Brittanys: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em

The American Kennel Club calls this breed a Brittany, while in other countries it's called Brittany Spaniel. The disagreement stems from the breed's hunting style being more like a pointer or setter than a spaniel, and yet his appearance resembles a spaniel.

Therefore I say it both ways.

Conveniently-sized, athletic, and agile, the Brittany loves being with you in the Great Outdoors. He thrives with an active lifestyle of very long walks, hiking in the woods, and fetch games.

If left alone too much and not given outlets for his energy, you're likely to see hyperactivity, barking, and destructive chewing.

When well socialized, most Brittany Spaniels are polite and gentle with everyone and peaceful with other animals. But there is timidity and excessive submissiveness in some lines, so early socialization is a must to promote a confident temperament.

Most Brittanys are sensitive dogs with a rather "soft" temperament. They respond best to a calm voice and a light hand on the leash and do not do well in an environment with frequent tension or loud voices.

Some Brittanys, especially adolescents, are excessively submissive. These dogs might suddenly urinate (or dribble urine) when they get over-excited or feel intimidated. This might simply be someone's hand reaching to pet them, or your body looming over them during play. This is not a housebreaking issue! It's called excitable or submissive urination and it might go away with time as long as you don't punish the dog.

Some Brittany Spaniels tend to whine persistently.

If you want a dog who...

Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training.

• You can avoid some negative traits by choosing an ADULT dog from an animal shelter or rescue group. With an adult dog, you can easily see what you're getting, and plenty of adult Brittanys have already proven themselves not to have negative characteristics.
• If you want a puppy, you can avoid some negative traits by choosing the right breeder and the right puppy. Unfortunately, you usually can't tell whether a puppy has inherited temperament or health problems until he grows up.
• Finally, you can avoid some negative traits by training your Brittany Spaniel to respect you and by following the 11-step care program in my book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy.

More traits and characteristics of the Brittany

If I was considering a Brittany Spaniel, I would be most concerned about...

1. Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Brittany Spaniels need regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. Take your Brittany hiking or swimming, and get involved in advanced obedience, tracking, or agility (obstacle course).
2. Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, Brittanys need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. Some Brittany Spaniels become anxious, which they express by chewing and barking.
3. Emotional sensitivity. Be honest... is there tension in your home? Are people loud or angry or emotional? Are there arguments or fights? Brittany Spaniels are sensitive to stress and can become anxious if the people in their home are having family problems. This breed deserves a peaceful, harmonious home.
4. Providing enough socialization. Brittanys need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds so that their natural "softness" doesn't become shyness or fearfulness, which are difficult to live with. Learn more about socialization on the Brittany Training page.
5. Shedding. On a shedding scale, I would rate Brittany Spaniels above-average. In other words, you need to not mind dog hair on your clothing and furnishings.