AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE NEWSLETTER - MAY 2022 |
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AMERICAN VS FRENCH BRITTANY
A BRITTANY IS A BRITTANY... IS A BRITTANY? MAYBE...
By Linda Joyce
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My first thought—if there is an American Cocker and an English Cocker, and four different types of setters, it makes sense that through generations of distinct breeding, there may indeed be two different breeds of Brittanys.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association list both the Epagneul Breton (French Brittany Spaniel) and the American Brittany under Brittany. American breeders considered Brittanys more pointers than spaniels in working style.
French Brittanys, however, are characterized as all-bird gun dogs. The United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes the American Brittany (AB) and French Brittany Spaniel (EB) as separate breeds. In the United States, there is a UKC National Breed Club for the French Brittany Spaniel—Club de L‘Epagneul Breton of the United States or CEB-US.
Between the AB and the EB, it’s been said the French Brittany Spaniel has a stronger hunting instinct. It is a walking hunting dog, which tends to hunt closer, range shorter distances, and checks in more often with its human hunting partner.
The AB has longer legs and is a longer running dog, many are bred to hunt in front of horses. The AB is taller and weighs more than the EB.
The most recognizable difference between the two come from their appearance. The AB nose colors include fawn, tan, shades of brown, or deep pink. The AKC recognizes only coat colors of liver & white, liver roan, orange & white, orange roan, and liver white & orange. The AKC and Canada’s CKC do not recognize black as a color for a Brittany.
However, black is embraced in the French Brittany Spaniel by the UKC. All other countries in the world follow the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) standard of the breed and accept: orange & white, liver & white, black & white, liver tricolor, and black tricolor. A dog’s coloring may be either a clear or roan with some ticking.
I am not an expert on any dog breed. What I have is practical experience with both types of Brittanys. I raised two orange and white American Brittanys from puppies, until they passed at nearly fifteen years old. They were companion gun dogs that ranged long distances. In my current pack, we have two Epagneul Bretons, a four-month-old tri-colored female puppy and a three-year-old black and white roan male. Plus, we have a five-year-old orange and white American Brittany. My unscientific observation is that our EBs are problem solvers. They use their paws like hands, like when opening a door. Our AB uses his nose as a battering ram.
This is where breed characteristics flip in our pack. Our male EB is a long ranging dog who runs on rocket fuel and can cover 100 yards in six seconds flat (this is of course hyperbole but not by much), whereas our AB hunts closer, checks in more.
American Brittanys and French Brittany Spaniels are versatile gun dogs. They need regular daily exercise, have sweet expressions, and are known to be “soft”— sensitive to behavioral corrections.
However, a debate continues about whether or not the American Brittany is a different breed from the French Brittany Spaniel.
Resources:
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MAY IS CHIP YOUR PET MONTH |
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Why is a microchip so important?
- 1 in 3 family pets will get lost!
- Accidents happen and sometimes pets get away from their owners- perhaps you have a fence jumper or your pet spooks and pulls the lead out of your hand.
- Dogs with a chip are 2x as likely to be returned to their owner.
- All vet hospitals, shelters, and animal control facilities have universal pet chip readers, but they only work if you’ve registered them.
- Schedule a visit with your vet (or better yet- do it every year at their annual exam) to scan your pet for their chip and make sure your information is up to date.
It is best to continue to have your Britt wear a collar and tag as that is the quickest way to get him back to you if he gets lost.
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CHLOE'S STORY
By Dawn Samstag
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In July 2015, Chloe was surrendered by her family. She was six years old. She was beautiful, she was sweet, and she was limping. Her family said she had been limping for a few months but they were not sure why. They suspected something happened one of the times she escaped the yard and ran wild in the neighborhood.
I took her to be evaluated by my veterinarian. X-rays revealed she had a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), known in humans as the ACL. She needed surgery. Basically, to compensate for not having a CCL, her tibia was leveled and rotated to stabilize the knee. During the surgery, six screws and a metal plate were inserted in her leg. After healing from surgery, she had several physical therapy sessions. Soon after that, she was placed on the website as an active adoption Brittany, all healed and feeling good!
Unfortunately, she had a reaction to the metal and developed an infection. She had to have one of the screws removed. One step forward and several steps back. Surgery again to remove a screw and new healing from that incision. Finally, all better... And then, tragedy struck! Here came my happy girl, limping into the house... on her other leg. I had been told 80% of dogs tear their other CCL shortly after the repair of one leg. She did it! The good news was she did not need therapy after surgery this time, and she had no negative reactions to the metal.
We had two Brittanys already. A full family. We did not intend on bringing in a third. But from day one with Chloe, my husband knew she would be a part of our family. Over one year after I picked her up as a surrender to foster, three surgeries later, and on our 21st wedding anniversary, I completed the adoption paperwork – happy anniversary to us and happy adoption day for Chloe!
Our lives are so much richer with Chloe. Chloe will be 13 on May 4, 2022. She has enjoyed a full life filled with walks, romping in the woods, swimming (rather wading) at the lake, and running wild on our property. A life well-lived. This life would not have been possible without ABR and the dedication to fund her surgeries.
The interesting thing is, Chloe is not a full blood Brittany. Her mom came to ABR pregnant, and dad was obviously not a Brittany. But the dedication of ABR transcends to the puppies.
We have benefitted from ABR’s generosity, which does not go unappreciated. I feel dedicated to them. Chloe is an amazing dog with a gentle spirit that has made us smile.
And she’s still kicking, playing with her adopted sister, Daisy (ABR), and still running with two awesome knees.
