Home Prevention The Breton Epagnole is a medium to large dog. The Breton Epagnole is an elegant beauty and an outstanding hunter.

The Breton Epagnole is a medium to large dog. The Breton Epagnole is an elegant beauty and an outstanding hunter.

This dog is for active people people who love walking and traveling often visit the countryside. Ideally, the Breton Epagnole should live in country house, where there is the possibility of free keeping and hunting trips.

This dog is sensitive and perceives all shades of the owners’ emotions, therefore in families where screams and scandals often occur, the dog is deeply unhappy.

Today there is no exact information about the origin of this dog breed. Presumably, the Breton epagnol was used for feather hunting in the province of Brittany. Documentary evidence of the age of the breed dates back to 1849. In the painting “Forester and Dog” the first image of this breed is found.

By the end of the 19th century, today's canine standard was formed. In France, they still haven’t decided what to call this hunting breed of dog, which is associated with the word “epagnol”.

The direct translation of "epagnol" is Spanish, which may indicate the origin of this breed from the Spanish bird dogs. The second interpretation of the translation is a verb meaning “to stretch out”, “to lie down”, characterizing the dog’s hunting stance and reaction to commands.

As a result of wars and revolutions, the breed was practically destroyed. Only thanks to the efforts of the breeder Arthur Eno were the unique standards of the breed restored. The first entry in the stud book about the British Spaniard dates back to 1901. In 1907, a society of fans of these amazing dogs was created.

Features of the breed standard

The first breed standards of the early 20th century did not allow tri-colors or black piebalds. But increasingly, breeders began to observe the appearance of puppies with excellent hunting characteristics, but not meeting the established color standard.

See also: White Swiss Shepherd

As a result, starting from 1956, representatives of the orange, brown and black piebald color were allowed to participate in exhibitions.


The standard length of the tail is mandatory docking (10 cm), according to the standards, it was regulated in 1923.

Breton Breton Epagnole - photos of a bright representative of the breed can be found on the title covers of many specialized magazines; in Russia it is still rare. Although these dogs have been popular in the hunting communities of Canada and the United States since the 1930s.

Established international standards and description of the breed

The dog has a strong, one might say, heroic build and a strong, well-built bone structure. The height at the withers is allowed for females from 45 to 47 cm, for males - 46 - 51 cm. The breed has grown significantly since the end of the 19th century, when according to the standard the height at the withers was allowed no higher than 45 cm.

A distinctive feature of the breed is a slightly flattened head and an elongated muzzle, which give the impression of a slightly flattened shoe.

A cheerful, friendly expression of a muzzle that is not too long and straight, not snub nose. Eyes amber color. Ears without fringe, set high, slightly rounded.

The front legs are muscular and thin, relative to the hind legs, which are distinguished by well-developed prominent muscles and sloping hips.

Acceptable colors: black and white, tricolor (white, black and chestnut), orange and white, elegant chestnut and white. Piebald colors of all listed colors.

Character and temperament

This dog is distinguished by an excellent set of qualities - intelligence and obedience, cheerfulness and mobility, playfulness and simplicity. This dog will do everything to make its owner happy with its behavior.


A dog's increased emotionality can sometimes provoke unexpected reactions to extreme situations. Therefore, from three months of age, a puppy living in an urban environment must be accustomed to loud noises. sharp sounds, the flow of traffic and the distance that must be maintained in relation to strangers.

See also: Shiba Inu

If, due to duty, the owner is at home only in the morning and evening, then this dog is not worth getting. The dog has a very hard time with the long absence of its owner. Therefore, the ideal society for a Breton is a family with children.

Don't expect from hunting dog security and guard qualities. He would rather go to meet a stranger, showing friendliness, than take a defensive stance.

The dog calmly tolerates other animals in the house and gets along well with other dogs and cats. Loves to play with small children.

Care and maintenance

The Breton Epagnole is a French pointing dog with a magnificent coat that does not require special care. Bathe your pet once a week using a special shampoo and comb it. It's enough.


