Brittanys & The Pet Peeves of a JEC

I am the Judge’s Education Chair for the American Brittany Club, a position I have held for several years now. My qualifications came from work both in the show ring and the field, having handled dogs to their titles in both. I believe that the Brittany is and always should be a dual dog. As the JEC, I often receive an onslaught of Monday morning notices after a long dog show weekend—the bing of a text, the beep of an email, the ringing of the phone. My biggest pet peeve is everyone thinking I can fix everything for them. I am often heard saying, “I just teach judge’s education, I can’t make them judge the way I’d like.” In the interest of education, I’d like to clear up a few of the finer points on judging this dual dog.

Bite

This is what our standard says about the bite, “Bite—A true scissors bite. Overshot or undershot jaw to be heavily penalized.” It doesn’t say full dentition, count teeth or the teeth should be a specific size. AKC has a really nice sheet that tells you how and what to exam in reference to bite. It’s called “Conducting Oral Exams.” This is what the first part says, “The proficient judge alters their examination technique from breed to breed based on the priorities as defined by the standard. It should never be identical from breed to breed to breed. To do so requires interpretation of the written word as to what the standard is attempting to convey to you as the judge. The manner in which a breed’s approved standard is written will define what would constitute conducting a breed specific examination. Close inspection of a breed’s approved standard will determine the appropriate oral exam to conduct when judging that breed, which is an essential component of the breed specific exam. Oral exams can be generally divided into four categories which individually or in combination will constitute the proper oral exam for a breed:

1. Bite—checking the front
2. Teeth—checking the fronts and sides
3. Mouth—involves opening the mouth to count teeth or check pigment. Always used in combination with a “bite” or “teeth” exam depending on the breed
4. Thumb exam—used for smaller, short muzzled breeds that call for an undershot jaw.”

More on the bite exam: it is proper when the standard only refers to the alignment of the bite; scissors, level and undershot or overshot, as a preference, fault or DQ. This requires the exhibitor or judge separating the front of the lips to display the meshing of the incisors and canines. Judges that is all you need to know about judging a Brittany’s bite. Then I don’t get some of those Monday calls. I have to tell you that this is one of the biggest complaints I hear.

Movement

“Slow down, don’t go so fast, you aren’t off to the races!” Okay, exhibitors, sometimes the judge is right! With that being said, I’ve taught conformation classes for years and one of the things I tell everyone, no matter what the breed, is that you need to move the dog at its best speed. A Brittany is a field dog as well as a show dog and one of the most versatile breeds. In the field, it is required to run all day hunting, 30 minutes or 60 minutes in a field trial and about 20 minutes in a hunt test. The standard says, “When at a trot the Brittany’s hind foot should step into or beyond the print left by the front foot. Clean movement, coming and going, is very important, but most important is side gait, which is smooth, efficient and ground covering.”

The Brittany is an athlete and shouldn’t take little bitty steps, it should gait freely. While most handlers will try to do as a judge has asked, sometimes it’s just impossible. Those dogs that are well conditioned will move out! Exhibitors: start out walking a couple of steps and then bring the dog into a trot. As you approach the judge, slow down so that you can bring the dog to a natural free standing position and if possible try to show the judge both sides of your dog.

Color

That leads into my next item, the piebald pattern. One spot in the wrong place can throw off the eye. Judges please try to view both sides of the dog. Sometimes the view from the opposite side give you a truer picture of the dog. The same applies to a dog that you think may be a little long in the body. It could be the markings and not the dog itself.

There is sometimes confusion about the Tri-Color Britt. The standard says, “Tricolors are allowed but not preferred. A tri-color is a liver and white dog with classic orange markings on eyebrows, muzzle and cheeks, inside the ears and under the tail, freckles on the lower legs are orange. Anything exceeding the limits of these markings shall be severely penalized.”

I emphasize “orange” because we are beginning to see both orange and liver freckles on the lower legs. We are seeing some really nice Tri’s these days. Our standard is specific if there are two equal dogs in all ways and one is Tri and the other is not, the Tri is a second- place dog. I get lots of arguments from breeders and exhibitors on this. I didn’t write the standard, I just teach what it says and since I’m also on the standards committee I say this, when you breed two dogs that you know produce Tri together, you have a choice. If you choose to do the mating and keep a Tri, you know that you are fighting an uphill battle. We have some really nice Tri champions out there today, so it can be done. When Tri’s were first allowed in our standard we had a huge problem with mismarked Tri’s. Dorothy MacDonald wrote an article for the AKC Gazette and the American Brittany Magazine, talking about the Tri. She said that if the dog is mismarked you write in your book mismarked Tri and excuse it from the ring. Most judges put it in last place hoping to preserve the points.

