After having read this article, you’ll expertly be able to tell these two very similar dogs apart: the Springer Spaniel vs. Brittany Spaniel.
Since ancient times dogs have proved to be the best human companions that are loyal, friendly, intelligent, and guarding. Some of the diverse dog breeds resemble each other, so distinguishing between them becomes difficult.
Springer Spaniels and Brittany Spaniels are two such breeds. They share a lot of similar traits that make it difficult to separate one from the other. And, after all, is the Brittany Spaniel really a Spaniel?
Let’s discuss this, along with the similarities and differences between the two dog breeds so that you’ll be able to differentiate between the two!
Comparing Two Spaniels
Springer Spaniels and Brittany Spaniels are two top-tier dog breeds, often chosen by owners due to their calm and gentle nature.
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Scientific Classification
Since they are both dogs, naturally, they have the same scientific classification; which is given below.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
Scientific Name: Canis lupus
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Size and Weight
The Springer Spaniel weighs between 40 to 50 pounds, whereas the Brittany Spaniel is a touch smaller, weighing around 25 to 40 pounds. The Springer is 25 to 31 inches tall, and the Brittany has a height range of 17 to 21 inches.
Thus the Springer Spaniel is bigger than the Brittany Spaniel.
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Shedding
Springer Spaniels shed in adequate amounts because they possess double coats. This dog is not a good fit for those who suffer from severe allergies. It sheds fur throughout the year; therefore, weekly brushing is required to control the hair spread around your house.
Brittany is also a year-round shredder but sheds the most in hot weather. Therefore brushing its coat will help in removing the excess fur from it.
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Temperament
Springer Spaniel is an obedient, eager, and friendly dog breed. It gets attached to its owner very easily. Also, if left alone for a long duration, it may start feeling neurotic or anxious. They are an incredibly alert, loyal, and intelligent dog breed.
On the other hand, the Brittany Spaniel is an affectionate, intelligent, alert dog breed. But it is sensitive and upbeat as well.
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Lifespan
Although the life duration of dog breeds, like other animals, depends upon the care they get, it also varies from breed to breed.
The life expectancy of the Brittany is a little less than a Springer Spaniel. Brittany has a life expectancy of around 12 years, whereas the Springer Spaniel’s life duration is about 14 years.
Health Issues
Springer Spaniels suffer from various health conditions, such as
- Epilepsy
- Blindness
- Rage syndrome
- Hip dysplasia
- Allergies
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- Ectropion
- Phosphofructokinase deficiency (Tarui disease, PFK)
The Brittany Spaniel’s health concerns include
- Chronic ear infections
- Epilepsy
- Hip dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Weather Tolerance
The weather tolerance of various dog breeds also varies. Both Brittany and Springer are able to tolerate warm conditions, but still, there are certain factors one should bear in mind, like providing shade and water. During hot weather, you should also schedule your walks during cool hours, like in the early morning or the evening.
Springer and Brittany can also tolerate cold temperatures, but if the temperature falls under 20 Fahrenheit, these dog breeds could develop health issues like frostbite and hypothermia.
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Guarding Behavior
The guarding behavior of Springer Spaniel and Brittany Spaniel doesn’t differ much. Both dog breeds are friendly even towards strangers and don’t possess a protective nature; therefore, only expect them to be guarding if trained properly.
Habitat
Springer Spaniels can live in an apartment or small house, but the ideal Springer home is one with a large fenced yard where it could run and engage in various play sessions.
Brittany also loves to live in a home that has a large fenced yard where it can shed its energy by playing and running. It will get bored and keep roaming and barking if left on its own.
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: True Spaniel
The true Spaniel is a Springer Spaniel which, during hunting, prefers to flush dogs instead of pointing to them.
On the other hand, the Brittany Spaniel is not considered a true Spaniel because of its behavior. According to the American Kennel Club, the Brittany Spaniel is more like a setter than a Spaniel; hence they no longer considered the Brittany to be a Spaniel. This change occurred in 1984, but the name of Brittany Brittany Spaniel has remained the same.
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Physical Appearance
The dog breeds we are discussing here have similar morphology; both are compact and have long ears, for example.
However, they also have some morphological differences that set them apart. The Springer Spaniels have medium-long fur, whereas the Brittany Spaniel has a short coat.
Springer Spaniels have long fur feathers over their legs, ears, and underside. Its fur around the ears is much longer than the Brittany Spaniel. Its skull is broad and flat on top, and its nose is either black or liver, although it depends mainly on its coat color. Their tail is typically docked.
The Brittany’s Spaniel has short furs over its floppy ears. Its body is not bulky or heavy, rather, they have a strong build. Typically the Brittany has a long tail. Its head is usually round with a wedge-shaped snout. The Brittany’s nose color depends on its coat color, which may be brown, tan, or fawn.
In short, both dog breeds have similar body types and sizes, but their ears and fur allow them to be differentiated.
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Colors
The Springer Spaniel is a patterned dog, primarily in colors of tan, white, black, and liver. Its patterned coat has a number of combinations, and most of the time, it has a bi-color or tri-color fur coat.
The Brittany Spaniel coat has liver, orange, white, and black colors. Its coat rarely appears fully dark. Its coat is patterned with the various colors mentioned above.
In simple words, both dogs have similar coat colors except tan and orange, respectively.
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Grooming and Maintenance
With regards to grooming, the Brittany is easier than the Springer Spaniel. The Brittany has a short coat that requires little grooming, and there’s no need to brush out the fur weekly. Nails should be trimmed monthly, and the ears need regular inspection so that no ear infections occur.
