SportingFrance

Brittany

Looks like a spaniel, points like a setter.

Weight: 30–40 lbs
Height: 17–20 in
Lifespan: 12–14 yrs

In short

The Brittany is a compact sporting breed from the Brittany region of France, bred to point and retrieve birds, weighing 30–40 lbs and living 12–14 years. It has a gun dog's engine in a mid-sized body and needs serious daily running to be calm at home.

Is it right for you?

A great match if you…

hunt birds or want to try field trials
run or hike most days
want a soft, eager-to-please dog

Think twice if you…

can't provide off-leash running space
are away from home most of the day
keep pet birds or small animals

The daily plan

Exercise: 90–120 min
Training: 3–5 × 5–10 min
Treat limit: 80–100 kcal

At a glance

TrainabilityQuick study9.0/10

EnergyAthlete10.0/10

Calm at homeCalm indoors8.0/10

SheddingSheds seasonally6.0/10

What sets it apart

01
Compact, leggy build
Built to cover ground all day in the field, so a short walk barely registers.
02
Soft, sensitive nature
They shut down with harsh corrections and do best with calm, upbeat handling.
03
Natural pointer
Many freeze and point at birds without training, so expect bird-watching on every walk.

Size & coat

Specification	Male	Female
Weight	30–40 lbs	30–40 lbs
Height	18–20 in	17–20 in
Lifespan	12–14 yrs
Coat	Dense, flat or wavy medium coat, orange and white or liver and white

Side profile 17–20 in at the shoulder

Back in stock soon

Personality

Brittanys are cheerful, eager and always ready to go. They are soft-hearted and want to please, but their engine runs high for years. Indoors they settle well when their running needs are met.

With kids

Great with active kids; puppies can be bouncy with toddlers.

With other pets

Usually friendly with other dogs. Birds and small pets may trigger hunting instincts.

With strangers

Friendly and outgoing. They are not watchdogs.

Alone time

Can struggle with long hours alone and may become anxious or destructive.

Training

Brittanys are quick, sensitive learners that want to work with you. Keep it positive and fun, since harsh handling makes them hesitant.

How often

3–5 short sessions a day of 5–10 minutes each.
Socialize early (8–16 weeks)

Between 8 and 16 weeks, cover new people, places and sounds, and introduce gunfire or loud noises gradually if you plan to hunt.
Self-control

Recall and a solid 'whoa' or stop cue matter most for a dog that ranges far. Practice on a long line around birds before off-leash work.
What it works for

They work for food, praise and the chance to run. Use small, high-value pieces for new skills, keep treats within 10% of daily calories, and use retrieves as a reward.

Exercise

Brittanys need to run hard, ideally off leash in safe, open spaces or in field work. Long walks alone won't satisfy them.

Exercise a day 90–120 min

CouchModerateAthlete

Good outlets

Running or hiking
Field work or hunt tests
Long retrieves

Brain work

Bird or scent work
Agility
Hide-and-seek with toys

Best home

A house with a yard and access to open space; apartments only with a very active owner.

Watch for They range far and may ignore recall when birds are near, so build recall before off-leash work.

Feeding

Adult maintenance for a typical Brittany (30–40 lbs) lands around 800–975 kcal a day. Feed to body condition, not the bag's chart alone, and keep treats inside the 10% rule.

Puppy (to 12 mo)

Daily calories: 1,000–1,225 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 16–20%
Treat limit, all treats: 100–125 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 5–6 pieces a day

Adult Maintenance

Daily calories: 800–975 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 14–18%
Treat limit, all treats: 80–100 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 4–5 pieces a day

Active / Working

Daily calories: 1,100–1,350 kcal
Protein: 26–30%
Fat: 18–22%
Treat limit, all treats: 110–135 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: 6–7 pieces a day

Senior

Daily calories: 700–850 kcal
Protein: 24–28%
Fat: 12–16%
Treat limit, all treats: 70–85 kcal
Saylor's liver, suggested: about 4 pieces a day

Compare every life stage

Life stage	Daily calories	Protein	Fat	Treat limit (all treats)	Saylor's liver, suggested / day
Puppy (to 12 mo)	1,000–1,225 kcal	26–30%	16–20%	100–125 kcal	5–6 pieces
Adult Maintenance	800–975 kcal	24–28%	14–18%	80–100 kcal	4–5 pieces
Active / Working	1,100–1,350 kcal	26–30%	18–22%	110–135 kcal	6–7 pieces
Senior	700–850 kcal	24–28%	12–16%	70–85 kcal	about 4 pieces

The treat limit is the 10% rule for every treat combined. Saylor's liver is suggested at about 2% of daily calories, as a small topper: liver is very rich in vitamin A, so it should not become a staple. Check with your vet if your dog has a health condition or a special diet.

Health & grooming

Brittanys are generally healthy, with hip dysplasia, eye disease and epilepsy as the main concerns. Choose a breeder who screens hips and eyes.

Watch for	Ask the breeder or vet for	When
Hip dysplasia	OFA or PennHIP hip evaluation	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Inherited eye disease	CAER eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist	Yearly in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)
Hypothyroidism	OFA thyroid panel	Once, in breeding dogs (ask the breeder)

Official health tests for breeding dogs

The OFA's CHIC program asks Brittany breeders to test for these. Ask to see the results before you buy a puppy.

Hip evaluation
Eye exam (ophthalmologist)
One elective test from the breed club list

See the full list on OFA.org

Grooming Moderate, year-round

Brush weekly and check for burrs after field work. Bathe as needed. Trim nails every 2–3 weeks, check and clean ears weekly, especially after swimming, and brush teeth several times a week.

History

1800s

French bird dog

Hunters in Brittany developed a compact pointing dog for birds in rough country.
Early 1900s

Recognition

The breed was first shown in France in 1900 and its standard was written in 1907.
1934–1982

From spaniel to Brittany

The AKC recognized the 'Brittany Spaniel' in 1934 and dropped 'Spaniel' in 1982 because it works like a pointer.

Questions owners ask

Are Brittanys easy to train?

Yes. They are smart and eager to please, but sensitive, so stick to positive methods and short sessions.

Are Brittanys good with kids and other pets?

Usually. They love active kids and get along with most dogs, but birds and small pets can trigger hunting instincts.

How much exercise does a Brittany need?

Plan on 90–120 minutes a day, including real running. Under-exercised Brittanys get restless and destructive.

Do Brittanys shed?

Yes, moderately. Weekly brushing and checking for burrs after outdoor time is usually all the grooming needed.

What health problems do Brittanys have, and how long do they live?

They typically live 12–14 years. Hip dysplasia, eye disease and epilepsy are the main concerns.

Is a Brittany good for apartments or first-time owners?

Sometimes. They are easy to train, which helps first-timers, but they need lots of running and rarely suit apartment life.

Freeze Dried Beef Liver Dog Treats

Back in stock soon

We're restocking. When it's back, a Brittany needs only 4–5 pieces a day, well inside the 80–100 kcal treat limit.

See the product

Where the Brittany ranks

Health tests follow the OFA's CHIC program. The treat limit is 10% of daily calories for all treats combined. Every dog is different, so use this as a starting point and ask your vet about yours.