How to Identify a Brittany Dog

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Last Updated: March 15, 2021

The Brittany is a spaniel-like bird dog from France and a member of the sporting group.^{[1]
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Go to source} Once called the Brittany Spaniel, it today remains an ever-popular and successful bird-hunting and companion breed.^{[2]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

Go to source} Brittanys share several characteristics with other sporting breeds, particularly spaniels and setters, but they do have a few unique traits that can be used to distinguish them. By recognizing these key traits, this wikiHow will help you identify a Brittany.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Inspecting the Structure

Brittanys are medium-sized dogs. They weigh around 30–40 pounds (14–18 kg) and have a height of 17.5–20.5 inches (44–52 cm).^{[3]
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A Brittany's head is medium in length and not as wide as it is long. In shape, it is rounded but very slightly resembles a wedge. It has an indistinct median line and a gently sloping, well-defined but not indented stop.^{[4]
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The eyes of a Brittany are a dark color or lighter amber color and well-set in the dog's head. The area under the eyes is well-chiseled to prevent the catching of dirt, dust, or seeds. Expressive, heavy eyebrows protect the eyes from briars.^{[5]
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Brittanys have short, high-set ears that appear triangular in shape. They lie flat and close to the dog's head and reach to half the muzzle's length. The ears have little fringe but relatively short, dense hair on them.^{[6]
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A Brittany's muzzle is about 2/3 of the length of the skull, being a medium length. It gradually tapers both horizontally and vertically. The nose may be fawn, tan, a shade of brown, or deep pink in color with well-open nostrils. The lips are tight and dry, with the upper lip covering the lower lip by overlapping the lower jaw and the teeth meeting in a scissors bite.^{[7]
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The paws of a Brittany are strong and halfway between the cat foot and hare foot in appearance. They are proportionately smaller than those of a spaniel. The pads are thick, and the toes are well-arched, not heavily feathered, and fit closely. Any dewclaws may be removed.^{[8]
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A Brittany may be born naturally tailless or have a docked or undocked tail. The tail is high-set, appears as a continuation of the spine, and is anywhere less than or equal to 4 inches (10 cm) in length.^{[9]
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Brittanys are closely-knit, strong, compact, and leggy dogs. They have a medium-length neck, sloping shoulders, a deep chest, well-sprung ribs, perpendicular legs, and a short but straight back. They walk with a ground-covering, smooth, clean, efficient trot where the back paws step into or beyond where the front paws stepped.^{[10]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Checking the Coat

Brittanys have dense coats that may be either flat or wavy but not curly. Some fringe may appear on the ears, and the front and hind legs should have some feathering on them.^{[11]
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A Brittany's skin is fairly loose and fine. This allows the skin to roll with briars and sticks while the dog hunts, preventing tearing or punctures.^{[12]
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The coat of a Brittany may be orange and white, liver or white, or tri-color, the former two being preferred and either clear or roan with possible ticking. The dog's coat can be described as parti or piebald when orange and white or liver and white, while the tri-colored coat is liver and white with orange markings on the eyebrows, cheeks, muzzle, insides of the ears, under the tail, and as freckles on the lower legs.^{[13]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Observing Temperament

With the right amount of socialization, a Brittany can be a friendly and polite dog. If socialized more often and from an earlier age, a Brittany may be more likely to develop these personality traits rather than excessive confidence.^{[14]
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Brittanys are rather sensitive dogs, and their moods depend on their environment. Thus, they don't do well in stressful, loud, or tense places and are prone to anxiety in these. They instead prefer homes that are calm and peaceful.^{[15]
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With a high level of intelligence, Brittanys are smart and adaptable dogs. They are eager to please and fairly easy to train.^{[16]
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Did you know? With their high level of intelligence and good learning capacity, many Brittanys excel in both the field and the show ring.^{[17]
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The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

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Brittanys require frequent companionship and do not do well alone. Just as they may become anxious in stressful environments, a Brittany may be prone to separation anxiety when left alone for too long, so it is important to have someone in the house with them as often as possible.^{[18]
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As a sporting breed, Brittanys are very active and need to regularly release their energy. Hiking, walking, games of fetch, swimming, or other activities can work to meet these needs.^{[19]
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Tips

Consider using a DNA test if you wish to identify the breed of your own dog. This will confirm if your dog is a Brittany.

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