Average Puppy Price £300 - £500 Puppy prices average £400-500, but will vary according to quality or if the puppy is born to imported parents from top breeding stock.   Breed Classification The Brittany is a member of the Gundog group; they are the smallest of the hunter-pointer-retriever breeds. They were originally and still are used for rough shooting, but are truly multi-purpose gundogs - used in field trials, falconry, in the show ring and as pets.   Physical Appearance The Brittany is an active, squarely built, medium sized dog having an unusual, but typical clipped gait. Their coat is fairly dense with a small amount of feathering – making this low maintenance. Colouring is orange and white, liver and white, black and white, tricolour, or roan of any of these colours.   Weight and Height Range Bitches should measure between 47-50cm with a tolerance of 1cm, and dogs measuring between 48-51cm (with the same tolerance). Their weight should be between 15 - 18kgs according to build and size.   Lifespan Approximately 15 years old. The average age is in between 12-16 years.   Characteristics Energetic, intelligent, hunt-point-retriever. The Brittany is a very active breed, who is highly intelligent, biddable and keen to please. They are also affectionate, kind, and love to be part of the family. They are generally good with children and other animals provided they are properly socialised from an early age.  However, they are also passionate about hunting and are therefore not suitable for novice pet owners who are not prepared to give them the exercise they need, or opportunities to use their brain or energy, (as their nose will take them miles away if not trained or they are likely to use their brain to get into mischief, e.g. barking, destructive or unwanted behaviour out of sheer boredom). Therefore they need both mental and physical stimulation – such as working, obedience or agility to keep their mind occupied.   Distress Caused if Left Alone Medium   Personal Protection / Suitability as a Guard Dog Low   Level of Aggression Low (unless had a bad experience – which can, as with other breeds, affect them for the rest of their life)   Tendency to Bark Medium (need mental & physical stimulation to help prevent this)   Exercise Requirements High energy levels.  This breed is very active and needs plenty of exercise, preferably 1 – 2 hours per day both on and off of the lead, they possess huge reserves of stamina and it is recommended that owners regularly involve them in a 'working' activity such as shooting, field trials, falconry or agility.   Risk of Sheep Worrying Medium   Grooming Requirements With a short / medium coat, shedding of coat is not extensive, and therefore grooming does not take long; a regular brush and perhaps occasional trim is generally all that's needed, you should also regularly check their ears for any dirt or debris.   History The Brittany originates from the centre of Brittany in Callac (France). It was originally liver & white or black & white and was short and fairly small. In 1865, British Lords used to come over to France shooting Partridge and Woodcock with their dogs, which they left behind with the local farmers because of quarantine. These dogs were mainly Setters, but also Pointers and were therefore crossed with the local spaniels. These matings produced a hybrid of all colours (the Brittany). And shooting men noticed an improvement in scenting ability with better working style. In the 1900s, small English Setters were deliberately mated to the Brittany which is why there were taller, “setterised” examples of the breed - up to 56cm. The breed stabilised from 1930, and breeders worked towards establishing the smaller, “cob” type. So the first short-tailed Brittany standard was established in 1907-1908. The Brittany made its way back across the Channel and also across the Atlantic where it is now one of the most popular breeds for bird hunting. The Brittany is today the most popular gundog in its native France.   Intelligence The Brittany is a highly intelligent breed. They learn quickly, but their training needs to be fairly firm and consistent – or they will take advantage of the situation. It is important to give the Brittany a good basic training in obedience before attempting to work them in the field, or let them off the lead in public places.   Show Characteristics The Brittany is a 'Cob' in appearance, workmanlike, the height at withers being equal to length in body. The skull should be rounded with a gently sloping stop. The eyes should be expressive and brown to dark brown in colour. The ears should be set high and triangular in shape, the jaws strong with a complete scissor bite. The neck should be of medium length, clean and well set into shoulders. The forelegs should be vertical and straight, with good bone and close set elbows. They should have a broad chest and well rounded ribcage. The back should be short with strong loins and the topline should either be level or gently sloping from the withers to croup. The thighs should be broad and well let down with a moderate bend of stifle. The feet should be tight and compact. The tail can be naturally short or tailess. Whether docked or undocked, it should be carried in line with the back. The Brittany has a unique gait, which is clipped, and short strided. When hunting the preferred gait is the gallop.   Feeding Requirements The Brittany is not usually a fussy eater, though can get fat with age or neutering. They can cost on average between £4 - £7.50 per week to feed.   Average Litter Size 6. Litters can vary between 1 -11 puppies.   Potential Health Problems The Brittany is generally a healthy breed. Hip Dysplasia is carefully monitored in breeding stock. The average hip score is 18. There are occurrences of Slipping Patella, and there has been the occasional occurrence of fitting reported. Purchasers are advised to see written confirmation of the hip scores of both parents prior to booking a puppy.

From The Brittany Club of GB

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