Our current featured pet is Savannah.
About Savannah
Breed: French Brittany
Birthday: 8/1/2008
Sex: Female
Handler/Owner: Bob Bernier
SAVANNAH comes from a long line of champions. A working dog; in the field she is amazing to watch; plunging fearlessly into thickets without hesitations. Water, steep slopes, or rocky terrain are no match for her. Savannah’s nose can find birds, but, she was also given a personality that can melt hearts. She freely gives her love to young and old, alike, and they quickly become captivated by her soft and gentle nature.
The French Brittany and the American Brittany
Bob Bernier
Many people are familiar with the American Brittany, sometimes referred to as a Brittany Spaniel, but few are familiar with the French Brittany. There is some controversy as to whether the Brittany’s are actually Spaniels. There was an accidental mating between an English Setter, with a French Spaniel in the late 1800’s. Several local breeders quickly realized the potential of the offspring, and began selective and careful breeding. The French Brittany breed was first recognized in 1907.
Since bringing these dogs to America, we have changed them in both appearance and hunting characteristics. We made them taller and heavier. We kept the orange, liver and white coloring, but bred out all of the black. We turned them into far ranging hunting dogs, versus the closer hunting tendencies of the French Brittany’s. We developed a new breed, the American Brittany.
Due to the keen noses, passion for hunting, and even temperament of these dogs, they quickly became a popular American field dog. In 1982, the American Brittany Club petitioned, and was successful, in having the “spaniel” dropped from the breed name. Brittany’s have also become popular as family pets due to their docile nature. They have a natural desire to be part of the family, love children, and are a medium size, that works well with many families.
Now: re-enter the French Brittany. In the late 70’s, some American breeders began to import Brittany’s from Europe, with the intention of returning to dogs with the characteristics of the “Original” Brittany.
The French Brittany is a close working gun dog, with an incredible nose and uncanny bird sense. The French Brittany is smaller than his American Cousin, and may have black in the coloring. The French Brittanys tend to be mellower than the Americans, while maintaining their hard charging abilities in the field. This little dog is quick, fiercely intelligent, and is a combination of sweet disposition and reckless courage. They are extremely loyal, and fully understand the concept of work and teamwork. They have a drive to work and perform a job. Working gives these dogs a sense of satisfaction and a productive place in the family. When my French Brittany was 10 weeks old, I would let her out the front door, and she would run immediately to the newspaper, and proudly bring it in the house. She wasn’t even big enough to pick up the Sunday paper, but would get it by an edge and drag it up the steps, and into the house. I didn’t teach her to do that. Something inside her brain told her that that newspaper needed to come inside; and that it was going to be her job to get it there.
These dogs are team players, and whether it’s hunting birds in the field, visiting sick patients in a hospital, as part of a therapy team, or simply being a family pet; they merely need to learn their role as a team member, and they will execute that role magnificently.
Few things in life can touch your heart, like the eyes of a dog.