Brittany

Size
Medium (11kg - 27kg)
Exercise
40 min/day
Training
Puppy school only
Size of home
House with garden
Time at home
Often alone
Grooming
Weekly
Barking preference
Low
Personality
Independent + affectionate

Breeder List

Breeder - Ms Samantha Ibbott-Cordi (Kirinbell)

sam@kirinbell.com.au
See Details

2. Photo by Le Hammer. submitted by Maggie Young

History

The Brittany is a French breed originating in Northern France as early as 1850. By 1904 the Brittany had evolved into a distinct breed. Brittanys 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.

Appearance

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)

Temperament

Brittanys are happy, alert dogs, neither shy or 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. 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.

Astrelis Images. submitted by Claire Jensen

ID 151035730 BarbaraCerovsek Dreamstime.com

Suitability

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 and bike riding. The Brittany is a very adaptable breed at home, both indoors and out. It is agile, energetic, with great stamina and a will to please; so happy to run in the paddock, but also happy to chill out on the lounge. Brittanys are obedient and make great family pets.

The Brittany is a tough, rugged, little dog with a great deal of courage and spirit. They can be active, fast and skilful when hunting and are excellent retrievers on both land and water.

It is an easy dog to train and excels at obedience and agility. They can become bored with repetitious training, so it is essential to put variety into their routines.

A Brittany’s coat is of a short to medium length with some fringing on the back of their legs. The breed is fondly referred to as the Wash ‘n’ Wear dog, as the coat is designed not to absorb or hold water, mud or dirt. After bathing, a quick rub with a towel and a shake and they are almost dry. A quick brush and your done.

Brittanys are small and inexpensive to feed, although they are very good eaters, so listen carefully to your breeder’s instructions and advice on feeding.

Words: Karen Ward

Image: ID 151035730 © BarbaraCerovsek Dreamstime.com

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Brittany, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Brittany and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 02 Jul 2009)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

Smallest of the pointing breeds. The Brittany is a dog with a Continental spaniel-type head (braccoide in French) and a short or non-existent tail. Built harmoniously on a solid but not weighty frame. The whole is compact and well knit, without undue heaviness, while staying sufficiently elegant. The dog is vigorous, the look is bright and the expression intelligent. The general aspect is cobby, full of energy, having conserved in the course of its evolution the short-coupled model sought after and fixed by those having recreated the breed.Important proportions:- The skull is longer than the muzzle, with a ratio of 3:2.- The head is in proportion to the body.- The depth of chest, from the withes to brisket, is slightly less than half the height of the dog.- The scapulo-ischial length (from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttocks) is equal to the height at the withers (the dog fits in a square).

Characteristics

A versatile pointing dog, for any game on any terrain, precocious in revealing its hunting passion. Remarkable in its searching for game, its gait, its scenting ability, it's ranging in the field, its spontaneity and the duration of pointing, its retrieving and its aptitude for training.

