"A compact, closely-knit dog of medium size, a leggy dog having the appearance, as well as the agility, of a great ground coverer. Strong, vigorous, energetic and quick of movement. Not too light in bone, yet never heavy-boned and cumbersome. Ruggedness, without clumsiness, is characteristic of the breed. So leggy is he that his height at the withers is the same as the length of his body. He has no tail, or at most, not more than 4 inches."
Weight-Should weigh between 30 and 40 pounds.
Height-17
1/2 to 20 1/2 inches-measured from the ground at the highest point of the
shoulders.
Disqualifications-Any Brittany measuring under
17 1/2 inches or over 20 1/2 inches shall be disqualified from bench-show
competition. Any black in the coat or a nose so dark in color as to appear
black shall disqualify. A tail substantially more than 4 inches in length shall
disqualify.
Dense, flat or wavy, never curly. Texture neither wiry nor silky. The
ears should carry little fringe. The front and hind legs should have some
feathering, but too little is definitely preferable to too much. Dogs with long
or profuse featherings shall be so severely penalized as to effectively
eliminate them from competition.
Orange and white or liver and white in either clear or roan patterns.
Some ticking is desirable. The orange or liver found in standard parti-color or
piebald patterns. Washed out colors are not desirable. Tri-colors are
allowable but not desired. A tri-color is a liver and white dog with classic
orange markings on eyebrows, muzzle and cheeks, inside the ears and under the
tail, the freckles on the lower legs are orange. Anything exceeding the limits
of these markings shall be severely penalized. Black is a disqualification.
The standard then goes into specifics regarding the dogs anatomical
makeup.
The Brittany is sensitive, affectionate (to the point of craving love and attention) and gentle with children; the dog seems bred to serve as both house pet and hunting partner (though some individuals are high strung and rambunctious in the house). Smart and obedient, a Brit can be effectively handled by the amateur. But use velvet hands, for the overly sensitive individual cannot accept even moderately rough training techniques. Depending on bloodline and individual, a Brittany runs either wide and fast or close and methodical. All Brits hunt merrily, with heart and an overwhlming desire to please. The Brittany's versatility is a boon. It is classified a "versatile" or "continental" breed, meaning it will point and retrieve game from land or water. One day, a well-trained Brit may point grouse, pheasants or quail. Next day, the Brit will fetch with zest doves and other birds that fall on land or in marshes.