The Brittany is a gun dog bred in France primarily bred for hunting birds. The breed is often recognized as a spaniel; however its working characteristics show similarities to a setter or a pointer.

The Brittany has very long legs and a solid, athletic body. It stands between 17.5 and 20.5 inches high and weighs 30 to 40 pounds. The body of the Brittany is square. The tail of the Brittany is normally docked to about 1 to 4 inches. Its expression is alert and intelligent.

There are two types of Brittany, the French style and the American style. The French Brittany is smaller and more spaniel-like, while the American style Brittany has been bred to hunt wide spaces and cover more ground.

The Brittany makes an excellent house pet; it is gentle and easy to train. The Brittany has been said to be so sweet-natured that special care must be taken during training; one mean glance or yell at the dog can break its spirit. The breed is loveable and great with children. It is an active breed, needing plenty of exercise. Without the appropriate amount of exercise it can become destructive. The Brittany is a breed that typically gets along with everyone and is very outgoing, even around new people.

The Brittany typically lives 14 to 15 years and is a generally healthy breed. Despite the Brittany’s typical good health, it can be prone to ear infections, hip dysplasia and epilepsy.

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