LIKE ALL DOGS, French Brittanys need food and regular veterinary care, including routine checkups and vaccinations. They are generally very good eaters, and must not be allowed to get fat (average weight is 28-40 lbs.). They need a few good toys, especially if left alone for long periods of time. We prefer a couple of "real" bones (bought in a pet store), an occasional rawhide or cow hoof to clean teeth, and a ball or stuffed kong toy. We highly recommend crate training for all dogs. Being crate trained makes housebreaking vastly easier, and will give the dog a safe way to travel. And if he ever needs to spend the night at the vet, it will be less traumatic if he has learned that a crate is a safe haven. French Brittanys usually use a #300, or Intermediate, size crate (about 23" high).

ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES of a French Brittany is that it is not a high-maintenance dog in terms of coat care and upkeep. Coat maintenance is easy, with no clipping necessary if your dog is strictly a pet. It will need a good brushing with a slicker brush once or twice a week to get out dead hair (especially at the start of fall and spring), and to make sure the dog is free of parasites such as fleas or ticks. Don't forget nail clippers! Long nails are not only unattractive and ruin a dog's feet, but the longer they get the more danger there is of one being torn off. For the pet, bathe only when the dog is very dirty and a good thorough brushing won't do the job. You can use any basic dog shampoo for this.

IT IS A MISCONCEPTION that all French Brittanys are calm, or that all are high strung and need many miles of exercise everyday. If you meet enough French Brittanys, you’ll find that what the breeders tell you is true - French Brittanys are not a breed for generalizations. They range from mellow to extremely active, big to small, soft tempered to strong willed. But even French Brittanys who run continuously outdoors will most often settle down when inside with their family.

FRENCH BRITTANYS DO REQUIRE ATTENTION EVERY DAY, though. They are most definitely people-oriented dogs and want to get as much attention as any other member of the family. They may let you know they aren't getting enough attention by their undesirable behaviors. OBEDIENCE TRAINING IS ALWAYS A PLUS to help make a good pet. French Brittanys vary in temperament, and each requires a different method of training as some are very sensitive ("soft") and require only verbal corrections, while others need to be controlled or manipulated to do the right thing a few times before they will obey. Training and socializing from an early age is very important to develop a happy Breton and owner. French Brittanys are very adaptable and an older dog can easily learn the rules of a new home and family, but a good obedience class is an excellent place to establish the ground rules, and build a working relationship with its new owner. It's one of the best ways to form a bond between you and your new dog.

FRENCH BRITTANYS USUALLY LIVE 12-15 YEARS, so anyone contemplating adoption needs to be prepared to make that kind of commitment to the dog. This is an active breed that will require plenty of daily attention for many years.

MALE or FEMALE?
PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE A PERSONAL PREFERENCE to the sex of their pet. But once again, French Brittanys are not a breed for generalizations. Characteristics such as loyalty, affection, and ease of training are definitely NOT gender specific in this breed. While many people think female dogs are calmer and sweeter, quite often it is a neutered male French Brittany that fits this description best. CHARACTERISTICS VARY FROM DOG TO DOG, generally not within sexes. If you are getting a dog strictly for a companion, you should plan on having it spayed or neutered. This will already be done if you're adopting a rescue dog. This will eliminate many behavioral influences, such as possible roaming in the male or false pregnancies in the female and will help prevent possible health problems in older dogs. Such as Prostate and Mammary tumors.

PUPPY, YOUNGSTER OR ADULT?
WHILE NO ONE CAN DENY THAT PUPPIES ARE CUTE, at the same time who wouldn't mind missing the chewing and housebreaking stages? An older dog may make a more tolerating pet for younger children, and for that matter the children won't have to deal with a mauling puppy! A dog leaves puppy hood and enters adolescence at about the age of 5 months, and doesn't leave it until 2-1/2 or 3 years, depending on the individual dog. The Most challenging age is usually between 8 and 18 months (which is when most dogs no matter the breed are surrendered to shelters or rescue). Most pass through this phase with little trouble but occasionally they can drive their owner crazy! This is why we strongly urge participation in obedience training classes.
ADOPTING A RESCUED FRENCH BRITTANY from CEB-USA will help reduce the number of healthy, purebred French Brittanys who are unwanted or uncared for, or even needlessly euthanized, and encourage responsible breeding by others.

IN REVIEW
FRENCH BRITTANYS ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE. They can make excellent family dogs and excel in many areas, but they require personal attention every day, training, and most do not make good "kennel" or outdoor yard dogs because of their personal devotion to their owner(s). On the other hand, their medium size, wash-and-wear coat, and happy, intelligent temperament makes them an ideal family dog. French Brittanys also make excellent hunting companions or pets for single people, are easily trained to hunt if not born to do so. Most get along very well with other dogs, and many love the challenges of different types of competition like Agility.

DO NOT GET ANY DOG ON IMPULSE. If you are very serious about getting a French Brittany, you should be willing "shop around" and/or wait for the right one for your family and/or your needs and wants. These are long-lived dogs (average 12-15 years) and you should only get one with the intention of caring it for its entire lifetime, and get if you must acquire a puppy be sure to get one from a responsible breeder where you can evaluate each parent for the traits that are most desirable to you. Puppies are cute, but they grow out of that cute stage, and it's up to you as to whether it becomes a devoted and obedient companion or an unmanageable, unruly dog. The more time you put into your dog's socialization and training, the more it will give back to you.

Remember that CEB-USA Rescue is always here to offer advice and assistance for all French Brittany owners and prospective owners.