Measuring Up

From the standard, “17½ to 20½ inches, measured from the ground to the highest point of the shoulders. Any Brittany measuring under 17½ inches or over 20½ inches shall be disqualified from dog show competition.”

Please don’t walk up and measure on your leg! If you changed your shoes, you changed your measurement. We have wickets for measuring. In our JE seminars and workshops we have you measure a dog so we know you can. Your objective is to be measuring a dog in, not out. Questions come up all the time about six-month-old puppies. Some breeds give some leeway there, we don’t. If you are exhibiting a puppy at six months, they must be at least 17½ inches at the withers. I get lots of teary phone calls about puppy being measured out by newbies. Then it’s my job to explain and refer them to the standard. We only have two disqualifications: black in the nose or coat or under 17½ or over 20½ inches in height.

Judge’s Education

Unless judge’s education is held in conjunction with a judge’s institute, the American Brittany Club does not charge for judge’s education. We realize that judges spend lots of money passing AKC’s qualifications to judge and we are just thankful that they want to judge our wonderful breed. Visit the AKC or ABC website for additional information on coming to a Brittany seminar.

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The Brittany Standard

The Brittany Standard has been written and updated over the years to verbalize the ideal Brittany in looks and function. So, it behooves everyone with a love of the breed to know the Standard. Let’s look more closely.

Covering ground with ease and fluidity is another essential for a bird dog.

The ideal Brittany is a great bird dog; therefore, he is intelligent and independent, characteristics not always easy to live with and seldom useful in static obedience work, but as essential to any good bird dog as is an alert, eager attitude. The Brittany Standard says, “A happy, alert dog, neither mean nor shy.”

The Brittany is the smallest of the pointing breeds. Big enough to handle any upland game birds and to cover all terrain, but still an easy fit in a car, on your lap, or on the saddle. The Brittany Standard says, “Any Brittany measuring under 17-1/2 inches or over 20-1/2 inches” to disqualify.”

The ideal Brittany is a great bird dog; therefore, he is intelligent and independent, characteristics not always easy to live with and seldom useful in static obedience work, but as essential to any good bird dog as is an alert, eager attitude.

Agility is very important for a breed originally designed by the poachers of Brittany to get in and get out quickly and neatly. The Standard says, “…compact, closely knit… leggy, agile, energetic and quick of movement.” Covering ground with ease and fluidity is another essential for a bird dog. The Standard says, “…most important is side gait, which is smooth, efficient and ground covering.” What contributes to this gait? Well, structure, e.g., good angulation and powerful muscles. The Standard says, “Shoulders: sloping and muscular. Blade and upper arm should form nearly a ninety degree angle.” “Hindquarters: Broad strong and muscular, with powerful thighs and well bent stifles, giving the angulation necessary for powerful drive.” Note that according to this same Standard, rear angulation should be evaluated in motion from the side, not standing still.

All running dogs need good quality feet, with the depth of a cat foot for cushioning and the length of a hare foot for ground gripping. The Standard says, “An ideal foot is halfway between the hare and the cat foot.” Covering rugged and hilly ground requires cushioning. So, besides the front and real angulation already mentioned, the Standard says, “Pasterns slightly sloped.”

The Standard says, “…most important is side gait, which is smooth, efficient and ground covering.

Working long hours in varying weather requires strength and endurance. The Standard says, “Ruggedness, without clumsiness… Strong, vigorous.” Running also requires heart and lung capacity. The Standard says, “Chest-Deep… Ribs well sprung. Adequate heart room provided by depth as well as width.” Remember, this does not mean so wide as to disturb the placement of shoulders and elbows.

Protection from the heavy cover that a bird dog must go over or through in a day’s work needs a skin that is loose enough to diminish punctures, yet not too loose so as to form pouches. The Standard says, “Skin : Fine and fairly loose… rolls with briars and sticks, thus diminishing punctures or tearing. A skin so loose as to form pouches is undesirable.”

