Meet the Epagneul Breton

Commonly referenced in the western hemisphere as the "French Brittany," the Epagneul Breton goes back much earlier than the breed's official creation. In 1907, in Loudeac, France, a lawyer named Arthur Enaud and other fanciers of the breed organized the first association which was created to nurture, develop, and promote the breed. In the decades prior to 1907, the breed had begun to evolve and develop in France, but without any formal structure or organization among those who admired the early representatives of the breed.

Many historians of the breed agree that the earliest origins of the Epagneul Breton breed are somewhat complicated and difficult to trace. Like other breeds of pointing dogs, much of the information about the earliest evolution of the breed has been lost to antiquity. This is because there was no apparent reason for those producing the earliest representatives of the breed to permanently record their lineage. After the original breed association was formed in France in 1907 by Mr. Enaud and other enthusiasts, the systematic recording of pedigrees began in earnest, and the history of the breed has since been well documented. Undoubtedly, the breed began its early evolution some decades prior to 1907 in the area of France known as Armorique. The region of France once commonly referenced as Armorique later became known as the Province of Bretagne (also commonly called "Brittany"). A former President of the Club Epagneul Breton-France, Gaston Pouchain, indicated based upon his extensive research that the early lineage of the breed definitely went back to the dogs of Oysel in the Armorique region now known as Brittany. Many of these early ancestors of the Epagneul Breton were native spaniels on the peninsula now known as Bretagne (Brittany). These native French spaniels were small dogs which often had a liver or black coat and carried a short tail.

It is also well established that in the latter part of the nineteenth century, British sportsmen went across the English Channel to France in pursuit of woodcock and other game. They often ventured to the Province of Bretagne (Brittany) to hunt the woodcock which were plentiful and relatively inexpensive to hunt. These British sportsmen were typically accompanied by their setters (English, Gordon and Irish) and they sometimes brought their Springer Spaniels, too. These British hunting dogs which went across the English Channel into France with their owners were by necessity left behind in the care of the French countrymen until the next hunting season. This was because their British owners faced the quarantine on canines which was enacted in 1901 and which prevented the dogs which left to go to France from returning back home to Great Britain. While sojourning in France, these British dogs naturally encountered the French spaniels which were typically small dogs found on the farms and in the villages located across the French countryside around the Bretagne (Brittany) region. Such encounters resulted in casual and eventually intentional mixing of these separate bloodlines.

Additional folklore indicates that some of the earlier offspring produced by these canine unions were poacher's dogs utilized by French peasants to illegally bag game from large estates. The above information about the evolution of the Epagneul Breton breed seems to be generally accepted. However, other accounts differ, and additional theories exist in other writings about part of the breed's origin.

Regardless of the complicated and multifaceted origins of the breed, these initial ancestors of the Epagneul Breton distinguished themselves as hunting dogs in the field. The breed's foundational ancestors were hardy, athletic dogs which exhibited natural hunting acumen, along with considerable determination and courage. These traits were necessary to consistently produce game in the challenging environmental conditions and unforgiving terrain encountered in the Bretagne (Brittany) region, where the breed originated.

As these early representatives of the breed began to distinguish themselves in the field, they undoubtedly attracted the keen interest of a small group of French sportsmen who began to own, train, and purposefully reproduce them. The breed evolved over a period of time and other researchers such as Mr. Kermadec, indicate that some of the early representatives of the breed made limited showings which were recorded as early as 1869. In 1896 the first known specific representative of the Epagneul Breton breed, known as Pincon Royale, was formally exhibited at the Paris Exposition. Shortly thereafter in 1898, another Epagneul Breton named Myrrha d'Amorique won first place in a French field trial. The first Epagneul Bretons to be formally registered with the Societe' Centrale Canine (French Kennel Club) were "Boy" born in 1905 and "Marpha" born in 1903. Consequently, the founders of the original breed association, led by Mr. Enaud in 1907, came together soon thereafter to devote themselves to the systematic development and improvement of these dogs as a distinct race (breed).

The first proposed conformation standard for the breed was drafted in 1907 and included black and white in the coat and required a natural short tail. However, the French Kennel Club (known as the Societe' Centrale Canine) rejected that part of the proposed original conformation standard which allowed black in the coat when it actually approved and enacted the first official conformation standard for the breed in 1908. Subsequent modifications of the original breed conformation standard developed in France made slight changes from time to time, such as adjusting the acceptable height tolerances and permitting docked tails, until a landmark change in the breed's conformation standard took place in 1956. That year, due to the persistence of Gaston Pouchain, who served as a very influential president of the original breed club in France for many years, the official conformation standard for the Epagneul Breton was modified to accept black in the coat!

This important modification had been reflected in the breed's genetics from the earliest days. Black in the coat and skin pigmentation remains completely acceptable today under FCI Standard No. 95, promulgated by the world canine organization known as the Federation Cynologique Internationale (hereinafter referenced as "FCI") which is located in Belgium. (The Societe Centrale Canine -- or French Kennel Club, became a FCI constituent member country many years ago.) This conformation standard for the Epagneul Breton as historically promulgated by the FCI is rightfully relied upon worldwide as the most accurate and historically reliable official conformation standard for the Epagneul Breton breed. This is because the form and content of FCI Standard No. 95 constituting the official conformation standard for the Epagneul Breton was meticulously developed and sparingly fine tuned in the breed's country of origin by those who were devoted to the breed from the outset. Dedicated breeders of the Epagneul Breton in France have exercised considerable discipline and restraint to keep all acceptable modifications in conformation very close to the original breed standard, as they sparingly refined and updated the original conformation standard throughout the last century.

Originally prized as an outstanding breed with which to hunt woodcock, the French breed club strived to develop the Epagneul Breton into a pointing dog suitable for hunting all species of upland game. The grey partridge (also known as the Hungarian partridge) eventually became a popular game bird in Europe which is hunted with the Epagneul Breton. Virtually all modern spring field trials in France and other countries in Europe are now conducted with the grey partridge as the designated game. Epagneul Bretons also commonly hunt snipe, pheasant, red legged partridge, and forest grouse in France and other European countries. Due to the perseverance and due diligence of the Frenchmen who stewarded the early selection, breeding, and development of the Epagneul Breton as a hunting dog and companion, the breed has enjoyed enormous success around the world. The devotion, due diligence, and tireless efforts of the Frenchmen who revere this breed which was developed in their native country have produced the fine Continental pointing dog of handsome appearance, which is the very sociable companion we presently enjoy around the world as the Epagneul Breton.

History of the Epagneul Breton in America