Sporting Dog Breeds

Sporting Dogs

Sporting dogs is a designation used by kennel clubs for the list of dogs bred with hunting abilities in water and out in the field. Sporting dogs' active and alert personalities make them lovable, well-rounded companions. Popular sporting dog breeds include the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever.

Check back frequently to see our featured Sporting Dogs.

Featured Sporting Dog Breeds

Sporting Dogs | Brittany

Introduction

The Brittany (also known as the American Brittany, the Brittany Pointer, the Brittany Spaniel, the Brittany Wiegref, and the Epagneul Breton), is a breed in the Sporting Dogs Group. This high energy dog is not only famous for its skills in the field but it is an excellent human companion. The Brittany breed was approved by the AKC in the year 1990.

The average Brittany stands 17 to 21 inches tall at the withers, and they weigh between 30 and 45 pounds. They have a short feathery coat which should be brushed daily, but their coat is easy to keep clean and well groomed.

Temperament

The Brittany is a very intelligent and very active sporting dog. They have an extremely happy and sensitive nature, and they make excellent family pets.

The Brittany is one of the most energetic sporting dog breeds, and they need plenty of outlets for their energy and tons of mental stimulation to prevent boredom. Without exercise and mental stimulation, the Brittany may become destructive and develop possibly aggressive or nervous behaviors.

Pet owners need to be considerate of their sensitive nature. These sporting dogs should not be spoken to harshly and they should only be trained using positive reinforcement techniques.

Health

Brittanys are very healthy and long lived sporting dogs with an average life expectancy of 14 – 15 years. Their main health problems are with their furry and floppy ears which do require regular ear cleaning and visual checks to ensure no ear infections are developing.

History

The Brittany breed is originally from France, where they were created around the year 150 AD. The exact lineage of the dog is lost to history, but they were most likely related to some of the original hunting dogs of that time. Brittanies were bred for hunting, flushing out game, pointing, and human companionship.