Petzlover
Brittany is originated from France but Russo-European Laika is originated from Russia. Brittany may grow 8 cm / 3 inches shorter than Russo-European Laika. Both Brittany and Russo-European Laika are having almost same weight. Both Brittany and Russo-European Laika has almost same life span. Brittany may have more litter size than Russo-European Laika. Both Brittany and Russo-European Laika requires Low Maintenance.
One 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.
The Russo-European Laika is a hunting dog that comes from Russia.
It is a dog that has been developed from Spitz type dogs. A breeding program was started for the dog in 1944.
The Russo-European Laika dog is recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in the Spitz and Primitive type group.
The 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.
The Russo-European Laika is a medium sized dog Spitz dog that stands at between 54 to 60cm in height and weighs in the region of 20 – 23kg.
The dog has quite a strong resemblance to the Karelia Bear Dog. They are sometimes mistaken for each other.
The Russo-European Laika has the typical triangular shaped head with small dark eyes, a black nose and erect, pointed ears. These are deep chested dogs.
As with other Spitz breeds, this dog has a thick fur with a densely furred tail which is curved over the back. The double coat is fairly long and usually a dark grey color or black with some white markings. Sometimes the dog has a white coat.
This is a lively, energetic dog breed that loves to spend time outdoors. It has always been used to alert hunters to prey, using its bark to alert the hunter.Training and socialization will be necessary for the dog if you don’t want it to be barking in the house too.
He makes an excellent guard dog, protecting his human family. It is very tolerant of children too, getting on well with them as well as other pets.
The dog is known for being totally devoted to its family, being an affectionate and loyal breed that doubles as a family pet and guard dog.
The 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.
This is an intelligent dog breed, loving the time he spends with his human family but reluctant to be patted by strangers.
They also get along with pets that they have grown up with. They get on well with kids and make great watchdogs too. Small wonder they make such sought after pets and companions.
The 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:
These Spitz type dogs are always known to enjoy good health, and owners don’t have to worry too much about their health as only a small number of health issues are reported with this healthy dog breed.
This is a congenital defect in the abdominal muscles and can result in fat or tissues being evident under the skin. A bulge is often seen in the area of the abdomen. Larger hernias will require surgery.
Don’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.
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.
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.
This is an energetic dog and will require a good amount of excerise. This dog isn’t suited to living in the city as they are highly active. Apart from wanting large grounds to run around in, he will need walks as well as ball- and rope games to keep him busy.
He is intelligent and needs some form of mental stimulation. There are good quality toys which one can buy for these dogs than can make them think.
Many things can change a dog’s longevity, and diet is one. A good nutritious diet with vitamins and minerals will give your dog less of a chance to get sick.
If you go for the best quality commercially manufactured dog foods, you’ll find that they are both convenient and well balanced.
To provide your dog with just a bit of variety in his diet, some home-made food added into the dry kibble from time to time will delight your pet.
No need to make preparing the food a huge issue either. Boil brown rice and chicken in a pot and add in sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. Chop all this up and add small portions of it into the dry kibble.
Try to include a bit of raw meat occasionally and never let your dog be without a constant source of fresh, cool water