Overview
The Brittany, once called the Brittany Spaniel, is a medium-sized pointing and retrieving dog from north-west France, popular with hunters across Europe and North America for its speed and keenness. It is orange and white or liver and white, with a short tail and a wavy coat that is easier to keep than a spaniel's.
Temperament is soft, affectionate and eager. Brittanys are sensitive to tone and do not need or tolerate rough handling. They are also among the highest-energy gundogs you will meet, and an under-exercised one becomes anxious and restless rather than destructive.
Exercise and walking needs
Allow close to two hours a day for a fit adult, with a good part of it running off lead. They quarter the ground in wide sweeps and cover several times the distance you walk.
They enjoy retrieving and take well to scent games and agility. A long, hard walk with a few retrieves built in tires them better than any amount of lead walking.
On the walk
- Recall: Good in a trained dog, because the breed is attentive and wants to please. A bird flushing will still carry it off for a moment; wait, then call.
- Pulling: Light. Excitement rather than strength, and a harness is kinder on a lean neck.
- Other dogs: Friendly and playful. Good on group walks with other active dogs.
- Sensitivity: Shouting or jerking the lead makes a Brittany anxious for the rest of the walk. Keep instructions calm and upbeat.
Tips for professional walkers
- Reward check-ins generously on the first few walks; the recall builds itself from there.
- Carry a dummy or ball and use it to bring the dog back to you before putting the lead on.
- Look through the feathering on the legs and ears for burrs and seeds.
- Plan for distance; a Brittany that has been in the house all day needs the full walk.
What to ask the owner
- Which gundog cues or whistle signals does the dog know?
- How does it react to gunshot, fireworks and sudden noises?
- Any hip or other health history that should limit long runs?