Brittany Split

[Alfred Houde]

Point

[Alfred Houde]

Some really good input and explanations provided here. A few weeks back I spent some bucks and submitted a DNA sample on my pup to Embark. The results came back as 100% Brittany. I sort of expected that, but the good news is no evidence of crossbreeding with setters or pointers for those horse-back field trials.

I'm still not totally sold on separate breed vs strain, but I see both sides of that argument. Hopefully the show people don't jump on the EB and focus on the show ring aspect.

The late Logan Bennett advised in his book "Training Grouse and Woodcock Dogs" not to send your pup to a trainer who hunts pheasant or quail if your goal is to hunt ruffed grouse and woodcock.

Another great piece of advice I learned over the years is find a breeder who hunts what you hunt.

I followed that advice with this little Brittany pup of mine and so far, so good. Even if she is the proverbial "American Cousin."

[joe tilford]

I have owned, trained, and hunted with both American and French Brittanys. They are similar in many ways. However, they are different enough to justify being different breeds, in my opinion.

What has been said earlier about physical differences is entirely true -- size, ear set, color standards, cobbyness, etc. are all different in the American versus French. That being said, I love both breeds and Brittanys are my favorite pointing dog.

[Big D]

Years ago I was heavily involved with Field Bred Springers. The AKC did not recognize a difference between the show dogs and the field dogs, but they were entirely different. A show dog can't smell a pork chop tied around his neck, and a field bred springer wouldn't make 5 steps on the platform before being thrown out. When I got involved with Labs, I lost all interest in the Springers. Don't know if the AKC has split up the two Springer types by now

[Alfred Houde]

The AKC is simply a registry. They don't care if a dog is field or show bred.

[tom tutwiler]

I have hunted behind both. For the one's I have seen up close, the Anerican Brit is larger and has much more white the the French version. I prefer the American Brit. The ones I have hunted behind have been more laid back and more biddable.

[Alfred Houde]

One year in.

[JAMES HALL]

Happy Birthday

[Steiner]

Spaniels are beautiful dogs. I much prefer the liver and white coloring like yours.

[Twoatlow8]

That one looks like he has some attitude! Lol!