Content
- Breton Spaniel: origins
- Breton Spaniel: features
- Breton Spaniel: personality
- Breton Spaniel: care
- Breton Spaniel: education
- breton spaniel: health
O Breton Spaniel, also known by its French name "epagneul breton" it is the smallest of the French pointing dogs. Despite its small size, this canine breed is surprising for its vitality and energy, since we are talking about a very agile dog with a keen sense of smell.
The Breton is a pointing dog that has traditionally stood out as a hunting dog throughout its history in the center of the Brittany region. Currently it is also considered an excellent companion dog, which also excels in several canine sports, such as agility.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will talk to you about details about the Breton Spaniel or epagneul breton, detailing its origin, most notable physical characteristics, personality traits, race characteristics and most frequent health problems. Read on to find out all about this captivating French pointing puppy!
Source
- Europe
- France
- Group VII
- muscular
- short ears
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Balanced
- Sociable
- very faithful
- Intelligent
- Active
- Tender
- Docile
- Kids
- floors
- Houses
- hiking
- Hunting
- Sport
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Medium
- Smooth
- Thin
Breton Spaniel: origins
O breton spaniel belongs to the breeds of French dogs, as it originates from the Brittany region, so its original name is epagneul breton.
In French, epagneul means "squatting", something these animals do with great perfection in their work as pointing dogs.
It is one of the oldest Spaniel breeds, which is demonstrated by the fact that in 1907 the first example of the breed had already been established in Nantes, and in that same year the Spaniel was founded. Club del Epagneul Breton short-tailed. That is, in the beginning the breed was called Epagnuel Bretón with a short tail, but the adjective that refers to the size of the tail was lost over time, with the name being reduced to Spaniel Bretão. The breed was recognized on May 31, 1907 by the Central Canine Society.
Breton Spaniel puppies arose from the crossbreeding of different Spaniel breeds, such as the English setter. There is evidence that the first litter in which what we now know as the Breton Spaniel was obtained was born in the 90s of the 19th century, in Fougeres, a French commune, more precisely in the house of Viscount Du Pontavice, who was a great breeder of Stters and a lover of hunting.
The litter was made possible by a hybridization between a female of English Setter with a French Spaniel and their chicks stand out for their ability to track and search for prey. These qualities made them highly valued hunting dogs in the region, spreading throughout France throughout the 20th century.
Breton Spaniel: features
Breton Spaniels are dogs of medium size, presenting a variable in weight that goes from fifteen to eighteen kilos, reaching up to twenty kilos in the case of larger specimens than usual. Its height varies between 44, 45 and 52.07 cm, being females usually smaller than males. The National Cynological Federation classifies them in group 7 (continental pointing dogs).
The Breton Spaniel's body is compact and robust, its height being equal in length to the scapula-hamstring ratio, that is, its body has the same proportions as a square. The back is straight and short, with a loin that is also short but wide. Both the extremities and the loin are muscular and flexible. The legs are long, the hind legs being a little longer than the lower ones. Its tail is tall, usually dangling or horizontal, although there are Breton Spaniels that are born without it.
The head, like the profile, is round. A key feature of the Breton Spaniel is the skull larger than its nose, which is straight, always in a 3:2 ratio. The muzzle presents a very noticeable angle between the frontal and nasal bones, but not drastic, ending in a muzzle by itself wide and with the nostrils wide open, whose color will vary according to the coat. The ears, as well as the tail, are tall, wide and short, triangular in shape, but with rounded ends, which makes the facial set harmonious. The eyes are oval, oblique and dark in color, which harmonizes with the color of the fur, giving the Bretão Spaniel a sweet look that conveys the wit of these dogs.
The coat of Britons is very fine and can either be smooth or have small undulations. Its fur is shorter on the head and back, but longer on the tail. Its ends and belly have a thicker fringe. As for colors, Spaniel Bretão puppies have a wide range of possibilities, but don't expect to find a specimen of this breed with only one color. They must be two colors, or three if they are fiery in addition to the other two. The most frequent combinations are: white and black, white and brown or white and orange. Accepted patterns are distinct white patches throughout the body or white hairs evenly distributed over the body, between brown and black hairs.