Temperament

A dog adapting itself to any environment, sociable, with an intelligent and attentive expression, mentally balanced.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	The features are finely chiselled. The skin fits tightly.Cranial region: Slightly rounded as seen from the front or the side. Seen from above, the lateral surfaces are slightly convex. The top lines of the head and the muzzle are parallel. The width of the skull between the zygomatic arches is less than its length. The supercilliary arches are not prominent but form a slightly rounded curve. The frontal furrow as well as the sagittal crest are slightly defined. The stop is moderate. The occipital crest as well as the zygomatic arches are moderately defined.Facial region:Nose: Large, with very wide, humid and well-opened nostrils, of a colour in harmony with that of the coat, as is the case of the edges of the eyelids and natural orifices.Muzzle: Straight, with lateral surfaces practically parallel.Lips: Not loose, not very large, relatively thin and fitting tightly. The lower is discreetly masked by the upper whose contour bends progressively until reaching the commisure, which is not too apparent and tightly closed. The whole is free of depigmentation.Cheeks: Not heavy, the skin fitting tightly.
Eyes	Slightly oblique. With an intelligent, soft and frank expression. Somewhat oval, not protruding, with fine, well pigmented, tightly fitting eyelids. The colour of the iris is in keeping with the colour of the coat, preferably dark. Eye expression coupled with upward movement of the base of the ears gives rise to the true Brittany expression.
Ears	Set high, triangular in shape, relatively large and rather short, (drawn forward, the tip of the ear reaches the stop). Partially covered with wavy hair, especially in the upper part, the extremity being covered by short hair. Always quite mobile when the dog is attentive or in action.
Mouth	The teeth are set square to the jaws and form a complete and healthy set. Scissor bite.
Neck	Of medium length and well muscled, in the form of a slightly curved, never arched, truncated cone. Set smoothly to the shoulders and without dewlap.
Forequarters	Limbs well posed. Joints flexible and sturdy.Shoulder: Mobile, long (30% of the height at the withers), close to the body with thick muscle. Its slope is that of a galloper, between 55 and 60 degrees from the horizontal. The tips of the shoulder blades are separated by 5cm (2").Upper arm: Heavy, thick and very muscular. It is slightly longer than the shoulder blade. The scapulo-humeral angle (between the shoulder blade and the upper arm) is between 115 and 120 degrees.Forearm: Muscular and clean. Slightly longer than the upper arm. It should be practically perpendicular to the ground.Elbow: Close to the body - neither in nor out.Pastern: Solid while maintaining a certain flexibility, slightly oblique (between 15 and 20 degrees from the vertical).
Body	Topline: Level to the loins and the beginning of the croup.Withers: Sufficiently mobile and hardly protruding, without being loaded.Back: Straight, short and rigid, well coupled.Loin: Short, broad and muscular.Hips: Very slightly slanting, broad and muscular.Chest: Let down to elbow level, broad with ribs well sprung but not barrel chested. Sternum wide and scarcely rising towards the rear. The rearmost ribs long and supple.Abdomen: Slightly tucked up.Flank: Slightly rising and short.
Hindquarters	Limbs well poised and parallel when seen from behind.Thigh: Important with thick and bulging muscles. It should be slanted between 70 and 75 degrees from the horizontal.Lower thigh: Very slightly longer than the thigh with clean, bulging muscles. Broad in the upper part, diminishing gradually in size towards its junction with the hock. The angle between the upper thigh and lower thigh is close to 130 degrees.Hips: Lower than the withers, slightly prominent. The points of the hips are level with the back. Upper thigh: Broad and well let down.Hock: Clean, with visible tendons.Rear pastern: Solid, nearly vertical when seen from the side.
Feet	The forefeet are rather round, toes tight, pads firm, toenails short. The hind feet are longer than the forefeet, whilst maintaining the same characteristics.
Tail	Set high, carried horizontally (or slightly lowered), often lively when the dog is attentive or in action. The Brittany can be born tailless or with a very short tail. When the tail is docked the ideal length is from 3 to 6 cm, the docked tail should not exceed 10cm.
Gait/Movement	The different gaits are easy but powerful, even and lively. The legs move straight without exaggerated bouncing of the body and without rolling, the top line staying level. The canter is the most common gait in the field, the strides are rapid and of medium length, the hind legs having little extension to the rear (collected canter).
Coat	Skin: Fine, tight fitting and well pigmented. Hair: The coat is fine but not silky, lying flat on the body or with a slight hint of a wave. Never curly. Short on the head and the front of the limbs. The hind part of the latter has a heavier coat, furnished with abundant feathering, diminishing along their length down to the carpus (wrist) or the tarsus (hock), or even lower.
Colour	White and orange, white and black, white and liver with more or less extensive irregular white patches. Piebald or roan, sometimes with ticking on the top and sides of the muzzle or the limbs. Equally, in the case of tricolour coats, with tan spotting (orange to dark tan) on the top and sides of the muzzle, over the eyes, on the limbs, on the chest and over the base of the tail. A narrow blaze is desirable with any colour of coat. A self coloured coat is not allowed.
Size	Height at the wither:Males 48 cms minimum (18.9 ins) with a tolerance of 1cms (0.4 ins). 51 cms maximum (20.1 ins) with a tolerance of 1 cms (0.4 ins).Ideal height 49 to 50 cms (19.3-19.7 ins)Females 47 cms minimum (18.5 ins) with a tolerance of 1 cms (0.4 ins) 50 cms maximum (20.1 ins) with a tolerance of 1 cms (0.4 ins).Ideal height 48 to 49 cms (18.9-19.3 ins).

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog, and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.Character: Timidity, shifty eyed.Head planes: Somewhat divergent.Nose: Very slightly de-pigmented, interior of the nostrils de-pigmented.Teeth: Pincer bite, teeth out of line.Muzzle: Pinched or snipy.Lips: Heavy, pendulous, upper lip covering the lower either insufficiently or excessively.Eyes: Prominent, round or almond shaped.Ears: Hung too low or falling away too sharply.Back: Arched or saddle back.Croup: Too narrow or falling away too sharply.Abdomen: Bulky or too tucked up (whippety).Feet: Splayed, too round or too long.Neck: Heavy and lacking reach.Loin: Long, narrow, weak.Flank: Too hollow, often accompanied by a weak loin lacking breadth.Limbs: Insufficient bone. Out at the elbows, pigeon toed, slew feet.Coat: Not heavy enough on the body.SERIOUS FAULTSBehaviour: Sluggish.Skull: Zygomatic arches are too prominent, stop very pronounced, superciliary arches too prominent.Eyes: Light, mean look, haw-like expression.Neck: Excessively long, distinct dewlap.Gait: Poor mover.DISQUALIFYING FAULTSAny fault in temperament such as snapping, aggressiveness towards dog or man or excessive shyness.Lack of type: Insufficient breed characteristics, which means the animal on the whole doesn't resemble other samples of the breed.Height: Outside the limits defined by the standard.Head planes: Marked convergence. " Abnormal markings: White spot on the ear or eye in a white patch.Eyes: Very light in colour, heterochromia (eyes of different colours), squinting entropion, ectropian.Jaws: Overshot or undershot mouth.Teeth: The first premolars of both jaws and the last molars of the lower jaw are considered to be without importance. Can only be permitted the absence of 2 PM2 or 1 PM2 and 1 PM3. Contiguous absence of these two teeth (PM2 and PM3) is eliminating. Absence of any other tooth is also eliminating.Pigmentation: Distinct un-pigmented areas on the nose or eyelids.Presence of dewclaws, even if rudimentary.Serious morphological anomaly.