While the Brittany is not a so-called “head breed,” any dog’s head should give you an instant identification as to the breed. So, realistically, all breeds are head breeds. All features of a Brittany head help to protect him in the field. The Standard says, “Eyes: Well set in head. Well protected… by a heavy, expressive eyebrow… (with no) pocket or haw to catch seeds…” “Ears: Short and triangular… (lying) flat and close to the head…” “Nostrils well open to permit deep breathing… and adequate scenting.” “Lips: Tight” and “…dry, so that feathers will not stick.”

The Brittany coat is designed to give him maximum protection for upland game work and minimum interference. A wooly coat collects trouble. Long feathering catches on briars. Some length and density protect against scratches. The Standard says, “Coat: Dense, flat or wavy…” “Ears should carry little fringe… some feathering (on legs), but too little is preferable to too much.”

While coloring is not all-important, the Standard says, “Orange and white or liver and white” in the “standard parti-color or piebald patterns.” Clear or roan are equally acceptable, and roan is a definite plus in keeping pigmentation in any breeding program.

Conformation does not make a dog run and hunt, but it sure does make it easier for him to do so. Our Standard was designed to help our dogs perform better at less physical cost.

The Brittany Standard was written for the ideal bird dog with his work in mind. Sure, it is true that a Brittany with very bad conformation could be an outstanding bird dog, if he had the heart and desire. Heart and desire are as essential as conformation, and need to be bred for with just as much care. Conformation does not make a dog run and hunt, but it sure does make it easier for him to do so. Our Standard was designed to help our dogs perform better at less physical cost. So, field trialers and hunters, please don’t think of the Standard as for the show people. It was written to help all Brittanys in their single-minded purpose of finding birds.

Equally, show people, remember that the restrictions in the Standard are there to keep the breed forever one breed. Excessive coat is the ultimate in dividing a breed. So also, is fat. Extra weight can make a dog’s outline look smoother, but it is not desirable in a working animal. Muscle, on the other hand, while not necessary in getting around a 50-foot ring, allows a dog to run and perform the way he wants to throughout his life. Field Trialers, Hunters, and Show Exhibitors, in the case of the Brittany, let’s remain one and the same. One Standard—One Purpose—One Breed.

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Any good dog parent knows that ALL dogs have the potential to help us stay active. That being said, we love this list from our friends at The American Kennel Club. Having shared our lives with some of these breeds, we can attest to their energy!

The exercise needs of these ten active breeds would keep any owner in shape! Walking, jogging, biking, hiking, swimming and playing Frisbee with your dog are all fun workouts you can take part in together.

American Staffordshire Terrier

Courageous and strong, the American Staffordshire Terrier’s athletic build and intelligence make him ideally suited to many dog sports such as obedience, agility, tracking and conformation. The conditioning required for these different sports would make the Am Staff a great workout partner! This people-oriented dog thrives when he is made part of the family and given a job to do.

Border Collie

The high-drive Border Collie would help keep any owner fit – its energetic nature requires more exercise than just a walk around the block or playing in the yard. If owners don’t have cows or sheep available for herding practice, running would be a great activity to tire out the BC.

Brittany

This strong, quick and agile dog can hunt all day in the field. Brittanys thrive on activities like running, hiking and swimming, and the breed possesses a willing attitude to participate in any activity with its family.

Belgian Malinois

The Belgian Malinois is an alert, high-energy breed and is used regularly as a police and military working dog. Since both professions require the dog to be active and in-shape, the Belgian Malinois would gladly accompany its owner out for a run or a romp in the yard. This breed is happiest with something stimulating to do!

Dalmatian

The Dalmatian has a working heritage as a “coach dog,” where it ran alongside horse-drawn carriages for miles. Today, many Dalmatians take part in an activity called a “road trial” that mimics this historic usage. It requires Dals to run alongside a horse in a staged situation, a perfect environment for this high-energy breed. The breed’s endurance makes it a great running companion.

Doberman Pinscher

The Doberman Pinscher is a muscular dog that possesses endurance and speed. The properly bred and trained Doberman has proved itself to be a friend and guardian, and his intelligence and ability to absorb and retain training have brought him into demand as a police and war dog.Energetic, obedient and loyal, the Doberman enjoys exercising and spending time with its owner.

German Shorthaired Pointer

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a friendly, smart, eager to please dog that historically was used to hunt all day in the field. GSPs thrive on exercise like most other pointing breeds and love being involved in outdoor activities with their families. Running, swimming or dog sports would be a great choice for this active breed.

