The Epagneul Breton Minnesota Chapter Motion: To include the Epagneul Breton (French Brittany) as a recognized breed in the NAVHDA registry. A Breed Apart 1
Rationale The Epagneul Breton (French Brittany) and American Brittany (Brittany) are distinctly different breeds, in which no Epagneul Breton meets the conformational standards of an American Brittany, and no American Brittany meets the conformational standards of an Epagneul Breton. Both the Epagneul Breton and the American Brittany have official breed standards which differ greatly. These differences include traits such as color, height, size, shape, and behavior. The Epagneul Breton is very much intact in France & Worldwide including the United States by dedicated breeders in concert with France. 2
Presenters Presenter: Jake Bartells NAVHDA NA Pz1 UT Pz1 (2) (4 UT Prizes) AKC VC (2) Master Hunter UKC Presenter: Fred Overby CEB-US Historian & Breeder UKC TAN Trialer (2) NAVHDA NA Pz1 UT Pz1 (5 UT Prizes) AKC Gun Dog Trialer Junior Hunter CHF Senior Hunter NBOB Master Hunter Hall Of Fame St. Croix Valley Brittany Club, 2011 Presenter: Doug Lodermeier Sr. UKC Gun Dog Trialer WRT Conformation Champion 3
The Epagneul Breton What it is: The source of all Brittanies 1869 First known specific representative of the Epagneul Breton, Pincon Royale was formally exhibited at the Paris Exposition. 1898 Epagneul Breton, Myrrha d Amoriue, won first place in a sanctioned French field trial. 1903 The first Epagneul Bretons, Boy & Marpha, were registered with the Societe Centrale Canine (French Kennel Club). 1907 First Association to develop to promote the breed in Loudeac, France. 1908 First conformation standard for the breed approved. 1956 Landmark change to the breed standard to accept black in the coat, reflecting the breeds genetics from the earliest days. 2002 United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes the Epagneul Breton as a distinct breed. 2007 UKC agrees to modify the official conformation standard to mirror FCI Standard No. 95 of the French Brittany Gun Dog Association of America, Inc. (FBGDA). 4
Short Primer on the Epagneul Breton Youtube Video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bokvtopqwri 5
Short Primer on the Epagneul Breton The Hunting Dog Podcast with Ron Boehme, NAVHDA Senior Judge https://thehuntingdogpodcast.libsyn.com/french-brittanys-withfred-overby 6
The Epagneul Breton What it is not: It is not an American Brittany 1928 First known Brittanies arrive in the Western Hemisphere, Villa Obergon, Mexico by Senor Jaun Pugibet. 1933 One of the first known imports of Brittanies to the United States, Louis A. Thebauld. 1934 Mr. Thebauld requested and received the official standard from the French Kennel Club. 1934 The American Kennel Club (AKC) granted the Brittany recognition under the name Brittany Spaniel. 1944 American Brittany Club (ABC) granted status of official parent club by AKC. 1948 United Kennel Club granted full recognition of the Brittany as a member of the gun dog group. 1982 American Kennel Club Changes the name Brittany Spaniel to the Brittany, to recognize it in the pointing group. It is NOT a marketing attempt As some people would suggest, to sell dogs at an inflated price. 7
How & Why did the Breed Change? Epagneul Bretons imported to the US after WWI. American breeders chose to move away from the original phenotype of the Epagneul Breton. Imported dogs were out crossed to other pointing breeds resulting in the American Brittany. American preference and affinity for Field Trialing and Hunting Dog Styles, typically dominated by pointers and setters. 8
Primary Differences of the EB & AB American Brittany Club (AKC) Disqualifications: Black in the coat Black nose Black skin pigmentation No dog measuring under 17-1/2 inches Epagneul Breton (UKC) Standards include: Black in coat Black nose Black skin pigmentation No dog measuring under 18.1 inches including tolerance (larger than AKC 17-1/2 inch minimum standard) 9
Secondary Differences of the EB & AB Physiological Differences EBs often exhibit black skin pigmentation in; skin, lips, eyelids and pads of feet. ABs pigmentation is characteristically pink or lighter shades of brown. Physical size and structure of the two breeds, most notably; various body components, such as as the head, legs and bone structure. Gait & Movement. EBs display a collected canter while ABs exhibit a longer stride. The presence of the AY (sable) gene is only seen in Epagneul Bretons and has never been documented in American Brittanies demonstrates that the two dogs are different and district breeds. 10
Secondary Differences of the EB & AB The Eye Test Identifying an EB from AB is relatively easy, Even to the casual observer. 11
Secondary Differences of the EB & AB The Eye Test Identifying an EB from AB is relatively easy. 12
