Cretan Hound vs Brittany - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Cretan Hound vs Brittany - Breed ComparisonCretan Hound is originated from Greece but Brittany is originated from France. Cretan Hound may grow 16 cm / 7 inches higher than Brittany. Cretan Hound may weigh 10 kg / 23 pounds more than Brittany. Both Cretan Hound and Brittany has almost same life span. Cretan Hound may have less litter size than Brittany. Cretan Hound requires Moderate maintenance. But Brittany requires Low maintenance

History

cretan hound - historyAlthough the Cretan Hound or the Kritikos Lagonikos is recognized in both Greece and Germany, the hunting dog breed is from the island of Crete, Greece. The dog’s history goes back thousands of years. It is an ancient breed and some believe it is one of the oldest hunting breeds in Europe.

The Cretan Hound has been bred as a working dog, combining sight and scent to track down their prey. Today it is still a rare dog breed that you won’t easily find outside of Crete.

Greece kennels recognize this dog as well as some European kennels, but it isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club.

brittany - historyOne of the most intense bird dog breeds in existence is the Brittany, bred for hunt. The breed used to be called the Brittany Spaniel, but since the breed is closer to a setter or pointer, that moniker has been dropped. The Brittany is named for the French Province in which they were originally developed. Sometime from the 17th to the 19th centuries, the breed was developed. Images of a very similar dog can be found on 17th century paintings and tapestries. However, the first written description comes from 1850 by a Reverend Davies, describing a hunting episode. The breed was recognized officially in the early part of the 20th century and made a splash at the 1900 Paris Dog Show.

The first official standards were written in about 1907 and the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1934.The Brittany is expected to point to and then retrieve birds and other small ground game. Because the Brittany both points and retrieves they are known in the U.K. as a Hunt, Point and Retrieve breed or an HPR, and they have more Dual Champions than the rest of the AKC Sporting group.

There are actually two types of Brittanys in the minds of many breeders. There is the “French” Brittany and the “American” Brittany. When the breed arrived in the United States in 1931 they became immensely popular in a short period of time. In 1942 American Breeders began the American Brittany Club, rewriting the French standard to fit the dog they knew. Today there are definitely difference between the two sub-sets that can easily be seen. The French dog is smaller than the American dog. The American dog is a runner pacing ahead of the hunter while the French dog works more closely with their human companions. Another visible difference is that the French accept black spotted Brittanys, while in the United States a black spotted coat is considered a fault. Both sub-sets are known for their willingness to follow human directions, their eagerness for the hunt, and their agility and speed.

Unfortunately, the European wars took their toll on this breed as they did on many others. Following the second World War, their numbers in Europe were drastically reduced. The French had stop breeding them altogether during the war. It was in this depleted gene pool that the French agreed to accept the black spotted Brittany. Along with the U.S., Canada also does not recognize the black spotted Brittany.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Gun dog
Origin:
Greece
France
Height Male:
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
43 - 52 cm
16 - 21 inches
Height Female:
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
40 - 50 cm
15 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
14 - 20 kg
30 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
12 - 18 kg
26 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
1 - 12
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Kritikos Lagonikos, Kressa Kyon, Ntopio
Brittany Spaniel Brittany Wiegref Epagneul Breton French Brittany
Colors Available:
grey, Fawn, sandy, tri-colored , white, black or brindle
tricolor, orange roan, liver roan, black roan
Coat:
Short and smooth
Flowing Medium length
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

cretan hound puppy - descriptionKnown for its extraordinary scent abilities as well as its speed, this dog has always been used as a hare hunter because of these skills.

It’s a slender dog of medium to large size and stands at about 60-68cm in height and weighs between 20 – 30kg. It is lean, strong, muscular and swift with a body that is inclined to be longer than tall.

He is slightly heavier than other scenthounds and his ribs aren’t seen. The head is wedge-shaped and the ears drop down, are folded back or can be semi-erect. The eyes are dark and the tail is long and curves upwards with longer hair being found on the tail.

The coat is short and smooth, and coat colors of the dog are varied and can be fawn, sandy, grey, white, black or brindle, and it can be tri-colored too.

Temperament:

The Cretan Hound is alert to sight, sound and scent and when it senses prey, the tail moves in a circular way and the dog becomes rigid for a while before he is off on the hunt.

He is a gentle, intelligent dog, reserved around strangers but making an excellent family pet as he gets on well with all his human family members as well as pets in the house. With good training and socialization, the dog becomes more relaxed around strangers.

He isn’t an aggressive dog, and while he is alert to sounds and smells, he doesn’t make a particularly good watchdog.

brittany puppy - descriptionThe Brittany is much like other hunting dogs – pointers and retrievers – in size and stature. He is solid and strong but not heavy. He is compact with an average size head and floppy ears, docked tails or short natural tails, and expressively intelligent looking eyes. He is athletic, energetic, and alert. He has a long, elastic and free gait. The French dog is smaller and the dog with black spots is accepted. The American Brittany is larger and only a tri-color of orange, liver and white is acceptable.

Characteristics

cretan hound dog - characteristicsThe Cretan Hound is an energetic, curious dog, but when it comes to being a family pet, he is affectionate and gentle.

He is a reserved dog around strangers. He likes to be busy and will love his walks and games with his human family members. He is smart so is readily trained and he likes to be obedient and to please.