Greyhound

The Greyhound is the fastest breed of dog and was originally bred to use its vision and speed to chase after deer, stag, fox and hare in its native England. Although today the Greyhound primarily serves as a sweet and personable companion, the breed’s athleticism makes it a great running partner.

Redbone Coonhound

The Redbone Coonhound was bred to hunt and swim over varied terrain while still maintaining its speed and agility. The breed developed great endurance and tenacity tracking game ranging from raccoons to cougars. During its downtime, Redbones have plenty of energy to spend exercising with their owners.

Vizsla

The Vizsla thrives as part of an active family that provides daily exercise. He is happy and affectionate with his people, very trainable in the house, but also able to go all day while out hunting.

Ten Dog Breeds That Will Help You Stay Fit – ShowSight Magazine July 2014 Issue

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Due to their high energy level, Brittanys require frequent exercise. The ideal family for this breed is one that is active and can let the dog fulfill its instinct to hunt and exercise. If you want to see what life is like with one, you can read more about the Brittany dog breed’s characteristics, behavior, temperament and much more, in this excellent piece by Ken Windom, former President of the American Brittany Club.

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Choosing the Right Companion for You

Among the more popular commercials shown on television these days are for services that attempt to match couples with similar personalities, interests and core beliefs. People want to be other people with whom they are most compatible.

The same can be said for matching people with particular breeds of dogs. Many people have determined their favorite breed while others are still looking to find the one that is just right for them. Toward that end, I would like to discuss some of the general characteristics of the Brittany in terms of personality and behavior.

General Characteristics of the Brittany Dog Breed

I have owned a total of 9 Brittanys during the past 21 years, not counting puppies that went to other homes, and have learned quite a bit from them during that time. I would like to share some of what I have learned with you.

For starters, Brittanys are very smart. Like all domestic dogs, they are descendants of the wolf, an apex predator. This requires being able to work together as a team, to adjust tactics as situations change, and to learn from experience. In other words, a wolf has to be able to out-think its prey; it has to be intelligent and cunning if it hopes to survive. Brittanys certainly inherited these traits.

Brittanys are quite intelligent and are capable of being taught many things. However, they are also capable of learning on their own and can outsmart other dogs, and their owners, at times. My first Brittany invented his own game. He would bring his favorite toy, a piece of faux sheepskin bedding, and drop it next to me, then stand over it motionless, waiting for me to try to grab it away before he could. I did not teach him this; he came up with it all on his own.

Another example is something two of my dogs have done, and other Brittany owners have described to me as having been observed in their dogs. If another, typically larger, Brittany has something they want, or is occupying a spot they wish to occupy (such as curled up next to me on the couch), the smaller dog will run to the door and start barking loudly, as though something is on the other side. When the larger dog comes to investigate the disturbance, the smaller dog then gets the dropped toy or occupies the vacated space, thus accomplishing their goal through cunning instead of force.

Brittany’s Purpose Through History

The Brittany is said to have been developed as a companion hunting dog of French peasants living in the province of the same name. This is important in understanding the breed. Whereas many breeds of hunting dog were developed in the kennels of the landed aristocracy, owners of Brittanys were not of the class that owned land and thus were considered poachers if they took game from their landlord’s property.

Characteristics that made the Brittany ideal for this type of hunting included its smaller size, meaning it took less food to maintain and could be gathered up and spirited away more easily if the need arose to make a hasty retreat should the landlord or warden come around, and its great loyalty to its master, meaning it could live with the owner rather than requiring expensive (and obvious) kennels.

Brittany Dog – Breed Characteristics

One should not let the smaller size and loving personality of the Brittany fool them into thinking that this breed is one that does not require a lot of physical activity. Brittanys are full of energy! They do require exercise or this energy can be channeled in ways that can be destructive. Developed as hunting companions, they are true athletes.

Many Brittanys still hunt upland game, and are used in a wide range of environments, from the grouse woods of New England and other northern states, to quail in the piney woods of the South, pheasants in corn fields of the Midwest, prairie chickens and sharp-tail grouse of the Plains and upper Midwest, and chukar in the high desert mesa country of the West. Most Brittanys are natural retrievers and I have heard of a few owners who take their dogs waterfowl hunting during the warmer part of the season.

Many owners want to engage in activities with their Brittanys throughout the year, not just duringhunting season, so participate in events such as field trials and hunt tests. Such activities help consume some of the energy the Brittany is known and gives the dog and owner the opportunity totest themselves against other dogs or against a recognized standard of performance.

