Brittany
布列塔尼獵犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Brittany is a compact, leggy French pointing dog with a boldly patterned orange-and-white or liver-and-white coat and an eager, upbeat nature. Brittanys are gentle at home but bred to hunt all day, so they need a lot of daily exercise; they are sensitive, take training easily and make cheerful companions for active, outdoorsy families.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 44–52cm |
| Weight | 14–18kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–14years |
| Breed group | AKC: sporting FCI: 7 |
| Role | Sporting |
| Coat | Double coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 90–180min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 4/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 4/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 4/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Behaviour
Happy, alert, gentle at home
The CKC says the Brittany is a happy, alert dog and a gentle friend at home, a fine companion for the weekend hunter; the AKC describes a bright, upbeat, willing disposition whose energy and working ability channel well into dog sports.
Needs lots of exercise
The AKC says the Brittany is a high-energy dog bred to hunt that needs lots of exercise — long brisk walks, running and field work — and suits a lively, outdoorsy family; the CKC agrees it likes activity and needs daily exercise.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 5/5 (very high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "more than 2 hours per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 3/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Brittany
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Spaniel Brittany (Sporting Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Brittany
Breed characteristics (size medium, exercise more than 2 hours per day, lifespan over 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Brittany Spaniel (standard no. 95, group 7)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's breed facts sheet says the Brittany is a high-energy dog that needs plenty of exercise or chances to hunt to stay happy, is friendly and very willing to please, and tends to absorb training more easily than some other pointing breeds — a sharp word is usually correction enough.”
— American Brittany Club — The Facts About the Breed via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Brittany — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Spaniel Brittany — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Brittany — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Brittany Spaniel — FCI standard no. 95 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Brittany — The Facts About the Breed (American Brittany Club) — American Brittany Club — The Facts About the Breed (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.