Recognition of the Epagneul Breton Club Epagneul Breton, France 1907 Club Epagneul Breton-US 1997 Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) 1911 French Brittany Gun Dog Association of America International French Brittany Club of America United Kennel Club (UKC) 2002 The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip) Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Inc. (OFA) 13
Responsibility to the Breed The smallest of the pointers, scrappy and cobby, designed for hours of foot hunting on varied terrain was never intended to have the size and speed of the larger breeds bred for more open landscapes. Though in modern times we often compete on horseback losing sight of what the Brittany is for the sake of ribbons and bragging rights goes against the trust that was given to us by those who came before. It is not our job to make a "new" Brittany that functions differently than the one we all first fell in love with, the Epagneul Breton. 14
UKC Who Are They? UKC was founded in 1898 as an alternative to the dog registries that focused solely on conformation. Today UKC is the largest all-breed registry in the world. A Kalamazoo, Michigan-based company founded in 1898, United Kennel Club is the largest all-breed performance-dog registry in the world, registering dogs from all 50 states and 25 foreign countries. Celebrating the unique Total Dog philosophy, UKC events highlight the instincts and heritage of dogs that look and perform equally well, as more than 60 percent of its annually licensed events are tests of hunting ability, training, and instinct. United Kennel Club prides itself on its family-oriented, friendly, educational events, welcoming both purebred dogs and dogs of unknown ancestry. 15
NAVHDA Mission Statement Working to Foster, Promote, and Improve the Versatile Hunting Dog Breeds in North America The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association is a nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to foster, promote, and improve the versatile hunting dog breeds in North America; to conserve game by using well trained reliable hunting dogs on both land and water; and to aid in the prevention of cruelty to animals by discouraging nonselective and uncontrolled breeding, which produces unwanted and uncared for dogs. 16
What s in it for NAVHDA? More members Many current owners of Epagneul Bretons are reluctant to join NAVHDA because they do not believe their breed is being represented. The No. 1 reason heard by EB owners for not joining is that their dog is not a Brittany (American Brittany). 17
What s in it for NAVHDA? Many CEB Regional Clubs 18
What s in it for NAVHDA? More than 133 Epagneul Bretons have registered as Brittanies in NAVHDA There are at least 4 Epagneul Breton VCs Eight Epagneul Bretons are known to have gone to the Invitational and more will be coming. 19
NAVHDA Mission Statement Working to Foster, Promote, and Improve the Versatile Hunting Dog Breeds in North America The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association is a nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to foster, promote, and improve the versatile hunting dog breeds in North America; to conserve game by using well trained reliable hunting dogs on both land and water; and to aid in the prevention of cruelty to animals by discouraging nonselective and uncontrolled breeding, which produces unwanted and uncared for dogs. 20
Unwanted Dogs Neither UKC or AKC recognizes Brittanies that are American Brittanies and Epagneul Bretons which have been interbred. These dogs cannot compete in the AKC Conformation ring. These dogs cannot be registered in UKC as either Epagneul Breton or AKC as American Brittany. No Epagneul Breton with more than 1/64 th (soon to be zero) AB blood can be registered as such. No American Brittany can be registered as an Epagneul Breton. 21
Precedence Large & Small Munsterlander Vizsla & Wire Haired Vizsla German Longhaired & Shorthaired Pointers German Wirehaired Pointer & Wirehaired Pointing Griffon 22
Testimonials What experts believes that the 2 breeds are different and distinct breeds? Craig Koshyk, Author, Breed Historian and Contributing Author to NAVHDAs VHD Magazine Rick Van Etten, Editor; Gun Dog Magazine Jerry Thoms, OWAA member/writer & Gun Dog Expert All breeders of Epagneul Bretons 23
Closing Thought If the dogs are the same, shouldn t the breed actually be the Epagneul Breton? Everyone agrees the on the source of the breed. The first known specific representative of the Epagneul Breton, Pincon Royale was formally exhibited at the Paris Exposition in 1869. The Epagneul Breton was first registered in the 1903, while the Brittany Spaniel (American Brittany) was first recognized by AKC in 1934. How would the American Brittany breeders/owners react to having their dog lumped in with the Epagneul Breton and the Epagneul Breton breed standard? 24
Questions? Discussion? 25