Ear cleaning should be done at least once a week, since all spaniels are susceptible to inflammatory infectious diseases ears. Daily care comes down to washing the eyes with strong tea to remove the tear deposits that accumulate in the corners of the eyes.

There are no special recommendations regarding diet. The only rule is not to give the dog large bones or poultry bones. This can lead to rapid tooth decay. You can offer your pet cartilage and food rich in vitamins and minerals. IN daily diet Vegetables must be present.

You should start training and training your puppy no earlier than three months.

You can buy an excellent companion and reliable comrade, which a Breton Epagnole will become, for 25,000 - 35,000 rubles, this is the price of a purebred puppy.




Learn about the Breton Spaniel's character and personality. Study his habits, traits, characteristics and how he generally behaves. Find out what kind of care he needs and how easy it is to train him.

Personality of the Breton Spaniel

Award winning Breton Spaniel, widely known hunting dog and have recently become popular as a pet, due to their happy, friendly, affectionate nature, intelligence and versatility. They enjoy being in the company of people and also love attention. They will want to spend a lot of time with you.

They don't like to be left alone for for a long time. They like to be loved, but they also like to work. They need challenges and crave mental stimulation. Boredom, loneliness or pent-up energy will lead them to destructive behavior. Therefore, they also need a lot of exercise. They love to run and should do so daily.

A busy representative of this breed - happy dog. They are friendly with children and most interact well with other dogs (some are aggressive towards other dogs and cats). Personalities within this breed range from highly sensitive to reserved, and from obedient to stubborn. But they are generally gentle, active, attentive and playful dogs that make wonderful companions in homes with active lifestyles.

Breton Spaniel training

Breton Spaniels are very intelligent and easy to train. They learn new commands very quickly.

Breton Spaniel hair loss

The Breton Spaniel loses a fair amount of hair. You will find its fur on your sofa, carpet, clothes and everything else in your home.

Caring for a Breton Spaniel

Caring for the Breton Spaniel's short coat requires occasional brushing. But because he sheds, you may want to brush him once or twice a week to remove loose hair (What you brush doesn't fall out in your house!).

Breton Spaniel (Breton Spaniel, Breton Epagnol) - detailed description dog breeds, photos, videos, features of keeping and history of the origin of the breed

Photo: Breton Spaniel (Breton Spaniel, Breton Epagnol)

Breed dossier

  • Country of origin:

    France

  • Classification:

    Group 6: Hounds and related breeds

    Section 1: Continental Pointers

    Subsection: 1.2 Spaniel type

  • Training:

    The Breton Epagnole is a very obedient dog that loves to work with its owner and follow commands. Dogs of this breed are able to think independently, and therefore are especially distinguished in everything related to hunting, as well as all kinds of dog competitions.

  • Color:

    The standard color is considered to be a combination of bright red and white flowers, chestnut and white, black and white, tri-color with chestnut and tri-color with black.

  • Dimensions.

    Height at withers 47.5-51 cm. Weight 10-15 kg.

  • General impression:

    A slender, compact, energetic, fairly broad-bodied dog, more like a setter than a spaniel.

  • Usage.

    The Epagnole Breton is a hunting gunpointing dog. It can hunt all types of birds, living both in the field and on high ground. Prefers to gallop, overcoming long distances. The operating style is “shuttle”, at a distance of about 50-100 meters in both directions.

    The hunting passion, instincts and intelligence of these dogs are the fruit of the work of breeders and one of the main advantages of the breed. Puppies begin to work early; there are those who do this at 4-5 months. In addition, Bretons are temperature resistant and can work in both hot and cold temperatures, of course, within reason. The Bretons' tendency to apport is an innate quality.

    In addition to hunting instincts, this dog also has guarding talent, which makes the Breton Spaniel particularly popular.

    The breed has earned respect not only as a hunting dog, but also as a companion, capable of bringing a lot of joy to its owner.

