Brittany
A stylish, versatile gundog cherished by sportsmen on both sides of the Atlantic, the Brittany is bright, eager, and playful at home, always greeting its family with an invitation to play. It is tireless afield and happiest doing activities alongside its favorite humans.
17.5–20.5 inches tall; 30–40 pounds
12–14 years
Vigorous daily exercise required; the breed is interested in doing almost anything and likes to do it with its owner
Fenced yard or access to one; fine being home alone provided it has had sufficient exercise first
White with orange or liver markings; medium-length hair; color may be clear or roaned; tri markings occasionally found
Very high; needs vigorous daily workouts and loves to run
Pointing
Temperament
The Brittany is a playful, loyal, and intelligent dog that is happiest when included in family activities. Most Brittanys are friendly and accepting of strangers, though some are cautious at first and do well with early socialization such as puppy kindergarten. At home, the breed is bright and eager, greeting family members with an invitation to play. They are tuned in to their owner, alert, and eager to please, responding well to consistent, positive training with praise and food motivation.
The Brittany is interested in doing almost anything and likes to do it with you. They are good obedience workers and excel in agility and flyball, and they will keep at it until you are tired out. A working household should plan for vigorous daily exercise and active participation. The breed is suited to households with children, where it will tire them out for you. No prior experience with the breed is necessary, but a consistent, positive approach to training suits them best.
“These dogs are playful and happy to join their family in anything.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Daily needs and attention
A Brittany is a high-energy dog that needs vigorous daily exercise and thrives when that exercise is shared with its person. The breed loves to run, and a fenced yard or regular access to open space supports that need. Daily walks, play sessions, or a park where the dog can chase a ball all count. Grooming is straightforward: weekly brushing keeps the coat healthy and removes burrs or debris picked up outdoors.
Training and mental engagement matter as much as physical work. A Brittany is alert, eager to please, and responds well to consistent, positive reinforcement with praise and food rewards. The dog will keep working until the session ends, so short, structured activities fit a busy schedule.
For a household where someone is home during the day, this breed fits well. A Brittany is playful, friendly, and happy to join family members in almost anything. If the dog will be alone for stretches, plan to meet its exercise needs first. The breed does best with a consistent routine and a person who includes it in daily life.
“A Brittany is interested in doing almost anything and likes to do it with you.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Health and lifespan
The Brittany is a medium-sized dog, standing 17.5 to 20.5 inches at the shoulder and weighing 30 to 40 pounds. Lifespan ranges from 12 to 14 years according to the AKC, while VCA lists 10 to 12 years. The breed is generally easy to groom, requiring weekly brushing to remove dead hair and keep the coat healthy, as well as to clear out burrs and debris picked up during outdoor activity.
Health considerations noted for the breed include eye and hip problems, seizures, and some instances of heart or liver disease. These are recognized concerns but do not define the breed's overall vitality. The Brittany is an energetic, agile dog that thrives on vigorous daily exercise and needs a household that can provide regular, sustained physical activity. A fenced yard or reliable access to one is recommended. The breed is eager to please and responds well to consistent, positive training, which supports both physical and mental well-being over the course of its life.
“Bright and eager at home, and tireless afield, Brittanys require a lot of exercises, preferably with their favorite humans.”
AKC
Habits and behavior
A Brittany is playful, loyal, and eager to please. These dogs are happy, waggy companions who greet their family with an invitation to play and are generally friendly and accepting of strangers. They are tuned in to their owner, alert, and respond well to consistent, positive training with praise and food motivation. They are good obedience workers and excel in agility and flyball.
A Brittany is interested in doing almost anything and likes to do it with you. They need vigorous daily workouts and a fenced yard or access to one. They do best in a home where someone is present most of the day, though they can manage alone if they get plenty of exercise first. With children, they will tire them out. Some Brittanys are cautious around new people at first but settle in once they see you are comfortable. Early socialization through puppy kindergarten or group classes helps those who are more reserved.