The Springer Spaniel, on the other hand, requires a little more grooming than the Brittany. It requires weekly brushing in order to remove excess fur from the body, especially the areas around the tail, neck, feet, and head. The nails should be clipped when grown long to prevent discomfort and pain when the Springer walks or runs.
Drooling
Brittany’s drooling potential is much more than the Springer Spaniel’s; therefore, if you hate drooling and want a dog breed that doesn’t drool or drool very little, you should go for a Springer Spaniel.
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Exercise
The Springer Spaniel requires quite a lot of exercise. Around two hours of exercise daily is needed as it is a very energetic dog. It loves engaging in various activities like runs, long walks, swimming, hikes, ball games, toys, agility training, and sports. It loves to stay in open spaces and yards.
The Brittany Spaniel equally needs a lot of exercise because it is a very energetic dog breed – but not quite as much as the Springer Spaniel. An adult Brittany requires at least one hour of exercise daily. This dog loves running, agility challenges, and various games; therefore, walking does not suffice.
Springer Spaniel Vs. Brittany Spaniel: Training
The Springer is a cooperative dog breed that loves to please its owner; therefore, training them is easy. However, the Springer loves to be handled softly and with care. Thus to make training easier, only use positive reinforcement and no scolding.
In fact, the very same goes for the Brittany Spaniel. They are equally eager to learn but respond very poorly to scolding or punishments.
As both are extremely energetic dog breeds, various types of training and learning commands are great ways to tire them out.
Place of Origin
The Springer Spaniel originated in England. Meanwhile, the Brittany Spaniel dog breed developed in northwest France. However, Brittany Spaniels of American origin also exist.
Springer Spaniel Pros and Cons
Pros
- The Springer Spaniel is very easy to train because it picks up almost any task perfectly.
- It is a loyal and friendly dog breed.
- It loves to play and engage in various physical activities because of its high energy levels.
Cons
- As Springer Spaniels have large floppy ears, ear infections can occur, so regular ear cleaning is required.
- This dog breed doesn’t like to relax much, so it wants to be involved in various tasks all the time.
- It is an active dog, so it requires much time for exercise, and for those who don’t have enough time, this dog is not suitable for them.
Brittany Spaniel Pros and Cons
Pros
- A Brittany Spaniel always likes to please its owner.
- It is an alert and active dog breed that is always friendly and proves an engaging companion.
- Brittany coats are short, so they are easy to maintain and groom.
Cons
- The Brittany Spaniel doesn’t like stressful environments and situations.
- It is not a good choice for those who want a measured and calm dog because it is a hyperactive dog breed.
- It undergoes separation anxiety if left alone for a long time.
Fun Facts About the Springer Spaniel
- Springer Spaniels were originally bred to be hunting dogs.
- They have an absolutely fantastic sense of smell.
- Springer Spaniels are of two types: field and bench.
- Many celebrities, including George H.W. Bush, own this dog breed.
Fun Facts About the Brittany Spaniel
- They are not true Spaniel dogs.
- The Brittany is one of the most energetic dog breeds.
- These dogs are known for their sensitive nature.
A Summary of Their Similarities
There are some amazing similarities between Springer and Spaniel that make them very difficult to tell apart.
- Both are intelligent and friendly.
- Neither the Brittany Spaniel or the Springer Spaniel are guarding dogs.
- Both dog breeds were used for hunting.
- Both like to spend time in activities like running, walking, swimming, games, and agility activities.
- Both enjoy the presence of strangers.
- Both have multi-color coat patterns.
A Summary of Their Differences
The main differences between Springer and Brittany are mentioned below.
- Both breeds have different countries of origin; the Springer originated in England and the Brittany in France.
- A Springer’s Spaniel body is covered with more fur than the Brittany Spaniel.
- The Springer has divisions and is divided into show and field dogs, whereas Brittany has none.
- Brittany Spaniels are shorter and lighter than Springer Spaniels.
- The Springer Spaniel has more noticeable feathering than the Brittany.
- Springer Spaniels shed more than Brittany Spaniels.
- The Brittany Spaniel is more friendly with kids and family than the Springer Spaniel.
Frequently Asked Questions
The calmest Spaniel dog breed is Clumber Spaniel, famous for being loyal companions and perfect hunters.
Yes, Brittanys are perfect family dogs because they easily bond with all the people in the family.
Yes, Springer Spaniel loves cuddling with their owner because it is a loving and friendly dog breed. Therefore, if you plan to get a Springer, get ready to enjoy lots of affection from the Springer Spaniel.
The Springer Spaniel is the breed that resembles the Brittany Spaniel the most. Although both these dog breeds originated in different countries, they share various similarities.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is among the laziest dog breeds. They prefer to spend time on the couch with a companion instead of a walk.
The Final Verdict
In this article, we familiarized ourselves with the Springer Spaniel and Brittany Spaniel – looking at their similarities, differences, pros and cons.
Springer Spaniels and Brittany Spaniels originated from different countries. And a surprising fact is that the Brittany Spaniel is not a true Spaniel. Brittany Spaniels drool more as compared to the Springer Spaniel.
Springer Spaniels have more fur; therefore, they shed heavily compared to the Brittany. Neither of these dog breeds possesses a guarding characteristic, but if trained from an early age, they can be one. Overall, these are great family dog breeds.
Thank you for reading this article! Are you in the mood for some more comparisons of dog breeds? Take a look at our posts on the Cane Corso vs. Dogo Argentino, or the Bernese Mountain Dog vs. Australian Shepherd.
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