This energy can be channeled in other directions as well, however, and many Brittany owners have taken up competitive activities such as agility and rally. These are also excellent ways for the dog and the owner to develop a strong bond between themselves, as well as providing exercise for both.

The modern Brittany in America possesses many of the characteristics of its ancestors that originated in France, but there are also differences as selective breeding has enhanced traits more suited to a different environment. It is said that form follows function, and the changing nature of the landscape in which the American Brittany exists today has resulted in refinements in the breed that make it more suitable for these different conditions.

Final Thoughts

The Brittany was developed originally, and remains today, as a dog meant for the hunting of upland game. The lack of class distinctions in the United States means that all people can enjoy hunting openly and legally, not just landed aristocracy. It is no longer necessary to have a “stealth” hunting dog. Farming practices have changed, with the result that the areas holding game are different now than when the breed was first introduced to our shores. This has led to dogs being bred that can reach out and cover more territory in search of game.

However, despite these changes, the heart and soul of the breed remains that of a true companion, a breed that loves to be around people. I have personally seen many instances of well-known field trial dogs, known for their ability to run far and wide when hunting or in competition, become lap dogs when with their owners. It is this loyalty and affection that draws those of us who love our Brittanys to this particular breed.

Brittany Puppies

Looking for a Brittany puppy? Contact the The American Brittany Club and check out if they can provide you with a list of Brittany breeders near you.

Breed Rescue

Want to help rescue and re-home a Brittany ? Get in touch with The American Brittany Club to check if there is a Brittany dog that needs your help.

Brittany Breed Magazine

Showsight Magazine is the only publication to offer dedicated Digital Breed Magazines for ALL recognized AKC Breeds.

If you want to read and learn more about the lovely Brittany dog breed, make sure to check out our Brittany Breed Magazine.

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Development of the Brittany Breed Standard
By Jessica Carlson

In 1936, Louis Thebaud and Louis de la Fleche founded the first organization of Brittany owners in the United States. It was called the Brittany Spaniel Club of North America, and was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club as the parent club of the breed; however, it became inactive very shortly thereafter due to the First World War. Its contributions to the breed were the establishment of a bench standard (an almost direct translation of the French), and the acquiring of acceptance for the breed and its standard by the American Kennel Club.

The American Brittany Club was organized in May of 1942 when a small group of fanciers got together to form a group “to promote cooperation and friendship among the breeders and owners of Brittany Spaniels and to encourage higher standards in breeding, training and showing of Brittany Spaniels in the field and in the show ring; to discourage the breed from becoming split into groups of ‘field dogs’ and ‘bench dogs’ and to strive to keep it forever a ‘dual dog.’” This has been the mission statement of the American Brittany Club since its founding. The word “spaniel” was purposely left out of the club’s name, as it was agreed that the Brittany should not be designated a Spaniel by its name when, in fact, it was a pointing (not flushing) breed.

“It is imperative… to study the present standard in the light of the past. And… understand the reasons behind each point in the standard so that a great and unspoiled breed may continue to improve, as it has in the past.” —Maxwell Riddle

Although the Brittany Spaniel Club of North America had been the AKC recognized parent club, their membership was scattered and out of contact during WWII when club secretary, Alan Stuyvesant, was a prisoner of war. After communication between the two clubs was finally established in 1944, they agreed to merge into the American Brittany Club, and AKC recognition followed that same year.
The newly recognized American Brittany Club asked for AKC to change the breed name from Brittany Spaniel to Brittany, but AKC denied this request at the time. It was not until 1982 that this request was finally granted by the AKC.

This historical background is an important context for some of the questions about our standard that still arise today. One of the American Brittany Club’s first tasks was to re-write and clarify the standard from the unsatisfactory French translation. As AKC kept the breed in the “Spaniel” category, the 1946 standard had to be for a Brittany Spaniel which was not actually a Spaniel, and therefore, distinctions were drawn between it and the flushing breeds. Our standard has had only relatively minor changes since the 1946 version, and echoes of those distinctions remain in our modern standard.

