GROUP 3 - GUNDOGS

Brief History
The Brittany is named after the region in Northern France from which it originates. Reputedly developed as a poacher’s dog, this is a small, easily trained, obedient dog. A utility gundog, the Brittany will hunt, point, flush and retrieve game ranging from quail, duck and rabbits to deer. The Brittany was first imported to Australia in 1974.

Average Life Span
When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime.

The average life span is 12 to 15 years.

Temperament
Brittanys are happy, alert dogs, neither shy nor mean. They are energetic, fun loving and enjoy the company of people of any age. Brittanys are loyal, affectionate and eager to please their master, as well as being good watchdogs.

General Breed Description
The Brittany is a compact, medium sized dog, leggy in appearance, with a short to medium length coat with some fringing on the back of their legs. Fondly referred to as "the human orientated breed", they adore people and are ready, willing and able to join in on any family activity including swimming, jogging, sailing, camping and horse/bike riding or just having fun. The Brittany can be born tailless or with a very short tail. It is a very adaptable breed, happy living indoors or outside. They are agile, energetic, with a gentle, jolly and happy-go-lucky temperament and a willingness to please. Brittanys are valued and enthusiastic working gundogs and make fantastic competitors in Obedience, Agility and other dog sports, as well as being loyal family companions.

The Brittany’s colours are orange and white, liver and white, black and white, black tri colour, liver tri colour and roan of all these colours.

Coat and Care Requirements
The Brittany is fondly referred to as the Wash 'n' Wear dog. The coat is designed to not absorb or hold water, mud or dirt, hence your Brittany should require a bath only once every two weeks or so. After bathing, a quick rub with a towel and a shake and they are almost dry, so, a quick brush and comb and you are done. Brittanys are known to love their food and if you keep filling their bowl, they will keep eating it, so care must be taken to follow any feeding instructions from the breeder.

Size
Height:  Males 48 to 51cms, (19 to 20ins), Females 47 to 50cms (18.5  to 19.5ins).

Health
All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders it is recommended you enquire about the breed’s health and what health testing the breeder does. The Brittany is generally a healthy breed, however health conditions do occur occasionally. These may include Hip Dysplasia (HD), Epilepsy and Eye Disease.

Suitability
Ideal owners for this breed are those who allow the Brittany inside the house, ensuring the dog is part of the family and included in family outings. They should be active people who enjoy the outdoors and who will walk the dog every day.

Brittanys are tough, rugged, little dogs with a great deal of courage and spirit. They are active, fast and skilful when hunting and are excellent retrievers on both land and water. They can become bored with repetitious training, so it is essential to put variety into their routines. The Brittany does not respond well to hard or rough handling, so gentle positive training is definitely the way to train a Brittany.

In Conclusion
Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or Dogs Victoria. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs. With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Dogs Victoria is about the responsible ownership of all dogs and in particular the preservation of pure breeds.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard:  https://dogsaustralia.org.au/breed/detail/62