Brittany Spaniel

The Brittany is a bright, athletic companion known for boundless stamina and an eager, upbeat personality. Living well with this bird dog means committing to rigorous daily runs and engaging their sharp mind, making them an incredible partner for active, outdoorsy households.

Medium size14–18 kgmale14–18 kgfemale12–14 yrs lifespan
Coloured-pencil illustration of a Brittany Spaniel

Daily-care planners

House-training

Easy to house-train

Smart and responsive. The main issue is their hyper-focus on birds and smells, which can make them forget to potty when first taken outside.

Most reliable by 4–5 months
Open the potty planner

Walks

Very high exercise needs

High stamina runners. They need off-leash time in safe areas to burn energy. On a leash, their nose dictates their pace. They make outstanding running and hiking companions.

Plan walks

Temperament

Energetic and fiercely intelligent, the Brittany thrives when given a job to do and a wide-open space to run. They are enthusiastic partners eager to join you on any adventure.

With their very high need for exercise and mental stimulation, these dogs do best in homes with a secure yard rather than confined apartments. They need substantial daily running, ideally off-leash in safe areas, along with training or scent work to keep their active minds settled.

They are deeply affectionate and biddable, picking up on training quickly, but their moderate risk for separation anxiety means they prefer households where someone is often home. While generally good-natured, their boundless energy requires supervision around young children to ensure play remains calm and safe.

Brittanys are typically very social and get along well with other dogs, especially active playmates. However, their strong prey drive means interactions with cats or smaller pets require careful introductions and ongoing management.

Originally bred in the Brittany region of France as versatile pointing and retrieving dogs, they are built for long days in the field. They adapt well to a wide range of climates but truly shine in active homes that can offer them the vast outdoor access they crave while managing their activity during moderately hot summer days.

What life with a Brittany Spaniel asks of you

Grooming & coat

Grooming effort
Low grooming
Shedding
Seasonal shedding
Coat
Medium coat

Exercise & enrichment

Daily exercise
Very high exercise needs
Mental stimulation
High mental stimulation
Trainability
Eager to please

Temperament & sociability

With people
Enthusiastically friendly
With dogs
Sociable with other dogs
With kids
Good with considerate children (supervise)
Barking / noise
Moderately vocal
Chase instinct
High prey drive
Time alone
Moderate separation-anxiety risk

Home & climate fit

Hot weather
Moderate heat tolerance
House-training
Easy to house-train

Health & screening

General information, not veterinary advice. Predisposition ≠ diagnosis. Always consult your veterinarian. Each claim is sourced below.
Hip dysplasiahigh-confidence
Recommended screening: OFA hip evaluation
Choosing a breeder who screens hips with OFA or PennHIP supports sound joints and helps owners plan sensible exercise.
Progressive retinal atrophymoderate-confidence
Recommended screening: Ophthalmologist eye exam
A yearly ophthalmologist eye check helps catch inherited vision changes early and guides breeding choices.
Hypothyroidismmoderate-confidence
Recommended screening: Thyroid function panel (autoimmune thyroiditis)
A simple thyroid panel at routine vet visits helps track thyroid health as a dog matures.