“A Brittany is interested in doing almost anything and likes to do it with you.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Housing: apartment, house, yard and crate
A Brittany is a very active breed that needs vigorous daily workouts and a fenced yard or access to one. In the home, they are bright and eager, interested in doing almost anything with their family. Their ground-covering stride carries them quickly across a field or a park after a ball, so a yard where they can run matters. If you live in an apartment, the breed's need for vigorous daily exercise and a fenced yard or access to one means you must plan for substantial outdoor time each day. A Brittany is fine being home alone, provided they get lots of exercise first. They are happy, waggy dogs who greet their family with an invitation to play, so a household that is home for much of the day suits them well. The ideal owner is full-time but comes home for lunch, and the breed responds to consistent, positive training.
“A Brittany is interested in doing almost anything and likes to do it with you. No down days here!”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Challenges
A Brittany's energy is a genuine asset in the right household. The breed needs vigorous daily workouts and thrives when its owner is active. A working household can meet this need if the schedule includes time for a long walk, a run, or a game of fetch before and after work. The dog does best with a full-time presence at home, though it can manage alone if it has had enough exercise first.
Socially, most Brittanys are friendly and welcoming, but some are cautious around new people. A puppy kindergarten or structured socialization class, started as soon as immunizations allow, helps those more reserved dogs feel comfortable.
Grooming is straightforward: weekly brushing keeps the coat healthy and removes burrs picked up outdoors. Health-wise, prospective adopters should be aware of potential eye and hip issues, seizures, and occasional heart or liver conditions. A pre-adoption veterinary exam and ongoing wellness visits are sensible precautions.
“A Brittany is interested in doing almost anything and likes to do it with you.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
The fun part
A Brittany is a dog that wants to be part of everything you do. They are playful, happy to join their family in any activity, and they greet you with an invitation to play. If you enjoy running, they will keep pace with a ground-covering stride that carries them quickly across a field or a park after a ball. They are good obedience workers and shine in agility or flyball, where they become streaks of flying hair. They are tuned in to their owner, alert and eager to please, so a little praise and food motivation will get them on board with almost anything. They are friendly and accepting of strangers, and with children they will tire them out. For a household that gets outside daily, a Brittany turns a walk into a game and a park visit into a full-body workout. They are loyal, intelligent, and interested in doing things with you.
“A Brittany is interested in doing almost anything and likes to do it with you.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Living with kids, cats and other dogs
The Brittany is described as playful and happy to join its family in anything. The VCA profile notes that with children, "the more, the merrier," and that these dogs will "tire them out for you." They greet their family with an invitation to play and are generally friendly and accepting of strangers. Some individuals are hesitant about meeting new people, so early socialization through puppy kindergarten or other group activities is recommended once vaccinations are complete.
The breed is eager to please and tuned in to its owner, which makes household integration straightforward. A Brittany is interested in doing almost anything and likes to do it with you, so a family that plays fetch, goes for runs, or simply spends time together will find a very engaged companion.
The source material does not provide breed-specific guidance on introducing a Brittany to cats or other dogs. As with any new household addition, a gradual, supervised introduction is prudent.
“These dogs are playful and happy to join their family in anything.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
What to ask the rescue
Ask the rescue about the dog's daily exercise routine and how much vigorous activity it currently gets. Brittanys need a lot of exercise, preferably with their favorite humans, so understanding the current schedule helps you plan. Inquire about socialization history. Most Brittanys are friendly and accepting of strangers, but some are hesitant about meeting new people, so ask whether this dog has had positive experiences with unfamiliar visitors. Ask what health screenings have been completed. The breed is prone to eye and hip problems, seizures, and some heart or liver disease, so request records of any veterinary exams. Confirm the dog's training background. Brittanys are eager to please and respond well to praise and food motivation, so ask what commands it knows and how it handles a consistent, positive training style. Finally, ask about grooming. The coat is easy to maintain with weekly brushing to remove dead hair and any debris from outdoor time.
“Bright and eager at home, and tireless afield, Brittanys require a lot of exercises, preferably with their favorite humans.”
American Kennel Club