416 E. Brown St
Earlville, IL 60518
(866) 274-8911
Last Updated:
11/17/2009 07:26 PM © 2009 ABR
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(Please forgive our construction, we're still under development)
American Brittany Rescue is a purebred rescue organization. Unfortunately there are a tremendous number of homeless dogs in this country and with volunteers across the US & Canada, our resources and foster homes are limited, and we can't even save every purebred Brittany. Some of our volunteers who have the time and room do occasionally rescue mixes, and nearly every volunteer has had to make a determination as to whether or not a particular dog is purebred. Shelters often mis-identify a dog's breed, and while we have great compassion for dogs of all breeds and we realize that mixes are equally valuable pets, we do not post mixes on our website so that we can concentrate our efforts and limited resources on placing as many purebred Brittanys as we possibly can. ABR volunteers are encouraged to network with local rescue groups, including other breed groups and all breed/mixed breed groups. We recommend that Brittany mixes be posted on Petfinder and Petshelter. We hope this page will help you if you need to make a breed determination. |
First, some Brittanys of various types and colors...
    
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WELSH SPRINGER SPANIEL: The Welsh Springer is a compact sporting dog that can only be colored red and white.
Similarities to Brittanys: The coloration may be the same as a Brittany, and Welsh Springers are approximately the same height as a Britt, with a tail docked approximately the same length.
Differences: Welsh Springers have very dark brown or black pigment on the nose and eye rims, which orange/white American Brittanys do not. They have a more stocky, low to the ground appearance, and many Welsh may carry more coat than an average Brittany, especially on the legs and ears. The biggest difference is the big, thick, long ears of the Welsh Springer, which are also set lower than most Brittanys.
Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America website |
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ENGLISH SETTER: The English Setter is a large, elegant member of the sporting group. Its coat is flat with a good amount of feathering.
Similarities to Brittanys: English Setters may be orange/white, black/white (called blue in the setter), or tricolor. Field-bred setters may have a coat and activity level similar to a Brittany.
Differences: English Setters are much larger dogs (approximately 50-70 lbs.) and some may carry considerably more coat than Brittanys. Their tails are never docked. The Setter's muzzle is usually as long as the skull and more square in shape, and they may have more pendulous lips than Brittanys. The Setter's head is longer and their ears may be set lower on the head. Their nose and eye rim pigment is dark brown to black.
English Setter Association of America website |
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IRISH RED & WHITE SETTER: The Irish Red and White Setter is a fairly rare breed that narrowly escaped extinction, and there are a decent number in the US today.
Similarities to Brittanys: These setters are exclusively red and white in coloration, and some small female may be only slightly larger than Brittanys (22" at the withers).
Differences: The Red & Whites are a larger dog in general, ranging up to 27" at the shoulders (Brittanys average 18-20). Their muzzle is the same length as the skull, the nose and eye rim pigment is dark brown to black, and they generally have a longer, silkier coat than a Brittany.
Irish Red & White Setter Association website |
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COCKER SPANIEL: The Cocker is the smallest member of the sporting group, standing about 14" to 15" at the shoulder.
Similarities to Brittanys: Cockers may come in orange/white, liver/white, and black/white (all colors which are possible in Brittanys), and have tails docked about the same length.
Differences: Cockers are substantially smaller than Brittanys as mentioned above, and they may also be pure black or black with orange points on the face and legs (both colors not possible in Brittanys). Cockers' ears are thicker, longer, and set low on the head. Their faces are generally more square or rectangular in build, and they carry considerably more and longer coat over the entire body.
American Spaniel Club website |
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POINTER (ENGLISH or GERMAN SHORTHAIR): --Two distinct breeds treated as one here for the reason that they are both are large, short-haired, energetic pointing breeds--
Similarities to Brittanys: Mainly coat color. Shorthairs are liver/white only; English pointers may be orange/white, liver/white, or black/white.
Differences: Both breeds are substantially larger than the Brittany (average 50-70 lbs.), with very short coats carrying no fringe or feathering. Pointers' tails are never docked, and Shorthairs' tails are normally docked by 2/3 (longer than a Brittany's).
Pointer Rescue website
GSP rescue websites: (1) (2) |
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AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD: The Australian Shepherd or "Aussie" is an energetic, hardworking Herding dog.
Similarities to Brittanys: The Aussie's tail is docked or bobbed, and its ears are set high like a Brittany's. Working-bred Aussies may be of approximately the same size as a larger Brittany. A red Aussie may have similar color to a Brittany.
Differences: Aussies have a much heavier coat all over the body, normally including a "mane" around their neck. Aussies are colored blue merle, red merle, black, or red, all of which can be accompanied by white trim and copper points. Most will not have white on their bodies between the shoulders and tail. One or both eyes may be blue.
Second Time Around Aussie Rescue |
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BORDER COLLIE: The Border Collie is a very versatile, high energy Herding breed.
Similarities to Brittanys: May include liver/white or tri-color, similar size and a higher set ears.
Differences: Border Collies do not have a docked tail, their coat is either smooth or long (not medium with feathering as a Brittany's), and the most common color is black & white. Their eye rim and nose pigment is black, and their small ears may be pricked, "rose" shaped, or dropped. One or both eyes may be blue.
Border Collie Society of America |
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| IS IT A MIX? |
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The head, ear shape, and earset on this dog are similar to a Brittany, but the color pattern and tail are more similar to a Border Collie, so this dog is likely a mix. |
These two appear to be Setters or possibly Brittany/Setter mixes. The dog on the left has a head shaped like a Brittany, but the body style and height are more similar to a Setter. The dog on the right is all white except for orange over the eyes and on the ear tips, which is a common color pattern for field-bred Setters but very unlikely in a Brittany. |
This dog has some similarities to a Brittany, but the very light yellow color, long muzzle, and longer coat overall suggest a mix. |
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