One of the common causes for confusion among those new to our breed standard is the general description of the breed as “a leggy dog,” followed closely by this statement under Proportion: “So leggy is he that his height at the shoulders is the same as the length of his body.” The 1946 standard described “a leggy spaniel,” and meant to point out the difference in the Brittany as a square-measuring dog in comparison to Spaniel breeds which are generally longer than they are tall. A similar, barely-updated statement can be found under Feet, which in 1946 were described as “proportionately smaller than other spaniels.” After AKC agreed to drop Spaniel from our breed’s name, this line was changed to “…proportionately smaller than the spaniels’…”

They believed the Brittany could compete on equal terms with other Sporting breeds at dog shows if judges could be properly trained to appreciate a hard, lean, field-conditioned Brittany…

The authors of the 1946 standard were thoroughly familiar with what they considered the “tragic split” of other Sporting breeds into field and show types. In accordance with the mission of the American Brittany Club, the authors felt a responsibility to write the Brittany standard so that no such split would be possible. They believed the Brittany could compete on equal terms with other Sporting breeds at dog shows if judges could be properly trained to appreciate a hard, lean, field-conditioned Brittany without heavy leg feathering or a fine, silky, and long coat. The American Brittany Club and several of its member clubs also adopted a policy of holding bench shows along with field trials so that field dogs could come out of the field and compete, as they were, for bench championships.

The American Brittany Club National Specialty Show and National field trials have quite intentionally been held together in the same place, one following the other, since the first AKC recognized events in 1943. It’s therefore no accident that many Brittanys have earned wins in both National Specialty Shows and National Field Trials, dating back as far as 1944. Most remarkably, NFC/DC Pacolet Cheyenne Sam is the only dog to have topped both events, winning Best of Breed in the 1970 National Specialty Show, followed by the National Field Championship title in 1971.

To date, ten Dual Champion Brittanys (having the DC title at the time or later) have won Best of Breed at the National Specialty Show, and so many Duals have won and placed in the National All Age and Gun Dog Championships that we don’t even count them. Brittanys still claim more Dual Champions than all other Sporting breeds combined, having recently surpassed a total of 700 Dual Champions! While much of the credit is due to the breeders, owners, trainers, and handlers who make all of those claims possible, some must surely also be due to the American Brittany Club founders and authors of our standard who were determined that our breed be “forever a dual dog.”

The post Development of the Brittany Breed Standard appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

• Scissors Bite—The Brittany is required to have a scissors bite, while most Sporting breeds call for an even or a scissors bite.
• Height Standard—The Brittany height standard is 17½ inches to 20½ inches for both males and females. Most of the other Sporting breeds have one height standard for males and one for females. We, generally, explain that you can have a 17½ inch male and a 20½ inch female, and have it be perfectly correct. Anything below 17½ or over 20½ is a DQ. (The only other DQ is black in the nose or coat.)
• Movement—The Brittany calls for having an athletic gait that is ground-covering without clumsiness, but we can also have an overreach. The standard says that the back foot should step into or beyond the print left by the front foot. Most of the other Sporting breeds do not overreach. (Note: Not all Britts will overreach, but note that they should at least step into the print left by the front foot. The “beyond” is the overreach.)

Of the three differences stated above, movement gives judges the most trouble. First, a Brittany should never be judged standing. Judge’s mouths drop open when I say this or they disagree right away. I had a judge recently take up 15 minutes of a hands-on class telling me what he liked about each dog standing. I finally looked at him and said, “OK, now let’s have them move.” When the dogs began to move, his jaw dropped, and he looked at me and said, “I see what you mean. The dogs I liked standing fell apart when they moved.” Now this isn’t always the case, some dogs that look good standing, look good moving too—but that is the point. Many dogs’ toplines change the moment they start to move. Some dogs have a short upper arm that causes them to “flip” their front, and others lose their “balance” when they move; balance being the overall balance of the dog’s conformation.

I tell judges about what I call the “3Ms”—Movement, Moderate, and Medium. Add balance to these three things and you have a true Brittany type. Everything about the Brittany standard is written so that the dog can perform in the field. The American Brittany Club’s mission statement includes the phrase: “To keep the Brittany forever a dual dog.” We have more dual champions than all the other Sporting breeds combined. I believe that at last count (in 2013) it was 608, and later (in 2020) it was 686!

All through our standard you see the words “moderate” and “medium,” describing various aspects of the breed’s conformation. As I stated above, if you add movement and balance, you have the essence of a Brittany.

