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Brittany Spaniel Dog Breed Introduction
Brittany ( also known as Brittany Spaniel or Brittany dog) is a gun dog breed originally developed for bird hunting. They are popularly known as Brittany Spaniels. However, AKC(American Kennel Club) dropped the spaniel name in 1982. This is because Brittanys are pointing dogs and are less genetically in common with spaniels. However, they are more common with Setters which are pointing dogs. Their are American Brittanys and French Brittanys. The former is taller and faster while the latter is smaller and generally works closely to the hunter. Brittany Dogs are energetic and athletic pets that need at least one hour of exercise on a daily basis. This is also a versatile breed that has won championships in both conformation shows and field trials.
Brittany Spaniel Origin | History
The Brittany Dog originated from the Brittany Region in northwestern France. However, there are a few records that were kept on the breeds that were used to develop these dogs. Although, it is believed that the dogs that contributed to the development of Brittanys were the Welsh Springer Spaniel, English Setter, and other French spaniel breeds. The first records of dogs that resemble Brittany Dogs date back to the 17th century on tapestries and paintings.
Brittany dogs were designed to become versatile gundogs that were adept at both pointing and retrieving. This made this breed suitable for working in an array of country environments. In America, Brittanys were introduced in 1931. AKC registered the first dog breed in 1934 then known as Brittany Spaniel. During the 20th century, The French and American lines diverged. By the mid-century, breed fanciers considered their Brittanys more pointers than Spaniels in their working style. Therefore, the spaniel name was dropped off in 1982. In France, this breed is still referred to as Brittany Spaniel.
Brittany Spaniel | Brittany Dog Lifespan
The Brittany dog has a lifespan of 12 to 14 years with some living up to the age of 16 years. According to a survey conducted in France, Brittanys have a median lifespan of 12.6 years while in the UK the survey put the median lifespan at 12 years 11 months. From the UK study, about 1 in 5 dogs died of old age at an average age of 14 to 15 years.
Brittany Grooming | Brittany Spaniel Grooming | Brittany Dog Grooming
Brittanys may have a flat or wavy coat that sheds moderately all-year round and heavily when experiencing seasonal change. Weekly brushing is recommended using a hound glove or a soft slicker brush and a quick comb through the featherings to remove dirt, loose hair, and promote new hair growth. During the heavy shedding season, daily brushing is recommended to confine the loose hair in the brush that would otherwise spread around the house.
Before brushing the coat, spritz it using a water conditioner solution or a detangling spray to prevent hair breakage. A Brittany Dog requires occasional bath every 3 to 4 months. Before bathing the dog, brush the coat to remove dirt and dead hair. Use a whitening dog shampoo to scrub every part of the dog. After a bath, thoroughly rinse of the shampoo from the skin using lukewarm water to prevent skin irritation. Use a damp washcloth or a unscented canine wipes to clean the face instead of using soapy water that irritates the eyes.
Clip the nails every 3 to 5 weeks using nail clippers or grinders. Overly grown nails are painful for Brittany Dogs while walking or running. Brush the teeth of a Brittany at least twice a week if not daily to remove excess tartar using a tasty canine toothpaste and finger toothbrush. Brittanys have floppy shaped ears that are prone to ear infections. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove excess wax, debris, or dirt. While cleaning the ears, lookout for odor, redness, and dark discharge that are signs of dog’s ear infection. Brittany Dogs that participate in conformation shows need some light trimming around the neck and head.
Brittany Spaniel Haircut | Grooming Styles
A Brittany dog does not require shaving since it will interfere with how the coat grows. However, trimming is recommended to neaten the appearance around the neck, ears, head, and tail.
Brittany Spaniel Shedding | Brittany Dog Shedding | Brittany Shedding
A Brittany dog sheds all-year round at moderate levels. However, the shed hair is more noticeable during Spring and Fall when the dog is experiencing seasonal change.
Brittany Spaniel Coat
A Brittany Spaniel dog may have a dense coat that is either flat or wavy. The coat lacks an undercoat and it should never be curly.
Brittany Spaniel | Brittany Dog Hypoallergenic
The Brittany Dog is not a hypoallergenic breed. It sheds all-year round at moderate levels and heavily while experiencing seasonal change. Shedding allows dander and hair to spread around the house. Although, a Brittany is less likely to drool. Dog’s dander, saliva, hair, mucus, and urine contain a protein allergen that aggravates allergies.
Brittany Spaniel Training | Brittany Training
A Brittany is a sweet-natured dog that is easy to train. These dogs are friendly, eager to please, and generally learn quickly. A Brittany Dog thrives on positive reinforcement methods such as the use of treats, toys, petting, verbal praise, and playtime. However, Brittany dogs are more sensitive to correction as compared with other hunters. Use of harsh correction methods such as yelling, use of prong or choke collars, shoving, punching, kicking and beating leads to the development of fear aggression. This an energetic breed that needs one hour of exercise each day. Exercise this dog before training so that it can concentrate better.