  • Physical exercise:

    Like all hunters, the Breton Spaniel needs fairly long walks with active physical activity. He has quite enough energy to “put you on his ears”; he really needs a lot of movement and training. Although, if he has enough space and an active owner that matches his temperament, then the Breton Epagnole will show itself at its best.

    The Breton Spaniel loves water and is a good swimmer.

  • Character:

    Smart, lively, affectionate and devoted dog.

  • Content:

    It is advisable to keep a dog outside the city.

  • Grooming:

    Caring for this dog's coat will not be difficult, but it must be done regularly. The shedding of this breed is quite weak, but the dog needs to be brushed regularly so that the silky coat does not become tangled or matted. Bathing is recommended approximately once a month.

    If you want to take your Breton Espanole into the show ring, he will probably need some light trimming.

    It is necessary to monitor your ears daily.

  • Amenability:

    Good with children and other pets, provided that it has passed at an early age necessary for the dog socialization. Puppies of the Breton Epagnole breed are literally overflowing with energy, they love to rush around, run, and play, so the kids will have extraordinary fun with this dog.

  • Diseases:

    Prone to dysplasia hip joint, seizures and breast cancer.

  • Diet:

    Unpretentious in food.

  • Lifespan:

    12-14 years old

  • History of origin of the breed

    Bred in France in the 18th century, from a medieval spaniel, later the blood of English setters was added. The name of the breed comes from the French province of Brittany, where this breed was first mentioned.

    Some of the first sources pointing to Breton are paintings and tapestries of the 17th century. The Dutch painter Jan Steen painted a lot of Bretons. Written mentions of these dogs date back to 1850. According to one version, in this year the priest Davis described his hunting with short and short-tailed dogs, whose hair was longer than that of pointers. The correspondence of the description is also confirmed by the fact that these dogs were loved by poachers, in whose business obedience is especially important.

    In the 19th century, English hunters visiting Brittany (in northern France) left their setters, pointers and springer spaniels there while hunting was prohibited. Accidental crossbreeding with Breton farm dogs, used for hunting woodcock, resulted in a breed with good scent and quick retrieval. Breton epagnole began to gain popularity.

    By the beginning of the 20th century, the breed had almost died out, but the French dog breeder Arthur Hainault managed to breathe new life into this breed.

    It was first exhibited in Paris in 1904. In 1907, the first club of breed lovers was founded, and in 1908 a standard was adopted.

    This breed is bred not only in France, but also in other European countries, as well as in the USA and Canada.

    Currently, the Breton Epagnole in France ranks second in popularity among all breeds and at the same time is the most famous French breed in other countries. For example, in the USA this is the most common breed of cop.

    On June 3, 2010, at a meeting of the All-Russian Canine Council, it was decided to open an All-Russian stud book for hunting dogs of the Epagnole Breton breed. In the American TV series "Sex in big city"features a dog of the Epagnole Breton breed.

    Appearance

    The Breton is a breed-like dog with either a short tail or no tail at all. Gives the impression of being stocky, neat, with harmonious bones, but not massive.

    The head is wide, with an elongated muzzle. The eyes are dark or light brown. The nose is angular, dark, and matches the color of the dog in tone.

    The ears are quite long. The tail is thick, held at the level of the back, docked to a length of 10 cm.

    The coat is short, close-lying, thick, silky, slightly wavy, with feathering on the back side.

    The Epagnole Breton is considered the smallest dog among the family of long-haired French pointers.

    Psychological picture

    The Breton is an open, sociable, hardworking and devoted dog.

    Since this is a very energetic and active breed, the Breton Spaniole can also get bored very easily, because he always needs a change of impressions. Consistent training and a gentle but firm hand will help you and your pet understand each other and become truly happy.

    The Breton Spaniel is an affectionate and balanced dog. Good-natured, gentle, playful. Smart and hardworking. Quickly adapts to new conditions. Barks a little. Obedient. If handled roughly, it can become timid. She is very touchy and requires affectionate treatment.

