Brittany puppies

About the Brittany

The Brittany takes their name from the French region where they were developed as a compact pointing dog for the working countryman, able to find, point and retrieve on foot with no horse or large kennel behind them. This is a leggy, square built gundog, often born with a very short tail, carrying a flat or wavy coat in orange and white or liver and white. They are affectionate and rather soft in character, keen to be with people, and busy from the moment they wake.

A Brittany is one of the highest energy gundogs, and they need long walks, running and work for the nose every day rather than a turn round the block. Grooming is light: a soft brush or hound glove, a comb through the feathering and regular checks under the ears. They train very easily but are sensitive, and shouting makes them shut down. Pick a Brittany for more than their looks, because one that is under exercised never settles, family pet or not.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Brittany puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip scoring under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Ear infections, the drop ears needing regular checks for wax and foreign matter
• Periodontal disease, kept down by regular tooth brushing

Your Brittany puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Brittany.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 13.6 to 18.1 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 18.1 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Brittany

Previous: Briard · Next: Broholmer

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Brittany breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/brittany/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Pharaoh Hound, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.