Keep the training sessions fun and challenging for a span of 5 to 10 minutes. To set up a successful training, a pet parent should create a pecking order. This is where they identify themselves as the pack leaders. Naturally, dogs have an instinctive desire to belong to a social group. If not socialized Brittanys can become very shy at a young age. Therefore, socialization training is a must in order to raise a well-mannered and well-adjusted pet. This training normally starts from the age of 3 weeks when the pup is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks when the pup is with the owner. Pet parents take their puppies home from the age of 8 weeks. However, socialization training may go on after the age of 16 weeks to ensure a Brittany matures to have a well-rounded personality and temperament.
To socialize a Brittany, expose it to a wide variety of people, animals, surfaces, places, situations, smell, sights, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, sirens, washing machines, and whistles. Enrolling a Brittany in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes provide a controlled environment where dogs can interact. A puppy class also enables the pet parent to identify and correct bad habits as well as have access to training information and assistance.
Owners should start basic command word training immediately the dog comes home from the age of 8 weeks. Some of the command words that a Brittany Spaniel can learn include sit, stay, down, leave it, heel, come, etc. Remember to teach one basic command at a time until the dog understands before proceeding to the next command word. Pet parents should avoid issuing a command word while too frustrated or excited since the command words don’t sound the same for your pet. House break a Brittany Spaniel by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training.
A crate is an invaluable tool that makes potty training easier. The pet parent is able to monitor the Brittany Dog for signs that it wants to eliminate outside such as circling, sniffing, whining, squatting, restlessness, and trying to lift a leg against the crate wall. For positive outcomes when potty training, take the Brittany Spaniel to the designated toilet area immediately it wakes up, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, every 2 to 3 hours, after naptime, before bedtime, and following an exciting activity such as a car ride and playtime. The bladder and bowel muscles of a puppy strengthens as the puppy matures. Therefore, from the age of 8 months, a Brittany Spaniel should go on potty breaks every 6 to 8 hours.
Brittany Spaniel Temperament | Brittany Dog Temperament
- Energetic.
- Sweet-natured.
- Intelligent.
- Friendly.
- Eager to Please.
- Athletic.
- Trainable.
- Sensitive.
- Loyal.
- Lively.
- Agile.
- Versatile.
- Tireless.
- Alert.
- Happy.
- Curious.
Brittany Spaniel Exercise
This is a high energetic dog that was bred to hunt and he needs a lot of exercise. Brittany dogs make a good choice for people who want a dog-sport teammate, all-purpose hunting partner, and a loyal companion suited to a lively outdoorsy family life. This breed enjoy hikes, long and brisk walks, and running on a leash alongside his human as well as a wide variety of activities that will stimulate him both physically and mentally.
Brittany Spaniel Barking
A Brittany Dog tends to bark at moderate to high levels. However, they may develop a habit of barking excessively if they are left alone for long hours or due to pent-up energy due to lack of enough exercise.
Brittany Spaniel Height
The American Brittany Dog has a height of 17.5 to 20.5 inches ( approx. 44 to 52 cm) while the French Brittany Dog has a height of 17 to 20.5 inches ( approx. 43 to 52 cm ).
Brittany Spaniel Weight | Brittany Dog Weight
An adult Brittany dog has a weight range of 30 to 40 pounds ( approx. 14 to 18 kg ).
Brittany Spaniel Size | Brittany Dog Size
Brittany Dogs are medium-sized gun dogs with a height of 17.5 to 20.5 inches ( approx. 44 to 52 cm) and a weight of 30 to 40 pounds ( approx. 14 to 18 kg ).
Brittany Spaniel | Brittany Dog Health Issues
Although Brittany Dogs are healthy and hardy, they are affected by certain health issues including hip dysplasia, epilepsy, eye diseases, ear infection, and hypothyroidism.
Brittany Spaniel | Brittany Dog Names
A Brittany Dog parent may decide to get a name for the Brittany pup before it leaves the shelter or a few days after the pup joins them home to understand more about the personality of the particular dog. Brittany owners may get name inspirations from the France heritage, coat colors, personality, celebrity Brittany Spaniels, movies, book, songs, historical figures, and nature.
Regardless of where you get your inspiration, ensure that the name chosen will not make you embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public places such as malls and parks. The name should also freely roll off your tongue. Brittany Dogs and other breeds better understand a name that has vowels. Avoid giving your pet a name that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion. If a pet parent settles with a long tedious name, he or she should find a cute nickname for the pet. If a Brittany dog shares a name with any family member or guest who frequent your household, it may result to confusion.
