In order to establish criteria for all breeders of the same dog to be on the same page so to speak, there was a need for a written guide that specified exactly what the ideal dog would be like. In turn this became the STANDARD OF SELECTION. As a breed was formed members approved a set of guidelines to make representative selections to carry forth a breeding program. The Epagneul Breton is first and foremost a performance dog who was developed to assist man in pursuit of game, most specifically the game found in the Region of Bretagne. This special game dog grew in tremendous popularity and is now well known throughout the world.

The First Standard of the Epagneul Breton was drawn up in 1907 in the formative years of the breed. Prior to that Epagneuls were entered into events or shows based on the areas they came from an why the breed has become know literally as the Epagneul that hails from the Bretagne (Brittany) region. The most current and detailed standard of the breed was recently approved and published under the World Organization Collectively known as the Federation Cynologique Internationale an organization formed by the main European dog registering bodies at the time. This body regulates and records titles acquired around the world using this approved Standard of the Breed. Individual countries still make determination on title requirements in their home land but for the designation of the International Championship the Federation Cynologique Internationale mandates that the Certificate Aptitude Championate International Beauty (CACIB) is awarded to adults only and must be acquired in two different countries with 1 year of separation between the wins of the certificates. These certificates are awarded at events where guest judges approved to judge the breed may award one certificate each to the best of each sex so only 2 dogs are possibly awarded the certificate. A judge may withhold the award if the exhibit lacks merit and is not of excellent type. It maybe be awarded to a dog if there is no competition present and yet the judge feels the exhibit is meritorious of the award.

Unfortunately the United States and Canada are not members of the FCI and do not follow the Registered Standard of the Breeds country of origin, FRANCE. Therefore, the American Kennel Clubs Standard of the Breed fails to include the corrected form of the standard that includes Black coloration and the specified height limits. The USA & Canada (other than the Epagneul Breton Club of Quebec) are the only countries in the world that do not accept the Epagneul Breton Standard as was designed by the Frenchmen who created the breed. While there is little other differences in the standards the omission of the color black effectively removes most ideal specimens due to the nose pigmentation that they carry. Basically the AKC standard favors dogs with a pale pigment base in very light noses, a naturally lighter Amber eye coloration in opposition to the preferred darker shades, and what appears to be a show ring trend away form heavily ticked or roan dogs and a preference for dogs with flashy white markings. There is a color preference away from Tricolor markings with the included statement "tricolors are allowed but not preferred" leaving it to some judges own "preferences" on its acceptance or not. Many claim the Epagneul Breton of French Origins are smaller than the American AKC Brittany but in fact there is really no major differences in their sizes except that the FCI standard states a preferred size range for a Male & for a Female, and the AKC standard actually allows for a 1/2 inch smaller dog as far as the minimum allowance goes. What makes the Epagneul Breton look so much smaller than its American cousin is that the emphasis in selection of a "Compact & Cobb appearance" verses the "leggy" preference seen in many American dogs. Leggy is often accompanied by a lanky look a more tendency to narrowness and some length of back, instead of a round stocky look seen in the "cobb type".

In France all dogs currently must be confirmed at 1 year of age or older. This Confirming Examination is to remove from the breeding population those dogs that exhibit any disqualifying faults such a over or under size, eye or ear in a white spot, or if the individual lacks so much that it no longer resembles the likeness of its breed, missing the identified teeth, or severe jaw misalignment. This basic examination will determine if the dog will be allowed to be bred or not. Those in this country interested in preserving this tradition of selection have their dogs confirmed prior to breeding. Proof of such a confirming examination in France is a two tiered registration number. For example the number will have a first part followed by a slash and a second part ex. 1xxxxxx/2xxxxxx. Here in the USA the AKC offers no such system, and neither do any of the other recognized registries. The CEB-USA in an attempt to follow this confirming process offers confirming examinations every year in conjunction with its Educational seminar, dogs are confirmed at two possible levels under our system.

1) Confirmed with no major Faults C1 or

2) Confirmed with no Disqualifications but some listed Faults C2

The reason for having this two tiered system is that the population in the USA is rather genetically limited and in an attempt to help owners and potential breeders use the best possible combination of ideal type dogs, it was felt this system would help some select a better mate for a dog that may have some listed faults. Those that pass the CEB-USA confirming examination receive a certificate attesting to this fact, along with a signed critique by the examiner. So potential puppy buyers should ask to see these certificates or in the case of an imported dog see that there are 2 sets of numbers on its pedigree. Often there is some confusion with the French Pedigrees as often dogs sold for Export will show a stamp of conformity but in actuality it is not confirmed as shown by the single set of registration numbers. In France they are issued a pedigree or certificate of birth this is the same format as an export pedigree but it is in the shade of Pink signifying that it is not confirmed. Once the dog is confirmed in France it is then issued a full pedigree where it shows the two tiered number registration and is not recognized to have its offspring registered.

In the USA since the American Kennel Club offers a registration procedure whereby the breeder can issue a limited registration (non-breeding registration) that allows dogs to compete in Hunt Tests, Obedience competitions or Agility, and is a reversible registration with a signature and a small fee from the breeder, remains the best possible way for those dedicated to the breed to control which animal can be bred or to be able to insist that a dog be confirmed prior to a reversal of this limited registration. To this end buyers should expect to receive a limited registration with the purchase of a puppy with a stipulation that this will be reversed once proof is received by the breeder that the dog has passed a basic confirming exam, some breeders have taken this one step further and require that a dog have received a preliminary hip clearance as well before the reversal is made. This protects the gene pool on a type and soundness level. Dogs with limited registrations can be super pets, superior hunters, but will not be allowed to be bred until they have met all the basic requirements of the breed in looks having no disqualifying faults, and for some truly dedicated breeders also having no hip problems to be passed on. As a buyer you should also have a signed contract that specifically states under what conditions the limited registration will be lifted. Be aware that some unscrupulous breeders will charge a high price for a puppy and still place it on a limited registration with no stipulation as to when it could be reversed, in such cases these kinds of breeders are possibly trying to protect their sales and not just the breed, Then, again there will be pups in any given litter that a breeder knows full and well that it will not be breeding material and will be identified and sold permanently on non-breeding registrations. In Any case get a written sales agreement stipulating all terms an conditions applied to the purchase of your pup including health warrantees, and hip guarantees and so forth.

With the recent recognizing by the United Kennel Club (USA) of the Epagneul Breton as a unique breed separate from the American lines of Brittanys, it is apparent that the identification of the dogs passing confirming examinations will be left to respective breed clubs.

In questioning the UKC we were told that they would not support a limited or tiered registration system as is done in France because it was felt that Americans don't want to be told who and what they can breed. It is the contention of the CEB-USA that this everyone for themselves attitude is what caused the drift in the American type of Brittany from the first dogs, and a preference for bold running dogs from a more cooperative type of dog and that identifiable look that many have sought after in the Epagneul Breton breed.

Be diligent in your puppy search and do not be in a hurry to acquire your first puppy.

As they say "Good things come to those that wait!"