Brittany vs Black and Tan Terrier - Breed Comparison

One of the most intense bird dog breeds in existence is the Brittany, bred for hunt. The breed used to be called the Brittany Spaniel, but since the breed is closer to a setter or pointer, that moniker has been dropped. The Brittany is named for the French Province in which they were originally developed. Sometime from the 17th to the 19th centuries, the breed was developed. Images of a very similar dog can be found on 17th century paintings and tapestries. However, the first written description comes from 1850 by a Reverend Davies, describing a hunting episode. The breed was recognized officially in the early part of the 20th century and made a splash at the 1900 Paris Dog Show.

The first official standards were written in about 1907 and the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1934.The Brittany is expected to point to and then retrieve birds and other small ground game. Because the Brittany both points and retrieves they are known in the U.K. as a Hunt, Point and Retrieve breed or an HPR, and they have more Dual Champions than the rest of the AKC Sporting group.

There are actually two types of Brittanys in the minds of many breeders. There is the “French” Brittany and the “American” Brittany. When the breed arrived in the United States in 1931 they became immensely popular in a short period of time. In 1942 American Breeders began the American Brittany Club, rewriting the French standard to fit the dog they knew. Today there are definitely difference between the two sub-sets that can easily be seen. The French dog is smaller than the American dog. The American dog is a runner pacing ahead of the hunter while the French dog works more closely with their human companions. Another visible difference is that the French accept black spotted Brittanys, while in the United States a black spotted coat is considered a fault. Both sub-sets are known for their willingness to follow human directions, their eagerness for the hunt, and their agility and speed.

Unfortunately, the European wars took their toll on this breed as they did on many others. Following the second World War, their numbers in Europe were drastically reduced. The French had stop breeding them altogether during the war. It was in this depleted gene pool that the French agreed to accept the black spotted Brittany. Along with the U.S., Canada also does not recognize the black spotted Brittany.

There is limited information on the Black and Tan Terriers since it is extinct. Black and Tan terrier came out of the “Terrier Wars” between the British and the Welsh in the late 1800’s. With dog shows on the rise, a race began to develop terriers that “belonged” to the Welsh or the British. The Black and Tan Terrier started out as the “Old English Broken-Haired Black and Tan”. The outrages Welsh responded with their first dog show filled with Welsh only terriers. There were 90 dogs at this first show. During this time, the British could not get their act together in respect to starting a club. Even agreeing on the name was difficult for them. Unfortunately, the dogs from both countries were not truly a “breed” but rather first-generation crosses between a wide variety of terriers. These terriers included breeds such as the Lakeland Terrier, the Welsh Terrier, the Patterdale Terrier, Fell Terriers, Border Terrier, Scottish Borders and the Manchester Terrier. The winner of that first dog show was a terrier cross between a Smooth Fox Terrier and a Border Terrier.

In 1885 both the Welsh and the British Black and Tan Terrier were featured. However, the English could not get the club together, so they were dropped from the Kennel Club Listings and only the Welsh Terrier was offered. The Black and Tan Terrier became extinct before 1900.

The Brittany is much like other hunting dogs – pointers and retrievers – in size and stature. He is solid and strong but not heavy. He is compact with an average size head and floppy ears, docked tails or short natural tails, and expressively intelligent looking eyes. He is athletic, energetic, and alert. He has a long, elastic and free gait. The French dog is smaller and the dog with black spots is accepted. The American Brittany is larger and only a tri-color of orange, liver and white is acceptable.

The Black and Tan Terrier was an active, alert dog. A ratter as most terriers are. With a sleek coat, tan markings and thumbing, he was a handsome dog. Looks very much like the other terriers of his size and color with a truncated tail. He had small erect ears and a snout that was moderately elongated.

The Brittany is particularly trainable and friendly. They love to play and are sweet-natured. They don’t due well with harsh correction though and a stern look will cause them to wither. Socialize them young or they can become shy around strangers. They are loyal and family oriented. They can easily become attached to their humans.

He was an alert and active dog. He was a good guard dog, an excellent ratter and a great family dog. He was affectionate, warm and gentle of the most alert and active of dogs, as game as a pebble, an ideal watchman, an unexcelled ratter and all done up in a small package. No dog exceeds him in beauty of outline, and this is enhanced by his sleek coat, with its sheen that the costliest satin does not possess; set off by the rich Tan markings, dainty penciling and thumbing that would puzzle an artist to reproduce. Information is limited on this extinct breed.

The breed is a hardy one and Brittanys are mostly healthy dogs. In Europe 1 in 5 dogs dies of old age and that age is usually 14 or 15 years. They do have a few issues that they may be susceptible to. These would include:

Ears – prone to infections

Hip Dysplasia – bones don’t fit well into joints

Epilepsy – mild or serious seizures are possible.

Hypothyroidism – Low levels of thyroid hormone

Canine Discoid Lupus Erythematosus – autoimmune disease

The Black and Tan Terrier suffered from similar ailments as all terriers. He dealt with patella luxation (kneepads floating), skin allergies and eye issues. Because the breed is extinct there is little if any research on the health issues they might have experience before distinction

Feeding

Don’t overfeed your Brittany. Keep him at hunting weight by feeding a half a cup up to 2 cups per day depending on the size of your dog and activity levels. Serve this in two meals not one.

Health issues

Ears – prone to infections – make sure that you check them and wipe them out routinely to prevent infections.

Hip Dysplasia – bones don’t fit well into joints – this can be genetic or otherwise, causing lameness and arthritis. If severe it can require surgery to correct.

Epilepsy – mild or serious seizures are possible. This can be genetic/hereditary but is set off by an infectious disease of the brain, head injury, poison, tumor, or metabolic disorder. There is no cure, but medication can be very effective.

Hypothyroidism – Low levels of thyroid hormone – can cause drooping eyelids, obesity, lethargy, mental difficulties or irregular heat cycles or all of this. Medication is available as it is for humans but must be taken daily for the rest of the dog’s life

Canine Discoid Lupus Erythematosus – autoimmune disease that is rare in dogs. Cats and humans can also have it. It is a skin disease and does not become the more serious and deadly Systemic Lupus. The Discoid version of this disease causes loss of pigmentation and a scaling on the nose which can then progress to the skin around the ears, eyes and genitals. There could be ulcerated lesions and tissue death in more severe cases. Sun exposure can make the condition worse.

Exercise and games

The Brittany is a hunting dog that acts like a pointer but will retrieve fowl and birds in the water or on land. If you don’t hunt, the Brittany can still be your family dog. They need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. They need a job if they are not going to hunt and expect them to be distracted by every bird they see. Try flyball, agility, FAST CAT, field trials and dock diving. They are very task oriented and have boundless energy. They excel at obedience and confirmation as well.

Feeding

As you would with any terrier of his size 1-2 cups day.

Health issues

The Black and Tan Terrier suffered from similar ailments as all terriers. He dealt with patella luxation (kneepads floating), skin allergies and eye issues.

Exercise and games

The Black and Tan Terrier is in fact a terrier. He was a ratter and he needed intelligent exercise to keep him happy and non-destructive. Activities like barn hunt, agility and fly ball are perfect for this breed. A walk a couple times a day with a time for games is what was needed, and he would love to play ball with kids. They were very cuddly dogs as well.