Female Brittany Spaniel Names
- Isabella.
- Ella.
- Luna.
- Coco.
- Lydia.
- Julia.
- Belle.
- Esmee.
- Betsy.
- Lola.
- Maggie.
- Sue.
- Sandy.
- Meghan, etc.
Brittany Dog | Brittany Spaniel Colors
A Brittany Dog may either have a liver and white or orange and white coat color. Some Brittanys may have a liver roan or orange roan color. The American standard specifies an acceptable tri-color of liver, orange, and white with very specific color placement.
Male Brittany Spaniel Names
- Victor.
- Max.
- Daniel.
- Luca.
- Cameron.
- Ryan.
- Jacob.
- Ethan.
- Nathan.
- James.
- Dylan.
- Harry.
- Victor.
- Riley, etc.
Brittany Spaniel Food
The amount of food that a Brittany Dog feeds on depends on its age, metabolism, size, activity level, and body build. A Britany puppy has a high metabolism rate as compared to an adult and a senior dog. Therefore, Brittany puppies will feed on 3 or 4 times a day from the time they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, a pup will be fed twice a day for the rest of its life.
Like other dogs, Brittany Spaniels need to feed on the right amount of minerals, protein, amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, water, and fats to maintain a healthy bone structure and weight. Depending on the budget and the time of preparation needed, owners may feed a Brittany Dog with dry food, wet food, home made meals, or a raw diet. The first three ingredients listed in dog commercial food should be proteins from a known source.
The dry or wet commercial food should neither have fillers, chemicals, meat by-products, additives, nor preservatives. This also applies to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for medium-sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age of your Brittany Dog. Check the physique of your pooch to tell whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can see the ribs, chances are that a Brittany pet is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, the dog has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, the Brittany Dog is overweight and should be exercised. After getting a pup from a breeder, the owner is likely to switch to another quality food. They should gradually do this over a period of four weeks by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Brittany Spaniel is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Apart from Brittany Spaniels, other breeds of dogs include:
American Staffordshire Terrier.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Brittany Spaniel Allergies
A Brittany Dog is predisposed to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Skin allergies – Brittanys are prone to skin allergies due to environmental, contact, and food allergies that manifest on the skin.
Food allergies – Although rare, a Brittany may suffer from a true food allergy that results in an immune response that is normally accompanied with skin issues symptoms and gastrointestinal stress. Some of the skin issues symptoms include hives, crusting lesions, sores, dermatitis, and pruritus while gastrointestinal stress include acute vomiting and diarrhea, weight loss, and bloating. Apart from food allergies, Brittanys are also affected by food intolerance or sensitivity.
Contact allergies – This allergy affects the Brittany Dog once the allergen comes in contact with the skin. Some of the contact allergens that affect the skin include plastic bowels, grooming products, lawn chemicals, carpet cleaning detergents, bed linens, medications, and latex. Commonly affected body parts include the feet, around the muzzle, and paws.
Environmental allergies – Some of the environmental allergies that affect Brittanys include fleas, grass, mites, ragweed, dust and dust mites, house molds, trees, and pollen. Flea’s saliva cause flea allergy dermatitis that normally affects the back legs and underneath the tail. This allergy causes excessive scratching and biting until the skin around the bite area is raw. Some of the symptoms of environmental allergies include sneezing, nasal discharge, congestion, and itchiness on various body parts including feet, paws, underarms, groin, belly sides, ears, around the face, and between the toes.
Brittany Spaniel Eyes
A Brittany Spaniel has oval to almond shaped eyes that are medium in size.
Brittany Spaniel | Brittany Dog Tail
Some Brittanys are born with a natural long tail that is docked to a length of 3 to 10 cm. However, some dogs are born with natural bob tails.
When Do Brittany Spaniels Calm Down
This is a highly energetic breed that is hyperactive. Brittany Spaniels calm down after a vigorous exercise of at least one hour daily. They make a perfect family pet for an outdoorsy family life that enjoys hiking, jogging, running, and playing.
Are Brittany Spaniels Hypoallergenic
No. Brittany Spaniels are not hypoallergenic. They shed all-year round at moderate levels and heavily when experiencing seasonal change. Shedding allows the spread of hair and dander that triggers an allergic reaction.
Are Brittany Spaniels Smart
Yes. Brittany Spaniels are smart, friendly, intelligent, eager to please, and they learn quickly.
Brittany Spaniels Quick Facts
- A Brittany Dog can become very shy if poorly socialized.
- These are all-round sound dogs that excel as family pets, companions, and field dogs.
- A Brittany Dog is more sensitive to harsh correction methods as compared to other hunters.