    Breton epañol is clever dog, which shows special talents in everything related to sport hunting. Calm, obedient and eager to earn praise from his owner, the British Spaniard is at the same time an alert, lively, and independent-minded dog.

    At home it is a friendly and faithful pet, outside the city, in the field - it is a born waterfowl hunter.

    Cheerful and grasping everything on the fly, the Breton epagnole is also very beautiful in appearance. Dogs of this breed need a gentle, but at the same time quite firm hand, because energy flows out of them in full swing.

    A restless guy like the Breton Epagnole is best kept in a house with a medium-sized yard. It is best if the Breton Spaniole breed dog lives outside the city, as it will become bored in the apartment and will begin to splash out energy, destroying the room.

    Easy to handle and truly loving to its owners, this breed can be a truly ideal pet, provided you take good care of it and spend enough time training it to keep it in good shape and genuinely enjoy life.

    About the Epagnole Breton breed

    The Breton Spaniel, or Breton Spaniel, as well as the Breton Spaniel, as they are also called, are ancient breed pointing dogs, which appeared in the 18th century in western France in the province of Brittany. This breed was considered a universal hunting pointer and was used primarily for hunting game. The Breton's ancestors were used only for hunting birds and were called "bird dogs." Subsequently, blood was added to the “bird dogs” and, after which, the Breton Hispaniole was able to more actively pick up the scent and acquired its stunning hunting style. By the beginning of the 20th century, the breed was on the verge of extinction, but experts managed to restore it, although slightly updating the appearance of modern Breton. The breed was officially registered in 1908.

    Appearance

    The Breton Epagnole is a strongly built, medium-sized dog with a stocky, but not massive, square body. The head of the Breton Spaniard is wide, with a smooth transition from the forehead to the elongated muzzle. The high-set ears are rounded at the tips and covered with slightly wavy hair. Light Brown eyes harmonize with the color of the dog. The Breton's neck is of medium length, his stomach is drawn, his back is strong, his hips are wide and powerful. The limbs are slender, long and muscular. The Breton Spaniard has a long stride - when he walks hind legs They take out the prints of the front paws. The tail can be straight and hanging, its length usually does not exceed 10 cm. The coat should not form curls and have a slightly wavy appearance. The color can be red, liver in combination with white and tri-color (white, red, black).

    Character

    The Breton Epagnole is a true hunting dog with high intelligence and excellent working qualities. He has great instincts, makes an amazing stance, and can work in all weather conditions and on any terrain. Epagnol Breton is obedient and has a stable, balanced character. This breed is considered suitable not only for hunters, but also for families with children. An affectionate and responsible Breton will become a real nanny for them, and will never show aggression. The Breton Spaniel is friendly towards other pets, and if he grew up with them, he will not consider your cat or parrot as game. At home, the Breton will not bother you with loud barking; he perfectly follows commands and is easy to train. To prevent an adult dog from becoming gloomy or shy, you need to accustom the puppy to communicate with people and other dogs with early age. The Breton Epagnole has a stubborn disposition, but at the same time it is easy to control and can adapt to any environment.

    The Breton Epagnole is a very energetic and active dog that needs a lot of exercise stress, so a quiet and measured life in a city apartment will most likely not suit her. In cramped conditions, the dog will begin to get bored, whine and behave in an inappropriate manner. It would be ideal to keep such a dog outside the city, where it can splash out its energy and satisfy its hunting instincts. Once a week you need to brush your Breton with a stiff brush to keep his coat in excellent condition. Bath the dog as it gets dirty. If your pet is used for hunting, after each outing it is necessary to inspect the dog’s fur and paws, since in addition to burrs, ticks may be found on it. The Breton Epagnole is very sensitive to rough handling, even your scream can offend him, try to take into account the peculiarity of his character and explain everything in words.