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APRIL SHOWERS FEATURED PHOTOS |
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SHARE YOUR PHOTOS FOR JUNE! |
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FEATURING YOUR BRITTANY...
Enjoying Summer Fun in the Water and Sunshine!
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Snuggler alert! Beautiful Jade is a loving companion who adores time with her family. She has a medical issue that causes incontinence, which led to her being caged most of the time in her first home. Now she is on medication and her problem is under control. In her foster home she isn’t caged and is loving the freedom! Jade enjoys her walks and playing with toys. Always one to explore, she likes to figure out ways to go over or under her fence. A high fence and no slip halter are a must for Jade! She gets along with other dogs, cats and older children. Jade is looking for a family that will give her stability, kindness and lots and lots of love.
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“That dog won’t hunt,” they said about Chance, and so they discarded him. He was found as a stray and when the shelter called his owners, they didn’t want him back. Now is the time for his second Chance. You would not know he is 10 years old with all of his Brittany energy. He loves walks and playing with other dogs. Chance is very afraid of thunderstorms, but he loves to snuggle and get loved by people. If you have a soft spot for an active senior Brittany that wants to give you all the love his heart possesses, Chance is the dog for you.
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Boston (#10512) - KY - 7.5/yo: This playful dog loves people, toys and the backyard. If you look closely, you will see that Boston doesn’t have any teeth. Due to a gum disease, they were all extracted. He is now healthy, has no medical needs related to the disease, and he eats soft kibble just fine. He used to be home alone frequently, and as a result he is not very sure of delivery people, but he is working on that. He is really enjoying being a member of a pack for the first time in his foster home. If you can imagine yourself sitting outside soaking up the sun, Boston would love to complete that picture by being next to you!
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Are you looking to adopt a Brittany but don't see one available in your area? |
We welcome you to complete an adoption application to start the approval process, so you will be ready to adopt when the time comes!
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Marshall checked in with a smile from his new ride on his way to his forever home. Happy Tails and congratulations, Marshall and family!
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WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Please drop us a line at
or
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ABR's 19th ANNUAL PICNIC
By Terrie Johnson
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Each year in April, American Brittany Rescue volunteers, adopters and enthusiasts gather at the dog park in El Chorro Regional Park in San Luis Obispo for the Annual California Picnic. After a two-year “COVID” break, the picnic was held on Saturday, April 23.
This was ABR’s 30th Anniversary and the 19th Annual Picnic. Our event was a fantastic success! We hosted 69 humans and 61 dogs (down from previous years where we had as many as 100 humans and 115 dogs!). The dog park is so big that it easily accommodates our largest crowd. The weather was perfect, not too hot, and not too cold. The dogs played and played and played – unless they were hanging out at the barbeque waiting for some tasty tidbits to fall.
Each family received a goody bag filled with toys, food and treat samples, as well as some other giveaways. Robin Egan created personalized bandannas for each dog. Kerry Landon made ABR coffee mugs that are the perfect size for chilly mornings when you need that hot cup of something to warm you up.
Most participants spend the year planning and designing their gift baskets for the raffle at the end of the day. Some are so extravagant and creative that winners just can’t believe they won such amazing things. From an antique tool box filled with garden supplies, to designer soaps and lotions, to wines, beers, dog beds, collapsible crates, and the coveted HANDMADE quilt. If you have never been to a California Picnic, you don’t know what you are missing!
Our caterer, who provides us with a delicious Santa Maria-style barbeque, cooks the meat and chicken on site while dodging and talking to the many dogs who delight in being underfoot. They are always so patient and kind with the dogs and never get upset when they have to step over a few who fall asleep under foot. My dear Crosby loves these folks so much he tried to go home with them, TWICE!
Telling your non-doggie friends that you are going to a Dog Picnic really gets some strange comments and looks – but truthfully, it is so much fun! I guess it’s because dog people like dog people – and especially their dogs!
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Do you have “Foster Tails” to tell?
A foster moment you’ll never forget?
A challenge you overcame?
A funny or heartwarming story?
A tale of encouragement?
A foster who made a special impact?
Whether it's a few sentences, a whole story, or a photo that speaks for itself, we would love to share your anecdotes, thoughts, and experiences. Please connect with us at social.networks@americanbrittanyrescue.org.
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Keep up-to-date on dog food and treat recalls on DogFoodAdvisor.com. You can also sign up to have recall alerts delivered to your inbox! |
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ABOUT THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE
American Brittany Rescue, Inc. is an organization that was formed in 1991 as a cooperative effort of Brittany owners, breeders, trainers, and fanciers who ABR believes have a responsibility not only for their own dogs and the dogs they produce, but for the breed as a whole.
THE AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE MISSION
ABR's mission is to provide the leadership and expertise via a network of trained volunteers to take in stray, abandoned, surrendered and/or impounded purebred Brittanys, provide them with foster care, health and temperament screening, an opportunity for any necessary rehabilitation and to assure their health and placement into new homes. In order to fulfill this mission, ABR's volunteers remain flexible and adaptable to current and future business environments and they remain dedicated to the organization.
ABR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Terry Mixdorf, President
Terrie Johnson, Vice President
Joe Herslip, Secretary
Jeanette Seely, Interim Treasurer
Sandra Oelschlegel, Chair
Diana Doiron
Deb Grove
Nancy Hensley
Michelle Falkinburg
Bobbi Tolman
Melissa Tapply DiLello
AMERICAN BRITTANY RESCUE E-NEWSLETTER TEAM
Brittany Boler
Christine Brennan
Jeannine Connors
Judie Cutting
Kristin Davis
Autumn Fenton
Linda Joyce
Melissa Tapply DiLello
Debra White
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