The Brittany breezes through life, always ready to hunt, play or cuddle at full-intensity. He's from a line of go-getters that traces back to both spaniels and setters.
Heritage
In the mid-1800s, hunters in the Bretagne region of France crossed French spaniels with English Setters to create a dog that could point and retrieve birds. Their versatile hunting ability made then favorites with both the French upper-class as well as poachers.
Brittanies came to America in the 1920s, but weren't liked by American hunters at first. That changed when they saw Brittanies at work. Now Brittanies are the most popular pointing breed at field trials. Initially called the Brittany Spaniel, the name was shortened to Brittany because their hunting style is more like a setter than a spaniel.
Brittanies are high-energy and fun-loving. They love action-filled games and lots of toys.
Health and Upkeep
To grow your Brittany's coat to its full potential, feed a nutritious food with vitamin supplements. You must keep the coat free of parasites and dirt. When brushing or combing, spritz the coat lightly with a combination of water and conditioner; this prevents static electricity and breakage. Bathe often, using a deodorizing or whitening shampoo. If your dog tends to scratch, use an avocado oil or oatmeal based shampoo. Follow with a conditioner. You can also apply a leave-in conditioner that will help prevent tangling and matting.
Keep the ears dry after swimming. Ear cleansers have a drying agent that can dry deep into the canal, so it's a good idea to clean the ear after swimming, or once a week in dry conditions. Any time they get goopy, clean with an ear-cleanser. If the goop comes back, see your veterinarian.
Brush the teeth daily.
Clip the nails every two weeks or so using a medium-duty dog nail clipper.
Brittanies hate to slow down for anything, but sometimes age-related physical changes, such as arthritis, make it tough to keep going at full intensity. Besides any intervention recommended by your veterinarian, a soft cushion to lie on and glucosamine chondroitin supplements added to the diet can help soothe aching joints, and keep him as young in body as he is in spirit.
