The Brittany, also referred to as the Epagneul Breton or Brittany Spaniel, is an excellent all around sporting dog, and also makes a great family pet due to its friendly nature. The name comes from the French province of Brittany where the breed originated. Unfortunately, much of the early breed records no longer exist, but what is clear is that the Brittany has always been used as a retriever and pointer by bird hunters.

The Brittany first came to broad public attention when it debuted at the Paris Dog Show in 1900. In 1920, the first Brittanys reached American shores, with AKC recognition following in 1934.These are medium-sized dogs, with long legs and pendant ears. The tailed is sometimes naturally short, or may be docked (in countries where this is allowed). The coat can be orange and white coat, liver and white, orange roan, liver roan, or black and white. The AKC does not accept black and white coats, although all other registries do.

These good-natured, intelligent and obedient dogs don’t very closely with their human family, and are known to be exceptionally eager to please, with a special affinity for children.They are quick learners and very easy to train. Be aware though that the Brittany is a very sensitive dog and will not respond well to harsh training methods, or shouting.

They are known to build a strong bond with one particular person, but generally they love everyone. They also get on well with other dogs and non-canine pets if socialized with them.

The Brittany is a health dog breed that lives 12 to 14 years on average. They are prone to few genetic diseases although, hip dysplasia, epilepsy and ear infections are known to occur. Grooming and care is relatively easy, and all it takes is a good brush down every other day or so to keep the coat in good condition. For dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors, regular trimming around the feet and hocks may be needed to clear grass seeds, burrs and other debris.

A big benefit is that these dogs have a single coat, so they shed very little.

As a dog bred for field work, the Brittany requires a great deal of exercise and is best suited to an active, outdoor individual or family. Apartment living is not ideal, although it can work if the dog gets enough outdoor exercise. A house with large garden will be a much better option though. An under-exercised, under-stimulated dog is always likely to develop behavior problems, and this will almost certainly be the case with the Brittany. But for someone prepared to provide exercise, and interact with the dog, this may just be the perfect pet.

Picking a name for your Brittany can be a challenge. The best advice is to visit some of the many puppy names, sites online. My recommendation is puppy-names-hq.com, which has a huge database, including thousands of girl dog names.

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