The long-legged, stumpy-tailed Brittany is an athletic dynamo in a compact package. He has become a familiar sight in both city and country, always ready to tackle anything you throw at him. Here are seven fun facts about this energetic Sporting breed.<\/p>\n
Vive la France<\/h2>\n
The breed gets its name from the Brittany region in northwestern France, surrounded by the English Channel to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south, where the breed originated. Orange-and-white dogs of Brittany type, hunting and retrieving game, are depicted in paintings and tapestries of the 17th century by French, Flemish and Dutch masters. A Reverend Davies in 1850 describes hunting with small \u201cbobtailed\u201d dogs that pointed and were excellent retrievers. Around the same time, it is rumored that the modern Brittany came about through matings with English Setters. The Brittany\u2019s original fans were medieval peasants and poachers, who lived a thrifty life. They lacked the means to support a large kennel so they needed a dog that was capable of being an all-purpose worker. That versatility that was bred into the Brittany remains a hallmark of the breed to this day.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2006_Breeds_Brittany_GettyImages-1079748500.png\")
<\/p>\nPhoto:Emmanuelle Grimaud | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Coming to America<\/h2>\n
The Brittany was first recognized as a breed in 1907 when an orange-and-white male named Boy was registered in France<\/a>. The first breed standard was drawn up in the same year. The breed was introduced to the United States in 1931. In 1934 the American Kennel Club<\/a> registered its first \u201cBrittany Spaniel.\u201d Here in America, hunters considered the Brittany more of a pointer than a spaniel in its working style, and in 1982, the AKC dropped \u201cSpaniel\u201d from the official breed name.<\/p>\n During the 20th century, American and French bloodlines split and went their separate ways. Black is an acceptable coat color in the French dogs, which also is genetically linked with black noses and dark eyes. This gives the Continental dogs a very different look from the dogs we are accustomed to seeing in this country. The AKC standard allows only orange-and-white or liver-and-white dogs, with amber eyes, and the nose ranging in color from fawn, tan and shades of brown to deep pink. A black nose is a disqualification, as is a black coat.<\/p>\n Photo: Olga Turkas | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To function efficiently as a hunter, the Brittany must remain a medium-sized, agile dog, never clumsy. The breed standard specifies that the Brittany should range in height from 171\/2 to 201\/2 inches at the shoulder. Any Brittany measuring under or over these limits is disqualified from dog show competition. Ideal weight is between 30 and 40 pounds. Overweight or oversized dogs cannot function in the high-energy manner that is so typical of the breed, whether in competition or as an active family companion. The breed standard states, under \u201cSubstance,\u201d that the Brittany must not be \u201c\u2026 too light in bone, yet never heavy-boned and cumbersome.\u201d Too much hair would also bog down the dog in the field, so overly long or profuse feathering on the legs and ears is severely penalized. A Brittany should be moderate in all respects.<\/p>\n To quote the standard, the blueprint of the breed, the Brittany is prized as a \u201cleggy dog having the appearance, as well as the agility, of a great ground coverer. Strong, vigorous, energetic and quick of movement. Ruggedness, without clumsiness, is a characteristic of the breed.\u201d Does this sound like a couch potato to you? With his unlimited energy, the Brittany requires lots of rigorous, daily exercise and a job to keep him busy. If you have active children, or you bicycle or jog, the Brittany will make a superb companion. A tired Brittany will be happy to hang out and chill with you. Without a suitable outlet for his energy, the Brittany can exhibit neurotic and destructive tendencies, as any Brittany rescue volunteer will confirm.<\/p>\n Many Sporting breeds have, over time, been split into the dogs that do field work and their fancier counterparts that win in the show ring. Not many dogs of these breeds can perform in both arenas, and the look of the show and field specimens has changed over time. Not so with the Brittany. The \u201cDual Champion\u201d designation in front of a dog\u2019s name means that he has won both a field title (FC) and a show title (CH). The Brittany boasts more Dual Champions than any other breed: 608 and counting, according to the American Brittany Club\u2019s website. This is a testament to the dedication of breeders and owners who are committed to keeping the Brittany a dog that can do it all.<\/p>\n With the emphasis on the Brittany\u2019s great success in the field, it must not be forgotten that this super dog also excels in agility, obedience, flyball, rally, and as a therapy and service dog. The breed thrives in any climate and loves the water. If you can keep up with a Brittany\u2019s energy level, you’ll quickly discover what a versatile breed this is.<\/p>\n Top photograph: Przemys\u0142aw Iciak | Getty Images<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The post Brittany<\/a> by Allan Reznik<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Brittany<\/a> by Allan Reznik<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n The long-legged, stumpy-tailed Brittany is an athletic dynamo in a compact package. He has become a familiar sight in both city and country, always ready to tackle anything you throw at him. Here are seven fun facts about this energetic Sporting breed.