When judges ask us what percentage the head makes up in our standard, we smile and say that we took that out of our standard because this is NOT a head breed. While we like them to have beautiful heads, it’s more important that they have a prominent brow that protects their eyes in cover, that their nostrils are full and open so they can smell birds, and that they have a good bite so they can pick up the birds for a retrieve. The most important thing is their movement, because if they do not move correctly, they will wear out quickly in heavy brush. When they have that short upper arm, they can actually injure their front legs while moving through the brush. Although coming and going is important, most important is the side movement, because this is where you can see our breed’s beautiful, ground-covering stride.

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out the other problem that judges sometimes have with our breed: Square is in the eye of the beholder. A dog can look long in body, but when you have a chance to measure from the top of the withers to the ground and then measure from the forechest to the rear of the dog, it should be the same length. Measuring from the top of the withers to the elbow should equal the measurement from the elbow to the ground. The length of a Brittany is in the chest, which allows it to have adequate room for an athlete’s heart and lungs. If you think a dog is long, be sure to look at both sides of the dog because, many times, they have markings that further that illusion of length. A dog that is overly square will crab or sidewind because they can’t get out of their own way. I encourage students of the breed to make the opportunity to try this measuring experiment as it will help you to develop your “eye” for the correct look of a square Brittany.

The Brittany still functions in the field, and—while an individual may never get the opportunity of a field experience—if he was turned loose in a field, could he function without injury and in an athletic fashion?

That brings me to the final point I’d like to make… coat. The Brittany’s coat should protect it in all types of cover. Our standard points out, “…too little is preferable to too much.” It says this because if you’ve ever seen a heavily-coated dog after running in the briars for an hour, you just have to wonder how long it’s going to take to get all those pesky little briars out! The Brittany still functions in the field, and—while an individual may never get the opportunity of a field experience—if he was turned loose in a field, could he function without injury and in an athletic fashion? That is a judge’s responsibility to determine when judging this wonderful, energetic, intelligent, and athletic breed with “the soft expression of a bird dog.”

I’m so glad that as I look at the Top 20 Brittanys, I can honestly say that judge’s education has made a difference. Brittanys are now being groomed and judged to our standard, and that’s a huge change from when I started showing dogs 40 years ago. Brittanys winning Breed then were dripping in coat like most of the other Sporting dogs, but today’s competitors have realized that they must groom to our standard in order to win. I congratulate all the handlers, breeders, and owners for helping to keep our breed “forever a dual dog!” Thank you, judges, for listening to our presentations and for trying your best to help protect that which we cherish in our breed—the DUAL!

by Diana Kubitz

The post Brittany Judging Simplified appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

The Brittany head has a very particular conformation and, like the rest of the Brittany standard, was developed primarily to ensure total functionality as a bird dog. Moderation is the defining feature of the Brittany head. Actually, the only extremes that a Brittany should exhibit are his eagerness, intensity, and athleticism. Structurally and phenotypically, he is the very essence of moderation.

Epitomizing this moderation is the desired rounded, medium-length skull that is slightly wedge-shaped and never too broad or too racy, and the medium-length muzzle (two thirds the length of the skull) that tapers gradually, both horizontally and vertically. The stop is well-defined, but never indented, and the occiput is only apparent to the touch.

The Brittany ear differs from that of most other bird dogs. It is set high, above the level of the eye, and is short and triangular, lying flat and close to the head.

Anytime that function is a factor, the Brittany standard becomes more absolute. Brittany eyes must be well-set in the head and well-protected by a heavy, expressive eyebrow with close-fitting eyelids that prevent seeds or dirt from getting into them. Lighter colored eyes are not to be faulted as long as they are soft and not “bird of prey” eyes.* Remember that Brittany eye color changes and darkens for a long time, often up to four to five years of age.

Equally necessary for work as a bird dog, the Brittany’s nose must have well-opened nostrils (for adequate scenting) and lips that are tight and dry, to prevent feathers from sticking during retrieving.

All in all, the standard’s description of the ideal Brittany head is quite simple, yet the head is definitely unique and, when seen, is unmistakable.

Just a word about color and markings—this is always an issue in parti-color breeds. A perfectly marked head adds greatly by creating the look of a perfect head. But a head’s make and shape has nothing to do with the color. Skulls can look overly wide or overly narrow, based on the amount of white. Muzzles can look overly long if there is an orange or liver stripe running along the side when, in reality, the proportions are correct. It is essential to evaluate a head on its real substance—not the paint job.

*Preference should be for the darker-colored eyes, though lighter shades of amber should not be penalized. Light and “mean-looking” eyes should be heavily penalized.

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