Country/Date of Origin: France/1700s
This breed was already common as a hunting dog in 18th Century Brittany (a region of France) and it bears the name of the place that nurtured it. Once called the Brittany Spaniel, the name was changed to reflect the fact that this is the smallest of the pointing breeds although it does do the retrieving work of the spaniel. Brittanies were imported to the United States in 1931 and were then and still are a popular choice for the single dog hunter. They were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1934 attesting to their instant popularity.