Breton Spaniel: personality
Overall, the Breton Spaniel's personality stands out for be very flexible, that is, it adapts seamlessly to all types of environments and families. The Spaniel Bretão is able to develop perfectly in both rural and urban areas. Of course, it is a very active dog and needs to spend energy daily through walks, games, exercise and mental stimulation.
due to your intelligence, the Breton Spaniel is also an attentive and perceptive dog, which makes his education and training remarkably easy. Thanks to this, we can not only achieve a fantastic relationship, but also the perfect dog for various canine sports, performing canine skills and living together at home. It is also a breed very attached to its caregivers, loves spending time with them and receiving attention.
If you have children or receive visits from children with a certain frequency, it is important to mention the extreme tenderness and sociability that the Breton Spaniel will show to the little ones, as well as with other animals. You should pay careful attention to your correct socialization as a puppy, however, the Spaniel Bretão is a cheerful and sociable dog with strangers, which is why he never stood out as a guard dog.
Breton Spaniel: care
As for care, you should know that this is an easy-to-maintain breed. The Breton Spaniel will need regular brushing to keep your fur in good condition, free from dirt, dead hair and knots. Two or three weekly brushes will suffice. As for the bath, you can give it every one to three months, depending on the accumulation of dirt. Remember the importance of using a specific shampoo for dogs and never use human soap.
Being dogs full of vitality and dynamic, they need long walks that include some relaxation time so they can smell the place and take care of their needs. also need games and physical activity. The ideal is to offer the Spaniel Bretão a minimum of three daily tours, lasting between half and an hour, at least. Drop you off off collar for at least fifteen minutes is also recommended. A good option for this breed is to play games of smell, which stimulate the most privileged senses, as they will enjoy activities that improve their olfactory development a lot.
If your Breton Spaniel goes out for a walk or exercise in rural areas it is necessary check the paws at the end to detect possible wounds or foreign objects such as thorns or splinters, as they can trigger a dangerous infection. You should also check the fur to find out if any ticks or fleas have infected your pet. The sooner we eliminate the better, as these parasites can cause very serious illnesses. Therefore, it is advisable to protect your pets with repellents, pipettes or flea collars. And of course, follow the vaccination schedule correctly.
Breton Spaniel: education
As they are dogs of great capacity and intelligence, the education of the Breton Spaniel is relatively simple. You should always use positive reinforcement, as this makes the dog assimilate a behavior more easily and encourages him to repeat it. This technique too improves the bond with the caregiver and an overall balanced behavior.
Before the Spaniel Bretão arrives at your house, you must fix together with the other members of the family the basic standards, so the dog can assimilate more easily. That is, tour routines, meal times, access to certain places in the house (such as the sofa, for example), where he will sleep and so on. Anyway, find out about how to teach the Breton Spaniel to urinate in the newspaper and, later, teach him to urinate in the street. Another very important aspect of dog education is teaching it to control the bite, which can occasionally be very strong.
Later, in your youth, you will have to teach the dog some basic commands, such as sit, lie down, come and be quiet. All of them are essential for good communication and for your own safety. Once they are fully learned and fixed, you should teach more advanced commands, canine skills, dog sports, and more. In the event of complications or behavioral problems, it is advisable to seek a professional canine educator.
breton spaniel: health
As with most dog breeds, the Breton Spaniel is susceptible to certain suffering. hereditary diseases, such as hip dysplasia, which is why you should pay attention to your family history whenever possible, to be alert and detect the appearance of this or any other disease in time. In any case, we advise that they take place periodic veterinary reviews every six or twelve months. Especially in humid climates, you should also pay attention to the health of your ears, always keeping them clean and carrying out revisions both at home and during your veterinary appointment. Due to the morphology of its ears, the Breton Spaniel is prone to develop otitis.
On the other hand, it's very important put a microchip in your Bretão Spaniel, follow the vaccination schedule and carry out periodic deworming, both internal and external. With all these precautions, the Bretão Spaniel's life expectancy revolves around fourteen to sixteen years old.
ReferencesImage 6: Reproduction/Brazilian Confederation of Cinofilia.