Brittanys are working bird dogs before they are family pets, and a Brittany that does not get to run or hunt daily becomes a genuinely difficult, anxious, high-strung dog to live with, which the sweet face in photos does not show.
11.1years, median
1.4 years below the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 1,725 dogs of this breed. 95% confidence interval 10.9 to 11.3 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, medium breeds as a group had a median of 12.5 years and medium-muzzled breeds 12.8. This breed is medium and medium-muzzled.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.0Health tests to ask the breeder for
American Brittany Club sets the tests a Brittany needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Hip Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation or PennHIP Evaluation)
- Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist (yearly from 2-8 years)
- ONE additional test from: Cardiac Evaluation; Elbow Dysplasia (OFA); Patellar Luxation (OFA); Autoimmune Thyroiditis (OFA evaluation)
When to spay or neuter: the guidelines split at 45 pounds grown, five to six months under it and after growth is complete over it, and the UC Davis study gives a guideline by breed for 35 breeds. The spay and neuter page has both, and the two weeks after.
- Cardiac Evaluation
- Elbow Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation)
- Patellar Luxation (OFA Evaluation)
- Autoimmune Thyroiditis (OFA evaluation)
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a Brittany near you
Shelters and rescues list Brittanys and Brittany mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
Listings come from Petfinder and open there. Petipedia does not take part in adoptions and earns nothing from them.
Living with a Brittany
Brittanys need serious daily exercise, running, hiking, or real fieldwork, not just a walk, and they are sensitive dogs that do not respond well to harsh training methods. Get the exercise right and they are biddable, easygoing family dogs; get it wrong and you end up with a hyperactive, anxious dog that is hard to settle in the house.
Health you should know about
- Hip dysplasia — a hereditary joint condition that can cause pain and lameness, screened for by responsible breeders.
- Epilepsy — a genetic seizure disorder documented in the breed, typically managed with lifelong anticonvulsant medication.
- Hypothyroidism — an underactive thyroid requiring daily medication once diagnosed.
- Ear infections — floppy ears trap moisture against the canal, making this a recurring issue for many Brittanys, as in most spaniel-type breeds.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a Brittany? French dog and cat names, 89 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 2 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 2 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.