About Brittany Acres Ranch Kennels

A Short History Of Brittanys At BARK

We began raising Brittanys in Jerome Idaho back when they were officially referred to as Brittany Spaniels.  In the 1960s, AKC determined that Brittanys were not really Spaniels as defined by the breed description and dropped the reference completely from the official record of Brittanys.  Many people who raise this breed of dogs still advertise them as Brittany Spaniels.  I must admit the use of the Spaniel reference seems to make the name seem more complete, and therefore more comfortable in speaking the name.  However, by official AKC records this breed it simply referred to as Brittany.

Back in the '70s an AKC registered Brittany would go for around $50 to $75 with papers.  If you bought one that was supposed to be from the greatest of champions, you paid an ungodly $200.  That was one expensive Brittany.  Now days you can't get the litter's tails docked for that kind of money.  A good, well raised Brittany should go for around $250 to $300 with the cream of the crop in the $500 area.  Generally the last few pups from a litter will go for around $100 to $200 only because by the time the last of the litter finds new homes they are becoming quite a handful to take care of, especially if you still have several around.

A litter must have several things done to them within 2 or 3 days of birth in order for them to be great field dogs.  A Vet will generally refuse to perform these services if the litter is older than one week. They must have their tails docked if they are to be eligible for AKC shows and to meet the specifications for the Brittany breed.  We generally have the tails docked to around 1 to 2 inches when full grown.  AKC allows the tail to be as long as four inches.  The reason for the short tail is a practical one, it keeps the butt from getting all stuck up with burrs and junk when they are running around out in the weeds and trash.  There is nothing worst than a tail full of burrs to make taking a dump a real hair raising experience, no pun intended.  In our view, the shorter the better, if you are really going to go hunting with your Brittany.  In the house, not so much a problem.  Also at 2 or 3 days of birth, the "dew claw" must be removed from the two front paws.  This is the equivalent of a persons thumb but because it is of no use to a dog, and because it can easily get caught in weeds or even the carpet and be ripped off with dire consequences, it is a very good idea to have it removed when the tail is done.  You can check your dog to see if it still has the dew claw, just run your hand up the inside of the front leg starting at the paw and you will, or will not, feel a claw about 2 inches above the paw on the inside.  If it is still there on an older dog, leave it alone.  It is considered to be surgery when it is removed and can result in complications on older dogs.  The last thing the Vet will do is give the pups a quick check to make sure they are off to a good start.  Temperature, wet nose, all that stuff.

What We Have Planned For The Future

Over the next few years, assuming my health holds out, I plan on having a couple of litters of Brittany pups each year.  I have a kennel area big enough to house 15 or 20 dogs but that would just become a factory and does not do the puppies justice in their formative weeks.  If you purchase a puppy from someone with more than four dogs, they have a puppy mill regardless of what they want you to believe.  Think twice before such a purchase.  I have encountered several Brittanys purchased from such places that had numerous mental problems. 

A Brittany, probably more than most dogs, requires the personal one on one socialization to be a good all around dog due to their extreme inbred hunting sense.  The socialization balances this excellent hunting nature and makes the dog much easier to handle and train.  An unsocialized Brittany is a crazed hunter that literally learns to catch birds on their own and can become a legal problem.  I had a male who would, at any time of year, go out and catch pheasants.  He would bring them home unhurt and just play with them.  This is a dog with a real problem.  He was not a good hunting dog but he produced excellent litters of great hunters once the puppies were socialized.