|
 |
IS THAT A BRITTANY?
| American Brittany Rescue is a purebred rescue
organization. Unfortunately there are a tremendous number of
homeless dogs in this country and with volunteers
across the US & Canada, our resources and foster homes are
limited, and we can't even save every purebred Brittany. Some
of our volunteers who have the time and room do occasionally
rescue mixes, and nearly every volunteer has had to make a determination
as to whether or not a particular dog is purebred. Shelters
often mis-identify a dog's breed, and while we have great compassion
for dogs of all breeds and we realize that mixes are equally
valuable pets, we do not post mixes on our website so that we
can concentrate our efforts and limited resources on placing
as many purebred Brittanys as we possibly can. ABR volunteers
are encouraged to network with local rescue groups, including
other breed groups and all breed/mixed breed groups. We recommend
that Brittany mixes be posted on Petfinder
and Petshelter. We hope
this page will help you if you need to make a breed determination.
|
First,
some Brittanys of various types and colors...
    
| BREEDS SOMETIMES
CONFUSED WITH BRITTANYS
|
 |
 ENGLISH
SPRINGER SPANIEL:
This is the breed most commonly confused with Brittanys, and
vice versa. The Springer is a flushing breed of approximately
the same size as a Brittany.
Similarities to Brittanys: Both Brittanys and Springers
may be liver & white or tricolor, both have tails docked
about the same length, and both breeds are approximately the
same height. Field-bred Springers may have high-set triangular
ears similar to a Brittany's.
Differences: The major difference is that Springers do not
come in orange & white (they can be black/white, liver/white,
or tricolored). Their ears are heavier, thicker in the leather,
generally longer and/or bigger than Brittanys' ears, and Springers
may carry longer hair on the ears as well as on the body featherings.
Springers usually weigh substantially more than a Brittany of
comparable height.
Note: We are aware that some "breeders" are producing orange and white springers, but those are certainly not the norm.
English
Springer Rescue America website
|
 |
 |
WELSH SPRINGER SPANIEL:
The Welsh Springer is a compact sporting dog that can only be
colored red and white.
Similarities to Brittanys: The coloration may be the
same as a Brittany, and Welsh Springers are approximately the
same height as a Britt, with a tail docked approximately the
same length.
Differences: Welsh Springers have very dark brown or
black pigment on the nose and eye rims, which orange/white American
Brittanys do not. They have a more stocky, low to the ground
appearance, and many Welsh may carry more coat than an average
Brittany, especially on the legs and ears. The biggest difference
is the big, thick, long ears of the Welsh Springer, which are
also set lower than most Brittanys.
Welsh
Springer Spaniel Club of America website
|
 |
 |
ENGLISH SETTER:
The English Setter is a large, elegant member of the sporting
group. Its coat is flat with a good amount of feathering.
Similarities to Brittanys: English Setters may be orange/white,
black/white (called blue in the setter), or tricolor. Field-bred
setters may have a coat and activity level similar to a Brittany.
Differences: English Setters are much larger dogs (approximately
50-70 lbs.) and some may carry considerably more coat than Brittanys.
Their tails are never docked. The Setter's muzzle is usually
as long as the skull and more square in shape, and they may
have more pendulous lips than Brittanys. The Setter's head is
longer and their ears may be set lower on the head. Their nose
and eye rim pigment is dark brown to black.
English
Setter Association of America website
|
 |
 |
IRISH RED & WHITE SETTER:
The Irish Red and White Setter is a fairly rare breed that narrowly
escaped extinction, and there are a decent number in the US
today.
Similarities to Brittanys: These setters are exclusively
red and white in coloration, and some small female may be only
slightly larger than Brittanys (22" at the withers).
Differences: The Red & Whites are a larger dog in
general, ranging up to 27" at the shoulders (Brittanys
average 18-20). Their muzzle is the same length as the skull,
the nose and eye rim pigment is dark brown to black, and they
generally have a longer, silkier coat than a Brittany.
Irish
Red & White Setter Association website
|
 |
 |
COCKER SPANIEL:
The Cocker is the smallest member of the sporting group, standing
about 14" to 15" at the shoulder.
Similarities to Brittanys: Cockers may come in orange/white,
liver/white, and black/white (all colors which are possible
in Brittanys), and have tails docked about the same length.
Differences: Cockers are substantially smaller than Brittanys
as mentioned above, and they may also be pure black or black
with orange points on the face and legs (both colors not possible
in Brittanys). Cockers' ears are thicker, longer, and set low
on the head. Their faces are generally more square or rectangular
in build, and they carry considerably more and longer coat over
the entire body.
American
Spaniel Club website
|
 |
 |
POINTER (ENGLISH or GERMAN SHORTHAIR):
--Two distinct breeds treated as one here for the reason that
they are both are large, short-haired, energetic pointing breeds--
Similarities to Brittanys: Mainly coat color. Shorthairs
are liver/white only; English pointers may be orange/white,
liver/white, or black/white.
Differences: Both breeds are substantially larger than
the Brittany (average 50-70 lbs.), with very short coats carrying
no fringe or feathering. Pointers' tails are never docked, and
Shorthairs' tails are normally docked by 2/3 (longer than a
Brittany's).
Pointer
Rescue website
GSP rescue websites: (1)
(2)
|
 |
 |
AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD:
The Australian Shepherd or "Aussie" is an energetic,
hardworking Herding dog.
Similarities to Brittanys: The Aussie's tail is docked
or bobbed, and its ears are set high like a Brittany's. Working-bred
Aussies may be of approximately the same size as a larger Brittany.
A red Aussie may have similar color to a Brittany.
Differences: Aussies have a much heavier coat all over
the body, normally including a "mane" around their
neck. Aussies are colored blue merle, red merle, black, or red,
all of which can be accompanied by white trim and copper points.
Most will not have white on their bodies between the shoulders
and tail. One or both eyes may be blue.
Second
Time Around Aussie Rescue
|
 |
 |
BORDER COLLIE:
The Border Collie is a very versatile, high energy Herding breed.
Similarities to Brittanys: May include liver/white or
tri-color, similar size and a higher set ears.
Differences: Border Collies do not have a docked tail,
their coat is either smooth or long (not medium with feathering
as a Brittany's), and the most common color is black & white.
Their eye rim and nose pigment is black, and their small ears
may be pricked, "rose" shaped, or dropped. One or
both eyes may be blue.
Border
Collie Society of America
|
|
| IS IT A MIX?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The head, ear shape, and earset
on this dog are similar to a Brittany, but the color pattern
and tail are more similar to a Border Collie, so this dog
is likely a mix.
|
These two appear to be Setters
or possibly Brittany/Setter mixes. The dog on the left has
a head shaped like a Brittany, but the body style and height
are more similar to a Setter. The dog on the right is all
white except for orange over the eyes and on the ear tips,
which is a common color pattern for field-bred Setters but
very unlikely in a Brittany.
|
This dog has some similarities
to a Brittany, but the very light yellow color, long muzzle,
and longer coat overall suggest a mix.
|
|
|
|