french/american cross

Waldo · french/american cross

Hi,
Fairly new to Brittany Spaniels and gundogs in general, have my first Britt that is an energetic girl of just past 12 months old. The breeder I brought her from cross breeds from American & French lines (pretty sure it's american dad/french mum).
Their reasoning was to get traits from both strains to create a better field dog and pet.
Just curious if many others do this or if it is just an isolated preference.
Waldo

Annie as admin

That's quite common in Australia, I believe, but very uncommon in the UK - it's mainly French here. There are factions in other countries that advocate the same mix as yours, but just as many factions who promote keeping the breed pure French, or pure American. The main problem is that if you use an American style dog on a French style bitch you could end up with some pups like Dad, some like Mom, and some a mixture. Normally if you breed a French to a French you'll get French, and American to American you'll get them - I suppose that's just common sense. Where people stand on their soap boxes is on type and style - some people go so far as to say they are completely different breeds. You can see the different dogs here
American type: http://clubs.akc.org/brit/
French type: http://frenchbrittany.org/
Hope this helps
Annie

Britmania

Waldo,the difference between the "American" Brittany and the "French" Brittany is essentially in their type - ie the look of the dog.
Australia is like NZ, where imports from the northern hemisphere have added to our gene pools, but have polarised some of the fanciers of the breed depending on where the imports were from.

The Australian preference has been of late, for strong imports from the USA, which has led to a predominance of the American "type" in the showring especially. There are also many Aussie Brittany's who are direct descendants of Jack Thompson's imports in the 1970's from the UK and Holland.

We in NZ also have Brittany's who combine USA lines through recent Australian imports with the foundation UK/European bloodlines originally brought in. Indeed, the very first Brittany to come into NZ was from America, back in 1975.

Personally, I prefer the "French" type and this is what we are breeding for.

Generally, the Brittany's I have seen that are of mixed parentage have a shorter coat, longer foreface, longer legs, longer ears, domed skull and less pigment than is desireable if you want to adhere to the NZ breed standard - which is also the UK standard.

In the end it comes down to personal preference and if your girl is all you want in a Brittany - dont worry about what others think.

Waldo

Thanks for that, just a bit curious really. She's coming along nicely and is a beautiful looking girl.
This weekend we're taking her out for her first hunt. My son will shoot and I will focus all my attention on working her, should be a great day out.
Cheers,
Waldo

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Annie as admin

Hi Waldo
I hadn't realised she was liver! Most American ones are orange and white, although there are liver as well, but they don't allow black and white yet. She looks great - ears a bit hairy for my liking though - don't they get very tangled when out hunting?
Annie

guy

Waldo - if and when you get one - would love to see a side profile view. Dog standing looking forward.

Waldo

Hi,
She was probably about 6 months old when that photo was taken, she has just recently gotten a lot more coat (as the weather has just turned cold here). I'll try and get a side picture this weekend.
Cheers,
Waldo

Waldo

Hi Guy's,

Here is an up to date picture, she is now 13 months old, sorry about the quality of the picture but I took it with my phone this morning when I had her out for a bit of a run/play.
She went out for her first hunt last weekend chasing foxes and she did a pretty good job, with a bit more time she will be good.

Click to see full size image

Annie as admin

Hey, that is SOME tail! Bet you can certainly keep an eye on where she is. That's the one advantage of tails I think.
I often think the liver Brittanys with tails look very much like small munsterlanders. I saw one in Switzerlnd a few years back and it could well have been a Brittany - just a wee bit longer in back and muzzle slightly longer.
Annie

Waldo

Hi Annie,
Funny you should mention about being able to see where she is by the tail. Last weekend when my son (16), Annie (pup) & I went shooting foxes and my son said the same thing. My son sat at one end of a dry creek bed and Annie & I worked the creek from the other end and drove the foxes to him. my son commented that it was lucky she had that tail because it made it easier to see her coming thru the grass, sticks, etc. (picked up 2 x foxes by the way).
Waldo

Annie as admin

Hmmm.............. in that case it is just as well she is liver and white with a white tail and NOT fox red!!! Rolling Eyes