Size: 17.5 in. to 20.5 in. at the shoulder, 30-40 lbs.

Description: The standard reads that the Brittany is “a  compact, closely knit dog of medium size, a leggy dog having the appearance, as well as the agility, of a great ground coverer. Strong, vigorous, energetic and quick of movement. Ruggedness, without clumsiness, is a characteristic of the breed.”

The Brittany is a leggy dog, built squarely. They should be as tall at the highest point of the shoulder as they are long from the point of chest to the rump. They come in orange and white, liver and white, or liver tricolor (with orange markings on the legs, cheeks, eyebrows, and under the tail). Any of these colors can come in clear or roan patterning. Brittany should have feathering or fringe on the ears and legs, but the standard reads that “too little is definitely preferable to too much,” meaning that they should never have an excessive amount of coat.

You can find the full standard here: American Kennel Club Brittany Standard

The illustrated standard can be found here: American Brittany Club Illustrated Standard

Grooming: Grooming is manageable, but some dogs will shed and have more coat than others. Brittanys are a single coated breed, so you will not generally have periods of “blowing coat,” though spayed and neutered individuals may become fluffy and their coat may become more soft and wispy than sleek. Running a comb through the feathering and a brush over the body once or twice a week is usually sufficient to keep a Brittany looking sharp, though some choose to trim to keep individuals with heavier coats looking neat. I like to clean up ears with a pair of thinning shears and keep the area under the tail clipped for cleanliness.

Temperament: “A happy, alert dog, neither mean nor shy” is always the goal with my breedings. The Brittany should not be aggressive toward other dogs or people, but some individuals may be friendlier or more neutral than others. Most are boisterous and loving companions who are always happy to be included. Brittanys are intelligent and trainable, but they can be slow to mature and need special attention paid to building focus and engagement with the handler, rather than the environment. They will begin to mellow and become a well-rounded dog at about two years old, past the teenage phase, but most healthy Brittanys remain energetic and active companions up until the age of 10-12 or even into their teens. Because of their prey drive, environmental engagement (desire to run and hunt), and energy level, I do not recommend Brittanys as service dog prospects.

Activity Level: Brittanys may be one of the smaller sporting breeds, but don’t let their size fool you! They are a high energy breed, similar to vizslas and German shorthaired pointers in exercise and training needs. They will need vigorous exercise multiple times per week to be at their best. Mine enjoy hiking, canicross, skijoring, disc, and swimming during the non-hunting season.

Ideal home: An active home with both the time and energy to meet their needs. This could look like many different families and situations! While a Brittany would, of course, love a fenced yard to run in, I got my first Brittany while living in an apartment. She’s a wonderful dog who has led a rich life full of hunting, hiking, dog sports, and other activities. I don’t discriminate based on someone’s housing situation as long as I feel that a home is fully prepared for their dogs’ needs and has a plan to meet them.

Brittanys make wonderful family dogs, but may have a lot of energy for a busy home with small children. I encourage families to be sure that they are ready to handle the energy, training needs, and management of the first two years of a Brittany’s life. Mouthing and biting, chewing, barking, whining, and difficulties with recall and leash walking are all very common puppy behaviors! Your puppy will need consistent training and expectations in order to grow into a model canine citizen, as well as exercise and patience. 

Brittanys mesh best with a patient handler who understands how to build engagement with their puppy and is committed to consistent, fair, clear training with them. They tend more toward the softer side of the temperament spectrum and do not do well with heavy handed training that leans on corrections. I have found that primarily positive reinforcement works best, though my personal dogs are e-collar conditioned for recall and hunting as they grow. They are intelligent and trainable dogs, but will often ask “but why are you more exciting than [insert interesting thing here],” so you’d better have an answer!

Brittanys do best as a part of the family, and I do not sell to homes that plan to have them as a kennel or yard dog. While I realize that many kennel dogs are well-cared for, there are many other breeders that select more heavily for field traits that would be a better fit for a home that is purchasing strictly a hunting dog and not a companion and pet.

For more information on this wonderful breed, see the books and webpages listed on our Resources and History pages!