Plate 121 · Continental Europe
Brittany
布列塔尼犬
“A versatile bird dog from France's westernmost region.”
- Origin
- France
- Brittany, north-west France
- Region of origin
- Named after Brittany; the marker is the reference point of Finistère, one of the region's departments, and stands for the region as a whole.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- 17th–19th century; recognized 1907
- Today
- Gun dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Brittany, north-west France
A compact, energetic French bird dog that points and retrieves, often with a naturally short tail.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Finding, pointing and retrieving woodcock, partridge and other game birds.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Orange-and-white dogs of the type appear in 17th-century paintings and tapestries; a Reverend Davies described hunting with such 'bobtailed' dogs in 1850. It was recognized in France in 1907, reached the United States in 1931, and dropped 'Spaniel' from its AKC name in 1982.
04 · Today
Gun dog · Companion
A popular hunting dog, sports dog and family companion.
Personality
- Bright
- Fun-loving
- Upbeat
- Energetic
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- High energy: lots of exercise, long walks, runs or field work.
- Grooming
- Minimal: a soft brush and a comb through the feathering.
- Training
- Very trainable and willing; channel its drive into hunting or sports.
Living with one
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
- Coat
- Flat or wavy coat with light feathering; orange and white, liver and white, roan or tricolour
Field note
In France it is still called the Épagneul Breton, the Breton spaniel.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Sporting Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (as Brittany Spaniel, Group 7, standard 95)
- Popular in
- United States
AKC: Sporting Group, recognized 1934. Registered by the AKC as the Brittany Spaniel until 1982.
Among the most popular field dogs in the United States. AKC registrations: ranked 31 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Brittany — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/brittany/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Brittany Spaniel — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany_Spaniel
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · 17th-century depictions, Reverend Davies (1850), French recognition (1907), AKC 1934 and the 1982 renaming.
- Brittany Spaniel — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/BRITTANY-SPANIEL-95.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin France; Group 7, section "Continental Pointing Dogs"; accepted 1954.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Named after Brittany; the marker is the reference point of Finistère, one of the region's departments, and stands for the region as a whole.
