Where the Brittany came from
The Brittany comes from the Brittany region of France. Hunters there wanted a compact bird dog that could point and retrieve and work close.
The breed developed in the 1800s from local dogs in Brittany, with English Setters in the mix. An 1850 description tells of small pointing dogs, many with short tails. They became popular with hunters who did not keep large kennels.
The AKC recognized the breed in 1934. The word Spaniel was dropped from the name in 1982, because the dog points like a pointer.
- 1850 An early written description tells of small pointing dogs, often bobtailed, in Brittany
- 1934 AKC recognizes the Brittany
- 1982 AKC drops Spaniel from the name
The job a Brittany was bred for
The dogs ranged ahead, found birds, held a point and retrieved. At home that means lots of energy, a strong nose and a people loving nature.
Sports that fit a Brittany
- Field work. Hunt tests
- Scent work. Strong nose
- Agility. Fast and agile
- Tracking. Good nose and stamina
- Dock diving. Many like water
Training tips for a Brittany
- Give daily vigorous exercise plus nose games.
- Use gentle, upbeat methods, since many are sensitive.
- Work on recall with great rewards.
- Teach settle and alone time.
Body and health
Medium size and sturdy, but warm up well before running and jumping.
Fun fact. Many Brittanys are born with a short or no tail.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Brittany is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.