    Health

    Like many representatives hunting breeds, the British Spaniard can't complain about poor health- he is considered strong dog. Some representatives of the breed may suffer from hemophilia. This hereditary disease, in which blood clotting decreases, and even minor injury, can lead to serious hemorrhages. To prevent this disease, breeders usually do not allow closely related relationships and cull sick animals. Of the other diseases that can occur in the Breton Epagnole, the most commonly observed are hip dysplasia and thyroid hypothyroidism.

    Video of the Breton Epagnole breed

    Epagnol Breton at Dogcity classes

    Standard° N° 95 / 05. 05. 2003 /

    Group 7: Pointers, 1.2 section: Continental Pointers, Epagnol type

    With working test.

    ORIGIN: Country of origin - France, province of Breton. Currently ranked first among French sports breeds. Probably one of the oldest breeds of Epagnoles, improved in the early 20th century by various outcrosses and selection.

    The draft standard for the breed was drawn up in Nantes, in 1907, and was adopted on June 7, 1908 at the first General Assembly held in the city of Loudéac (then department of Côté du Nord, now called Côté d'Armor). This was the first standard of the Club Breton Natural Short-tailed Epagnoles.

    GENERAL APPEARANCE: The smallest pointing dog. Epagnole Breton refers to Braccoïde - short tailed or tailless. The build is harmonious, the constitution is solid, but not ponderous. Overall slim and lean, without unnecessary bulk, but at the same time looks quite elegant. The dog is energetic, has a clear look, makes an impression smart dog. Distinctive features breed is its short stature with energy, which during development retained the desired short-legged model, which was recorded by dog ​​breeders.

    IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The skull is longer than the muzzle in a ratio of 3:2. The head is proportional to the body. The depth of the chest from the withers to the sternum is slightly less than half the height of the dog. The dog is square - the length of the body (from the corner of the shoulder to the ischium) is equal to the height at the withers.

    BEHAVIOR / CHARACTER: The dog adapts to any environment, is friendly, with an intelligent and attentive expression, a balanced character. A universal dog, suitable for any hunt on any terrain, with a pronounced hunting habit. It is worth noting search hunting qualities, running, flair, terrain orientation, reaction speed and duration of stance on game, as well as fast recovery strength and learning ability.

    HEAD: The head is prominent, dry.

    SKULL: Slightly rounded when viewed from the front or side. When viewed from above, the longitudinal areas are slightly convex. The top lines of the head and muzzle are parallel. The width of the skull when measured between the zygomatic arches is less than its length. The brow ridges are not pronounced, but form a slightly rounded outline. The anterior beard and arrow-shaped comb are poorly defined. Moderate transition from forehead to muzzle.

    FACIAL AREA:

    Nose: large, with very wide, moist and wide-open nostrils. The color is harmoniously combined with the coloring - the same can be said about the border of the pupils and eye sockets.

    Muzzle: Straight, with almost parallel lateral surfaces.

    Lips: Well defined, not too large, relatively thin and tightly compressed. The lower lip is covered in some places by the upper lip, but the contour upper lip gradually bends towards the junction of both lips, and this junction is not too noticeable and is tightly covered. In general, no discoloration is observed.

    Jaws/Teeth: Full set of dental formula. Scissor bite

    Cheeks: Not heavy, the skin fits tightly.

    Eyes: Slightly slanted. The expression is intelligent, soft and frank. Slightly oval, not sunken, with clear, clearly colored and tightly fitting eyelids. Iris colors harmonize with coat color, mostly dark. The expression of the eyes combined with the protruding base of the ears creates a truly “Breton expression”.

    Ears: Set high triangular shape, relatively large and quite short (if pulled forward, the tips of the ears will be further than the body). Partially covered with wavy hair, especially on the top. The remaining parts are covered with short hair. Always active when the dog is alert or on the move.

    NECK: Of medium length and well-muscled, has the shape of a slightly concave, but in no case convex, truncated cone. Smoothly blends into the shoulders. There is no dewlap.

    Back: Straight, short and strong, well defined

    Withers: Sufficiently long, not very prominent, not loaded.

    Loin: Short, wide and muscular.

