Side by side
Put a few breeds side by side before you make up your mind.
Pick up to four. The URL updates as you go, so you can send this comparison to whoever you are arguing with.
| Breed |  Brittany |  German Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Developed in the Brittany region of north-west France, where local spaniel-type pointing dogs were refined through the nineteenth century into a compact, fast gundog able to point and retrieve over rough hedgerow country on foot. Early imports to Britain and the United States were known as Brittany Spaniels, but the breed hunts and points like a pointer rather than flushing like a spaniel, and most kennel clubs now use the name Brittany alone to reflect that. | Germany |
| Group | Gundog | Pastoral |
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Coat | Dense, flat or slightly wavy coat with light feathering, in orange and white or liver and white, needing weekly brushing | Medium double coat, straight or slightly wavy |
| Weight | 14 to 20 kg | 22 to 40 kg |
| Height | 46 to 52 cm | 55 to 65 cm |
| Lifespan | 12 to 14 yrs | 9 to 13 yrs |
| Exercise need | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Affection | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Grooming needs | 4/10 | 5/10 |
| Barking | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Good with children | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Good with other dogs | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Trainability | 8/10 | 10/10 |
| Prey drive | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Copes alone | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| Drool | 1/10 | 3/10 |
| Shedding | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Flat fit | 2/10 | 3/10 |
| Running cost | €143 / month | €153 / month |
Brittany verdict
The orange and white pointing dog built for the field, not the sofa.
Get one if
- · Runners, hikers and cyclists who can give well over an hour of real exercise daily
- · Shooting or working gundog households able to let the dog do its job
- · Owners committed to calm, reward-based training rather than firm handling
Think again if
- · Flats or homes with close neighbours and no serious exercise outlet
- · First-time owners expecting a low-key companion dog
- · Households planning long daily absences with no outdoor stimulation
German Shepherd verdict
A loyal, capable working dog that needs a job to do and an owner ready to provide one.
Get one if
- · Experienced dog owners
- · Active families with a secure garden
- · Owners wanting a dog sport or working partner
Think again if
- · First-time owners unwilling to commit to training
- · Flat dwellers without garden access
- · Households wanting a dog friendly to every stranger