a medium-sized dog growing to approximately 51cm (18-20 inches) at the shoulder and weighing between 13-18 kgs. They fit nicely into the family car and don’t take up much room.

They are a leggy dog in appearance with great stamina, energy and ruggedness without clumsiness. This gives the Brittany the ability to cover large amounts of ground. Coupled with the desire for hunting and refusal to quit, makes the breed versatile for show or fieldwork.

They come in a variety of colours – orange/white, liver/white, black/white, black tri-colour, liver tri-colour and roan of all these colours.

NOTE: They can also be born with any length of tail (bobtail to full tail)

The Brittany is a French breed originating in Northern France as early as 1850. By 1904 the Brittany had evolved into a distinct breed. Brittany’s were first imported into Australia in 1974 and 1975. These imports played a very important roll in the development of the breed in Australia.

This breed is classified as a Utility Gundog, which means that they hunt, point, flush and retrieve their game. The Brittany is used in Australia for hunting Stubble Quail, Duck, Rabbit, Hare and to a lesser degree foxes, pigs and deer.

Brittanys are happy, alert dogs, neither shy or mean. They are energetic, fun loving and enjoy the company of people of any age. Brittany’s are loyal, affectionate and eager to please their master, as well as being good watchdogs. They make fantastic pets for children, especially four to five years and up, though smaller children may get their faces washed and get pushed over by an over exuberant puppy wanting to play. If supervised the puppy soon learns not to knock his small master over and baby and puppy grow up together and become the best of friends.

The Brittany's flat or wavy coat is mostly fairly short and requires minimal grooming. A once-over with a soft brush or hound glove and a quick comb-through of his featherings should keep him looking his best. For the show ring there is some light trimming done to neaten the dog's head and neck. The underside of the ears should be inspected regularly and wiped clean if needed, and the nails trimmed every month if not naturally worn down.

The Brittany is a bright, high-energy dog who is bred to hunt, and he needs lots of exercise. Brittany’s are a good fit for those seeking an all-purpose hunting partner, a dog-sport teammate, or a loyal companion suited to a lively, outdoorsy family life. He enjoys long, brisk walks and hikes or running on a leash alongside his human, as well as a wide variety of activities that occupy both his mind and his body. As well as field trials, other canine events such as Agility, Lure Coursing, and dock diving provide great outlets for the breed's talent and boundless energy.