Brittany vs Welsh Springer Spaniel

A Brittany
Photo: Pharaoh Hound
A Welsh Springer Spaniel
Photo: Udo Tjalsma

Side by side

Brittany
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Adult weight
Males 14–18 kg (31–40 lb); females 13–17 kg (29–37 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 18–25 kg (40–55 lb); females 16–23 kg (35–50 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 48–51 cm; females 47–50 cm3
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 11.1 years4
Median 14 years4
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes5
Group
Pointing dogs3
Retrievers & water dogs6
Coat
Coat with feathering3
Coat with feathering6
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
Class
Field
Field

Which suits you

Size
The Welsh Springer Spaniel is larger on average: about 20 kg (45 lb) as an adult, against 16 kg (34 lb) for the Brittany.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Welsh Springer Spaniel lives longer: a median of 14 years, against 11.1 for the Brittany.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Brittany: keen to work with you; Welsh Springer Spaniel: cooperative, with its own ideas) and on loyalty (Brittany: bonded to its family; Welsh Springer Spaniel: sticks close to its people).
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Brittany
Pointing dogs · Medium

In temperament it is quick, eager and soft-natured, with great stamina and a strong wish to work with its handler; it tends to respond poorly to harsh handling.

Welsh Springer Spaniel
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament it is loyal and affectionate, closely attached to its own people and sometimes reserved with strangers.

The Brittany page →The Welsh Springer Spaniel page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Brittany
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Needs daily brain work
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Brittany
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Keen to work with you
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Brittany
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Welsh Springer Spaniel grows to the heavier adult, about 20 kg against the Brittany's 16 kg.
Brittany
Welsh Springer Spaniel
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More comparisons

Compare the Brittany with
Brittany vs English Springer SpanielEnglish Cocker Spaniel vs Welsh Springer SpanielBrittany vs Irish Red and White SetterBrittany vs German Shorthaired PointerBrittany vs KooikerhondjeGolden Retriever vs Welsh Springer SpanielAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·