The Cretan Hound will live in harmony with other dogs in the home and they’re also patient and good around disciplined children who have learned to respect animals.

Provide your Cretan Hound with his fair share of love and attention and he will go out of his way to be a loyal and loving family friend.

brittany dog - characteristicsThe Brittany is particularly trainable and friendly. They love to play and are sweet-natured. They don’t due well with harsh correction though and a stern look will cause them to wither. Socialize them young or they can become shy around strangers. They are loyal and family oriented. They can easily become attached to their humans.

Health Problems

cretan hound puppies - health problemsThe Cretan Hound is a healthy, robust dog breed, but even so, he can suffer from some common health problems that other dogs are also susceptible to. Some of these are hip dysplasia , cancer, ear infections, bloat and cherry eye.

Remember that if you don’t want your dog to have puppies, they can actually benefit health-wise from being spayed or neutered. Doing this for your pet can prevent a number of health issues later on down the line.

Make sure too, that your puppy receives his vaccinations in a timely fashion so as to avoid terrible, life threatening illnesses such as parvo and rabies.

brittany puppies - health problemsThe breed is a hardy one and Brittanys are mostly healthy dogs. In Europe 1 in 5 dogs dies of old age and that age is usually 14 or 15 years. They do have a few issues that they may be susceptible to. These would include:

Ears – prone to infections

Hip Dysplasia – bones don’t fit well into joints

Epilepsy – mild or serious seizures are possible.

Hypothyroidism – Low levels of thyroid hormone

Canine Discoid Lupus Erythematosus – autoimmune disease

Caring The Pet

cretan hound dogs - caringYou’re certainly not going to have to do too much grooming with the Cretan Hound as he is a low maintenance breed.

The dog is a short haired breed and an average shedder, so a good brush twice a week will keep the coat free of loose hairs and maintain the condition of the hair.

As with all dogs, the nails as well as the ears must be checked and attended to. The veterinarian can advise you on how to keep his ears clean and free of infection, as prodding around without knowing can damage his ears.

Exercise:

This Cretan Hound has high activity needs. He is energetic and also hard-working, and you’ll need to be taking him on long walks and providing him with some highly energetic playing sessions. Throw ball for him and take him with you when you go jogging or cycling.

Feeding

brittany dogs - caringDon’t overfeed your Brittany. Keep him at hunting weight by feeding a half a cup up to 2 cups per day depending on the size of your dog and activity levels. Serve this in two meals not one.

Health issues

Ears – prone to infections – make sure that you check them and wipe them out routinely to prevent infections.

Hip Dysplasia – bones don’t fit well into joints – this can be genetic or otherwise, causing lameness and arthritis. If severe it can require surgery to correct.

Epilepsy – mild or serious seizures are possible. This can be genetic/hereditary but is set off by an infectious disease of the brain, head injury, poison, tumor, or metabolic disorder. There is no cure, but medication can be very effective.

Hypothyroidism – Low levels of thyroid hormone – can cause drooping eyelids, obesity, lethargy, mental difficulties or irregular heat cycles or all of this. Medication is available as it is for humans but must be taken daily for the rest of the dog’s life

Canine Discoid Lupus Erythematosus – autoimmune disease that is rare in dogs. Cats and humans can also have it. It is a skin disease and does not become the more serious and deadly Systemic Lupus. The Discoid version of this disease causes loss of pigmentation and a scaling on the nose which can then progress to the skin around the ears, eyes and genitals. There could be ulcerated lesions and tissue death in more severe cases. Sun exposure can make the condition worse.

Exercise and games

The Brittany is a hunting dog that acts like a pointer but will retrieve fowl and birds in the water or on land. If you don’t hunt, the Brittany can still be your family dog. They need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. They need a job if they are not going to hunt and expect them to be distracted by every bird they see. Try flyball, agility, FAST CAT, field trials and dock diving. They are very task oriented and have boundless energy. They excel at obedience and confirmation as well.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pharaoh Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  2. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  3. Hungarian Vizsla vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  4. Redbone Coonhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  5. Norwegian Elkhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  6. Santal Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  7. English Coonhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  8. Podenco Canario vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  9. Dunker vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  10. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  11. Podenco Andaluz vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  12. Podenco Galego vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  13. English Foxhound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  14. Estonian Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  15. Grand Griffon Vendeen vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  16. Hamiltonstovare vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  17. Kanni vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  18. Lithuanian Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Hungarian Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  20. Hygenhund vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  21. Norrbottenspets vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison
  22. Cretan Hound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  23. Cretan Hound vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  24. Cretan Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  25. Cretan Hound vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  26. English Springer Spaniel vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  27. Brittany vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  28. Brittany vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  29. Brittany vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  30. Brittany vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  31. Brittany vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  32. Brittany vs Blue Picardy Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  33. Brittany vs Canadian Pointer - Breed Comparison
  34. English Setter vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  35. French Brittany vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  36. Pudelpointer vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  37. Picardy Spaniel vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  38. Ariege Pointer vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  39. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  40. Irish Water Spaniel vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  41. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  42. Clumber Spaniel vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  43. Stabyhoun vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  44. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  45. Vizsla vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  46. Large Munsterlander vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  47. Tyrolean Hound vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  48. Cockalier vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  49. Braque du Bourbonnais vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  50. Cesky Fousek vs Brittany - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds