If you are looking for a dog breed that has the personality of a curious child, always on the lookout for fun, loves to run, hunt, scout and play – while at the same time is sensitive to your commands and makes an excellent watchdog – then the Brittany Spaniel is the perfect dog for you.

Independent by nature, the Brittany Spaniel makes an excellent house pet and absolutely loves children. Their energy levels are extremely high so these dogs are quite suited for individuals with an active lifestyle.

A Brief History Of The Brittany Spaniel

It was sometime during the mid 1800′s when French sportsmen made a cross between their local small land spaniels with that of English Setters. The goal was to create a dog that was best suited to their needs. Several of the offspring were born tailless and down the line their descendants were also tailless (many of them stub-tailed).

The offspring also became dogs that had amazing scent ability, which made them excellent woodcock hunters. These canines quickly became popular with the French gentry as well as the local poachers. Poachers loved them because were intensely obedient to the hunter and could point and retrieve like no other breed at the time.

It was the year 1907 when the very first Brittany Spaniel was registered in France. In 1925, the breed then made its way to the United States. It took some time for them to become accepted, for various reasons, one of which because hunters expected a hunting dog to have a long tail. But when given the chance to prove themselves, the Brittany Spaniel dogs quickly won the hearts of all hunters and dog enthusiasts alike.

Upkeep Requirements For The Brittany

The wonderful thing about owning a Brittany Spaniel is that the animal takes very little maintenance. However, exercise is heavily required to keep your Brittany happy and healthy. As mentioned in the beginning of this breed profile, this canine needs a lot of daily exercise. Without it, they become frustrated and may take that frustration out by digging and scratching, causing destruction around the house or yard.

For this reason alone it is clear that the Brittany Spaniel is not suited for small apartment living. Instead, they need to have plenty of open space to run and explore. These dogs can also live outdoors so long as the weather is not extreme. However, Brittany Spaniels are overly social so living inside with the family is preferred.

Health Concerns For the Brittany

The only major health issue that your Brittany Spaniel may face is CHD. Minor issues include hypothyroidism and epilepsy. Veterinarians suggest that all Brittany dogs get tested for hip and thyroid problems. The life span for this breed is in area of twelve to thirteen years – so long as adequate health and care is given to the Brittany.