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American Brittany

At a Glance

Built for Open country upland bird hunting. Wide-ranging, fast, handler-focused pointing dog.
From France, developed in North America. AKC/American Brittany Club registry.
Temperament Energetic, eager, affectionate, handler-focused. Checks in regularly. Wants to work with you.
Coat Medium-length, flat or wavy with some feathering. Less than a setter, more than a short coat. Moderate maintenance.
Size 30–45 lbs
Live with Excellent house dog when exercised. Affectionate and family-friendly. Real off switch when worked.
Best for Hunter who wants a wide-ranging pointing dog with strong handler focus.
Famous for One of the most popular pointing breeds in North America. The dog that converts retriever hunters to pointing dogs.

Origin

The Brittany originated in the Brittany region of northwestern France in the 19th century, developed as a versatile hunting dog capable of pointing, flushing, and retrieving. When the breed came to North America in the early 20th century, American hunters and breeders began selecting for wider range, more speed, and a bigger-running hunting style suited to the open fields and prairies of North America.

Over decades of selective breeding, the American Brittany diverged significantly from its French counterpart — taller, longer-legged, wider-ranging, and faster. The AKC dropped "Spaniel" from the breed name in 1982, recognizing that the Brittany's pointing style placed it firmly in the pointing breed category. Today the American Brittany and the French Brittany (Epagneul Breton) are considered distinct types, with meaningfully different hunting styles and builds.

Original Purpose

A versatile hunting dog built to point, flush, and retrieve across varied terrain. The original Brittany was a close-working, all-purpose hunting companion for the French hunter on foot. The American version was developed for wider-ranging upland hunting across North American terrain.

Hunting Style

The American Brittany runs wide — significantly wider than the French Brittany and most continental versatile breeds. In open country it covers ground at a pace that rivals the English Pointer and English Setter. It points with intensity, retrieves naturally, and adapts well to different upland game.

It is primarily an upland dog. It handles water willingly but is not a dedicated waterfowl retriever. In open to semi-open terrain on pheasant, quail, grouse, and woodcock, the American Brittany is one of the most popular and effective pointing breeds in North America.

Temperament

Energetic. Eager. Affectionate. Handler-focused.

The American Brittany is one of the more handler-oriented pointing breeds. It wants to work with you, checks in regularly in the field, and responds well to the handler relationship. It is enthusiastic, affectionate, and genuinely happy to be doing whatever you're doing — hunting, running, or sitting on the couch.

It is a high-energy dog that needs a serious daily outlet. A Brittany with nothing to do will find something to do, and the choice is rarely yours.

Coat Type

Medium-length, flat or wavy coat with some feathering on the ears, legs, and belly. Less coat than a setter, more than a short-coated breed. Moderate maintenance — requires brushing after field work but is not as demanding as a full setter coat.

Color: Orange and white, liver and white, black and white, liver tricolor, or black tricolor. Roan patterns also occur. Orange and white and liver and white are most common in North America.

Trainability

Excellent. The American Brittany is one of the most trainable pointing breeds. It is responsive, eager to please, and picks up training quickly. It does not require heavy pressure — fair, consistent handling with clear communication produces exceptional results. Its handler focus makes it one of the more intuitive pointing breeds to develop.

First-time bird dog handlers often find the Brittany one of the most accessible pointing breeds to start with. That said, it still requires consistent training, daily exercise, and a handler who takes the work seriously.

What It's Actually Like to Live and Hunt with an American Brittany

The American Brittany is the pointing dog that fits into your life without demanding you rebuild it around them. It hunts hard, covers ground, finds birds, and comes back to check in. It is not a dog that disappears over the horizon and hunts for itself — it hunts with you.

At home it is affectionate, social, and genuinely happy to be near its people. It has a real off switch when properly exercised. It is not pacing the walls at 9pm if it's been given a job. That said, it needs the job. A Brittany that isn't hunted, trained, or exercised regularly will find its own outlets.

The Brittany is the dog that converts people who thought they wanted a retriever. One season behind a well-trained Brittany in good bird country and many hunters never go back.

Family Compatibility

Excellent. The American Brittany is one of the most family-friendly pointing breeds. It is affectionate, gentle with children, and bonds with the whole family. It integrates naturally into active households and adapts well to life between hunting seasons. A well-exercised Brittany is a calm, settled house dog.

Common Misconceptions

"The American Brittany and the French Brittany are the same dog."
They share the same origin but have diverged significantly through different breeding philosophies. The American Brittany is taller, wider-ranging, and faster. The French Brittany is smaller, closer-working, and more versatile in the continental sense. They are distinct types with different hunting styles — the right choice depends on your hunting terrain and style.

"The Brittany is a spaniel."
The Brittany was historically called a Spaniel due to its French spaniel ancestry, but it is a pointing breed — not a flushing dog. The AKC officially dropped "Spaniel" from the name in 1982. It points, it doesn't flush.

Best For

  • Hunters who work open to semi-open upland country — pheasant, quail, grouse, woodcock
  • Handlers who want a wide-ranging pointing dog with strong handler focus
  • First-time bird dog owners committed to training and exercise
  • Active families who hunt and want a dog that integrates into both worlds
  • Those who want a pointing dog without the full maintenance commitment of a setter coat

Registry & Organizations

  • AKC — American Kennel Club
  • American Brittany Club — national breed club
  • NAVHDA — used for testing in North America
  • NSTRA — National Shoot to Retrieve Association

Testing: NAVHDA Natural Ability and Utility tests. AKC Hunt Tests and Field Trials also widely available.

Related Breeds

French Brittany (Epagneul Breton) · English Setter · Vizsla · German Shorthaired Pointer

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