    Croup: Straight, short and strong, blending smoothly into the tail.

    Hips: Short, wide and muscular.

    Chest: Descends to level ulna, wide. The ribs are clearly defined, but do not protrude. The sternum is wide and rises slightly towards the rear. The outermost ribs are long and curved.

    Belly: Slightly tucked

    Sides: Slightly raised and short

    TAIL: Set on high, extended horizontally (or slightly drooped) when moving, wagging frequently when the dog is alert or at work. The Epagnole Breton can be born without a tail or with a very short tail. When docking the tail, the ideal length is 3 to 6 cm, docked tail should not be longer than 10 cm.

    FOREQUARTERS: Limbs well balanced. The joints are flexible and strong.

    Shoulder blade: Movable, long (30% of the height at the withers), close to the body with well-developed muscles. Its inclination is between 55 and 60° to the horizon. The distance between the shoulder blades is 5 cm (2").

    Shoulder: Dense, powerful and very muscular. It is slightly longer than the shoulder blade. humeroscapular joint 115 and 120 °.

    Forearm: Muscular and dry. Slightly longer than shoulder. Vertically placed

    Elbow: Tightly pressed to the body..

    Wrist: Flexible, slightly inclined (between 15 and 20° from vertical).

    Feet: Round, tightly knit.

    HINDQUARTERS: Seen from behind, well balanced and parallel.

    Thigh: Strong with prominent, prominent muscles. It should be inclined between 70 and 75° to the horizontal.

    Lower leg: Slightly longer than the thigh with lean, defined muscles. Wide at the top, gradually decreasing towards the junction with the tarsus.

    The angle between the thigh and lower leg is close to 130°.

    Tarsus: Dry, with visible tendons.

    Metatarsus: Seen from the side, almost vertical.

    Feet: See forelimbs. The peculiarity is that the rear ones are slightly larger than the front ones.

    GAIT / MOVEMENT: Runs differently, with a light but powerful gait, evenly and briskly. The feet move straight, the body does not twitch or bend too much, and the top line remains parallel to the ground. In the field, he most often runs at a light gallop, the stride is fast and of medium length, the hind legs move slightly back (a selected light gallop).

    SKIN: Thin, close-fitting and well pigmented.

    HAIR: The coat is fine, but not silky. Close to the body or slightly wavy. Never frizz. Short on the head and front of the limbs. The back of the limbs is covered with thicker hair with abundant fluff, and along the length of the limbs their height decreases to the wrist (wrist joint) or tarsus (patellar tendon), and sometimes the hair goes down even lower.

    COLOR: White and orange, white and black, white and dark chestnut, with more or less pronounced scattered white spots. Piebald or shagreen, sometimes with teak splashes on the top and sides of the muzzle or limbs. Similarly, in the case of a tri-color coat, there are tan spots (shading from orange to dark) on the top and sides of the muzzle, above the eyes, on the limbs, on the chest and under the base of the tail. For any color, narrow tan marks are desirable. Spontaneous coloring is not allowed.

    Height at withers:

    Minimum 48 cm (18.9 inches) with a deviation of no more than 1 cm (0.4 inches).

    Maximum 51 cm (20.1 inches) with a deviation of no more than 1 cm (0.4 inches).

    Minimum 47 cm (18.5 inch) with a deviation of no more than 1 cm (0.4 inch).

    Maximum 50 cm (20.1 inches) with a deviation of no more than 1 cm (0.4 inches).

    Ideal height

    Males: 49 to 50 cm (19.3 inches to 19.7 inches).

    Females: 48 to 49 cm (18.9 inches to 19.3 inches).

    DEFECTS: Any deviation from the above specifications should be considered a defect and the degree of seriousness with which such defect should be treated is directly proportional to its significance.

    Personality: Shy, shifty eyes.

    Head posture: With a slight tilt.

    Nose: Very faint coloring, the inner surface of the nostrils is not colored.

    Teeth: Pincer bite, teeth not aligned.



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