<\/p>\n The breed gets its name from the Brittany region in northwestern France, surrounded by the English Channel to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south, where the breed originated. Orange-and-white dogs of Brittany type, hunting and retrieving game, are depicted in paintings and tapestries of the 17th century by French, Flemish and Dutch masters. A Reverend Davies in 1850 describes hunting with small \u201cbobtailed\u201d dogs that pointed and were excellent retrievers. Around the same time, it is rumored that the modern Brittany came about through matings with English Setters. The Brittany\u2019s original fans were medieval peasants and poachers, who lived a thrifty life. They lacked the means to support a large kennel so they needed a dog that was capable of being an all-purpose worker. That versatility that was bred into the Brittany remains a hallmark of the breed to this day.<\/p>\n Photo:Emmanuelle Grimaud | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Brittany was first recognized as a breed in 1907 when an orange-and-white male named Boy was registered in France<\/a>. The first breed standard was drawn up in the same year. The breed was introduced to the United States in 1931. In 1934 the American Kennel Club<\/a> registered its first \u201cBrittany Spaniel.\u201d Here in America, hunters considered the Brittany more of a pointer than a spaniel in its working style, and in 1982, the AKC dropped \u201cSpaniel\u201d from the official breed name.<\/p>\n During the 20th century, American and French bloodlines split and went their separate ways. Black is an acceptable coat color in the French dogs, which also is genetically linked with black noses and dark eyes. This gives the Continental dogs a very different look from the dogs we are accustomed to seeing in this country. The AKC standard allows only orange-and-white or liver-and-white dogs, with amber eyes, and the nose ranging in color from fawn, tan and shades of brown to deep pink. A black nose is a disqualification, as is a black coat.<\/p>\n Photo: Olga Turkas | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To function efficiently as a hunter, the Brittany must remain a medium-sized, agile dog, never clumsy. The breed standard specifies that the Brittany should range in height from 171\/2 to 201\/2 inches at the shoulder. Any Brittany measuring under or over these limits is disqualified from dog show competition. Ideal weight is between 30 and 40 pounds. Overweight or oversized dogs cannot function in the high-energy manner that is so typical of the breed, whether in competition or as an active family companion. The breed standard states, under \u201cSubstance,\u201d that the Brittany must not be \u201c\u2026 too light in bone, yet never heavy-boned and cumbersome.\u201d Too much hair would also bog down the dog in the field, so overly long or profuse feathering on the legs and ears is severely penalized. A Brittany should be moderate in all respects.<\/p>\n To quote the standard, the blueprint of the breed, the Brittany is prized as a \u201cleggy dog having the appearance, as well as the agility, of a great ground coverer. Strong, vigorous, energetic and quick of movement. Ruggedness, without clumsiness, is a characteristic of the breed.\u201d Does this sound like a couch potato to you? With his unlimited energy, the Brittany requires lots of rigorous, daily exercise and a job to keep him busy. If you have active children, or you bicycle or jog, the Brittany will make a superb companion. A tired Brittany will be happy to hang out and chill with you. Without a suitable outlet for his energy, the Brittany can exhibit neurotic and destructive tendencies, as any Brittany rescue volunteer will confirm.<\/p>\n Many Sporting breeds have, over time, been split into the dogs that do field work and their fancier counterparts that win in the show ring. Not many dogs of these breeds can perform in both arenas, and the look of the show and field specimens has changed over time. Not so with the Brittany. The \u201cDual Champion\u201d designation in front of a dog\u2019s name means that he has won both a field title (FC) and a show title (CH). The Brittany boasts more Dual Champions than any other breed: 608 and counting, according to the American Brittany Club\u2019s website. This is a testament to the dedication of breeders and owners who are committed to keeping the Brittany a dog that can do it all.<\/p>\n With the emphasis on the Brittany\u2019s great success in the field, it must not be forgotten that this super dog also excels in agility, obedience, flyball, rally, and as a therapy and service dog. The breed thrives in any climate and loves the water. If you can keep up with a Brittany\u2019s energy level, you’ll quickly discover what a versatile breed this is.<\/p>\n Top photograph: Przemys\u0142aw Iciak | Getty Images<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The post Brittany<\/a> by Allan Reznik<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nAmerican and French dogs diverge<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2006_Breeds_Brittany_GettyImages-823787830.png\")
<\/p>\nA breed of moderation<\/h2>\n
High energy<\/h2>\n
A Dual Champion brag<\/h2>\n
\u200aAnd in other departments<\/h2>\n
Vive la France<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nComing to America<\/h2>\n
American and French dogs diverge<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nA breed of moderation<\/h2>\n
High energy<\/h2>\n
A Dual Champion brag<\/h2>\n
\u200aAnd in other departments<\/h2>\n