Learn more about the History of Brittanys

History

Brittany is the westernmost region of France, surrounded by the English Channel to the north and the Bay of Biscay to the south. It was here, hundreds of years ago, that French hunters developed what is today considered one of the world’s most versatile bird dogs, capable of working on duck, woodcock, pheasant, partridge—just about anything with feathers. The Brittany first comes into historical focus in paintings and tapestries of the 17th century. The frequency with which Brittany-type dogs appear in the portraits and pastoral scenes by French, Flemish, and Dutch masters of the period suggest that liver-and-white pointing dogs were quite common in Western Europe. The Brittany is a rustic dog whose original devotees were medieval peasants and poachers, people for whom thriftiness was a way of life. Unable to support a full kennel, they placed a premium on dogs capable of being all-purpose workers. The versatility bred into Brittany's in the long-ago French countryside has never left the breed. The Brittany was introduced to America in 1931. In 1934, the AKC registered its first dog of the breed, then called the Brittany Spaniel. (In France, the breed is still known as “l’épagneul Breton,” or Brittany Spaniel.) During the 20th century, American and French lines diverged. By mid-century, the U.S. breed fancy considered their Brittany's more pointers than spaniels in working style, and the AKC breed named was shortened to Brittany in 1982. Under any classification, Brittany's are happy, durable hunting companions prized for stamina and an excellent nose for birds. They are among America’s most popular and successful field dogs. Over the years, hundreds of Brittany's have earned the AKC’s elusive Dual Champion title, indicating a dog that is both a handsome showman in the ring and a capable gundog in the field.