Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 2:23 pm Post subject: Is that a type of Spaniel?
As Amy is now enjoying her freedom (10 days now) I find I’m quite frequently asked the same question.
It normally goes like this.
Q. Oh she’s lovely. What breed is she?
A. She’s a Brittany.
Q. Oh, really? Is that a type of Spaniel?
So far I think I’ve chosen one or more responses from the list below (partly depending on how early it is in the morning and how cold and/or wet it is).
1. No, nothing like.
2. Well, not really.
3. Well, they have spaniels in their ancestory but the “Spaniel” was dropped from their name in 1982
4. Well,they’re more like pointers really.
5. They’re really classified as HPRs or Hunter Pointer Retrievers or ‘versatile’ gun dogs
6. No, but the colouring can be quite similar and they have these lovely ears
7. Well, it’s true that the word “epagnuel” is often mis-understood to be derived from Spaniel (from Spain) whereas it may in fact come from “s’espagnir“ - to lie down [pillaged from epagneulreton.org.uk - thanks Guy! ]
8. Yes, in a way.
9. Oh yes, absolutely - you’ve totally nailed that one.
The motivation for my question isn’t because I take offence at people thinking our Amy is a Spaniel - I have met some very beautiful Spaniels.
It’s more born out of wanting to provide an short, accurate, helpful and friendly response.
Hi
You are doing better than i did, on taking my 1st Britt out of the car on a shoot day i was asked " what are doin with a bloody hyena " followed by "stick to what you know and get another ESS ", my reply is not printable.
Dave A _________________ Dave A, Fern, Gill and Molly
After 26 years with this breed I have given up - I just say 'they don't do the same work as a spaniel but they do look similar, don't they'
Worst thing we came across was the President of Gundog Breeds of Scotland judging Brett our first one - she said 'I'm sorry I can't judge your dog, I haven't read the breed standard. Is it a new imported Spaniel breed.' Sandy just walked away in dis-gust .
Another extremely well known judge said 'your dog has too short a neck for a spaniel, can't do his job properly' Sandy said - but he's not a ground scenter he's an air scenter. 'What's that?' said the judge
And another judge said - could you put your cocker on the table please. You should have heard the guffaw THAT brought from our friends at the ringside who knew what he was - not a flippin bad specimen of a cocker, that's for sure
Bet there will be loads more examples! _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
It is very tempting when people ask about Rudi (our black tri) to make up a complete cock-and- bull story about the rarity of the "miniature Rottweiler" _________________ Lin, owned by Rudi and Copper the Brittanys & Zac the Springer.
Oh, yes - we've done that bit too - with Clyde - he's the one on the front of my 'Brit Bag Book' _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
I would never use number 7 as I can't pronounce the words.
When Holly (my Irish Setter) was a young pup, many people would talk to me for half an hour or so about what beautiful dogs they were, their sister has one etc only to comment "I've always liked Cocker Spaniels" as they were about to walk off. _________________ If a job's worth doing, it's worth paying somebody else to do it properly
The first time we made 'group' - well the only time; the ring steward said would you move the spanish water dog over there; pointing to me.
The most common comment out is 'it a bit long in the leg for a spaniel isn't it. To which I reply 'it certainly would be if it was indeed a spaniel' I usually follow this with it is a group 7 dog. Which of course they have never heard of _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
Click to see full size image _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
I've had a "what" spaniel, is that a miniature GSP (Annie is liver/white) and on a couple of occasions when I've replied "Epagneul Breton" I just get "oh".
Cheers,
Waldo
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