Our commitment is to the Pure French Dog. Purists do not believe that the French dog should be run in American style field trials. The purists believe the dog should not compete separately for field recognition or conformation recognition. The package or complete dog that has the loving temperament, hunts closely and conforms to the International Standard, should be the goal and commitment we feel for a breeder. A close hunting dog certainly will not fit well into AKC, NAVDA or NASTRA field trial circles. To breed dogs that compete on the field trial level is to move the French Brittany in the direction of the American Brittany.
The American Brittany is of French Brittany blood. Follow any American Brittany pedigree back far enough and you will find nothing but European, French blood. So why the difference, simply it is the difference in the direction taken by breeders in the US and Canada versus the direction undertaken by the European community. In the 1970's and 1980's the Baby Boomers in North America desired a ground covering dog that was of higher energy than the forefather dogs. This was accomplished by breeding the largest and most wired to the largest and most wired until the large Brittany field trial dogs we see today were produced. Speak to many in The American Brittany Club and you find they believe the American Brittany has split into two distinct groups. One being large out of standard dogs that cover ground. The second being a dog that is small in size conforming to standard for conformation benching while much of the field desire has faded within this group.
I personally do not believe taking the French in the direction of the American Brittany is wise. Separation of Field and Conformation as has been under taken by some individuals and Clubs here in the US will in time Americanize the French. If that is to be the end why not just purchase an American Brittany to start with. How can a dog that displays the true French Brittany persona compete in Field trials and tests that require aggressive field presence when the French should remain in shotgun range a majority of the time and willingly check back with the hunter. Those characteristics are failures in field event scoring in North America.
The American Brittany is a terrific field dog, loads of energy and a ground covering animal for sure. There is a distinct place for that dog and there are owners that would be unhappy with the slower more methodical French Brittany bird dog. Then again there are those that desire the small dog, the smallest of the pointing breeds, a gentle temperament, a dog easily acclimated to being a house dog and multi color coat. To those, welcome to the world of the Pure French Brittany, all that and much more in a small loving package.