Epagneul Breton, A Versatile And Very Affectionate Dog
The Breton Spaniel is one of the most widespread dog breeds. His sweet and affectionate nature makes him an ideal companion. These are very intelligent, active animals that never waste the opportunity to receive a caress. If you are considering adopting such a dog, this is all you need to know about the beautiful Brittany Spaniel.
Origin and history
The very name of the breed suggests the true origin of the Breton Spaniel. The term ‘Spaniel’ refers to a type of breed that emerged thanks to Spanish hunters, while ‘Breton’ derives from the fact that this extraordinary pointing dog was developed in French Brittany.
It should be noted that the Cocker Spaniel or the Clumber Spaniel share the same root as the Breton , although each of them has since been specialized and improved separately.
The Spaniel Breton is today considered a show dog, in particular it is the most widespread breed in France for this type of events. It is believed to be one of the oldest spaniel breeds, because at the beginning of the twentieth century the standard was already defined, and at that time the crossings were planned only to improve the characteristics related to use for hunting.
Morphology
It is a medium-sized dog, so there are no differences in size between male and female, since they measure and weigh the same: between 47 and 50 centimeters at the withers, and between 15 and 18 kilos. We are therefore talking about the smallest breed of competition dog.
In terms of appearance, Spaniel Breton is compact and harmonious in proportions. The sturdy construction isn’t heavy at all. He is active, lean and agile. In addition, he has an intelligent look and always seems to be on alert. He has an agile step and a determined run. This is due to the perfect combination of her long, stylized legs.
The head is similar to that of a hound, so the skull is slightly longer than the muzzle. As for the body, it has a perfectly square, proportionate and elegant shape . Furthermore, the nose (rinario) is wide and respects the shade of the coat.
Turning now to the ears, they are triangular, wide and rather short. They fall straight down, just behind the head and move continuously, when the Spaniel Breton moves.
Some specimens are born with a short tail, if yours is more pronounced, it will be of low insertion. Fortunately, in many countries today it is forbidden to cut the tail of dogs for aesthetic reasons. In ancient times, this breed was expected to shorten to about three centimeters from the base.
A real hunter’s skin
As for its fur, it is characterized by being very thin and can be smooth or slightly wavy. It consists of short, shaved hair on the head and back, but has abundant fringe on the inside of the tail, on the legs and at the level of the chest.
In addition, Epagneul Breton has many shades. The most frequent colors are white and orange, white and black and white and brown. These combinations can appear in large patches, mottled or even striped.
It is possible for all three colors to appear, mixed together, or even the fiery red variety. If you are an expert in dog breeds, you have already noticed that its colors are reminiscent of the English Setter and other hunting dogs.
The character of Epagneul Breton
The Breton Spaniel is an extremely versatile dog. It is a very good, balanced animal and belongs to one of the most loved breeds by hunters. However, when they became aware of his gentle and reliable personality, they began to welcome him into their homes, as a “simple” pet.
Dogs of this breed are characterized by a marked intelligence. It is very easy to train them because they stay focused and are always available to learn new things. Obviously, even these specimens learn more quickly if you take advantage of the levers of positive reinforcement. Therefore, it is better to avoid training through violence or punishment.
They are a breed full of energy. Spaniel Breton loves games of agility and in which he must use his powerful sense of smell. If you are thinking of adopting one, remember that it needs to take long walks and to be subjected to constant stimuli, especially as regards its characteristics as a hunting dog.
They are incredibly docile, affectionate and attached to their human family. So they will always do everything to be pampered and be by your side. For this reason, it is the ideal breed for nuclei that have children or the elderly, as they are also protective, never too effusive.
Precisely because they are outgoing and absolutely harmless dogs, they do not do well as guard dogs. They tend to make friends with everyone, including strangers, who they will begin to trust after a few minutes. Of course, the bond with his family will always be indissoluble.
Taking care of the Breton Spaniel
By its nature, this breed is quite healthy and does not suffer from hereditary diseases. However, it is necessary to carry out the normal preventive medicine checks by your trusted veterinarian. In the same way, it will be necessary to keep the vaccination booklet updated and carry out the classic anti-parasite treatment to prevent any problems.
