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Brittany

Looking like a spaniel, working a lot like a setter, the Brittany is a compact, leggy medium-sized dog and the smallest of the pointing dogs. They are a vigorous, agile and a versatile gundog, suited to all terrains. He is rugged without any clumsiness and able to do just about everything! This breed is quite an outstanding worker exhibiting great adaptability and is entirely sociable and balanced mentally. What’s not to like?

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The Brittany

Looking like a spaniel, working a lot like a setter, the Brittany is a compact, leggy medium-sized dog and the smallest of the pointing dogs. They are a vigorous, agile and a versatile gundog, suited to all terrains. He is rugged without any clumsiness and able to do just about everything! This breed is quite an outstanding worker exhibiting great adaptability and is entirely sociable and balanced mentally. What’s not to like?

Requiring a fine coat but neither silky nor wiry and must be dense for his outdoor work and never curly, though a slight hint of a wave is allowed. The hind parts should exhibit abundant feathering tapering and diminishing down to the hocks or lower. The Brittany is a no-nonsense working gundog and as such his duties dictate that there is nothing extreme that would impede his progress in the field. Thus coats not too long in featherings, nothing extreme but should, however, be able to withstand the rigours of the outdoor work he undertakes.

You can legitimately trim around the head, ears, neck, and feet to remove excess and to thin or shorten excess feathering to enhance the overall functional appearance. It is best to wield the thinning shears at this point having ensured you have purchased a good quality pair that fits and suits your hand and eye. It does take skill to use a pair of straight shears or scissors without leaving “steps and stairs” in the coat and this is better left to the professionals. Far better and the most natural method is to hand strip or to strip the excess undercoat with a stripping knife. Ask a Terrier person experienced in these techniques to show you how.

When preparing black and whites areas for a show, use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo diluted 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water) for that nice white finish to the whites, and to tone the unwanted rusty tones of the darker colour of the coat.

For extra whitening use Plush Puppy Wonder Blok. Brilliant in helping to maintain a white stain free coat. It’s not a bleach and contains no harmful chemicals but high amounts of naturally sourced vegetable surfactants and glycerin. This product is designed to gently remove unwanted warm or red tones to the coat. Using on a wet coat, gently rub into the areas requiring whitening or brightening. Allow approximately 5-10 minutes, then rinse. For maximum effects repeat, or allow a longer time for this amazing product to work. As with all products take care around eyes.

If shine is paramount, and indeed the standard uses the word ‘glossy’, then use the Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo with Henna again diluting 1:5. It features pure extracts of the Henna stalk that impart a brilliant shine. This is great for your liver and orange colourings, or even just to use on these parts while using the Herbal Whitening Shampoo for the rest. If the feathering is sparse and you require a just little more fullness, then use the Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo diluted 1:3 for extra oomph.

For the face and head use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It. This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed just for faces. It’s a nil fragrance, no tear formula with the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, sooth, add moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. Can be used in and around ears also with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows easy rinsing yet complete cleaning. Best used first and left on whilst using all other shampoos and rinsing off with the final shampoo rinse.

A light squish through the longer parts of the coat with a well diluted mix of up to 1:10 of Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner will serve to keep the featherings untangled and hydrated. I don’t advocate using any conditioner on the shorter body coat as conditioner tends to make the coat fluffy and your standard requires these areas to sit flat. Apply through some Plush Puppy Reviva Coat if you must for hydration and moisture.

For show drying, use a Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush and an application of Plush Puppy Swishy Coat to the featherings. Use 1 tablespoon to 500mls (16oz) of water, apply evenly, and leave in. This helps to keep the coat disentangled, helps reduce static and serves to minimise excess wave. Should the coat featherings appear boofy, excessive or wavy, then add 1 tablespoon of Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream to really flatten and soften. Leave in and dry to ¾ dry. Finish for smoothest finish with the Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush. I recommend this 2 brush technique to minimise stretching of the coat.

To maintain the coat between shows, use Plush Puppy Reviva Coat. Dilute 1 golf ball amount into 1 cup water into a spray bottle to use as a disentangler and maintain the coat during the week. This wonderful product is excellent for moisturising and hydration, helping to maintain the elasticity in the hair. For damaged or brittle coats, use Plush Puppy Coat Rescue diluted for even dispersion and speed of application. Mix 1 tablespoon into 250ml (8oz) of water and work it well into the damaged areas. Leave for as long as you possibly can, or as long as the dog will sit! Then rinse.

Another necessity in between shows is Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil. This is excellent for maintaining the healthy vigour to the skin and coat and is all plant sourced from Evening Primrose and Calendula Oils. It is non greasy and totally water soluble making it easy to apply and remove each time without build-up. Dilute 1 teaspoon in 4 Litres (1 Gal) of water and work well through the coat with a large sponge. Leave in and don’t rinse off.

You can spray Seabreeze Oil neat on the topline and featherings. However, it is best used as a final rinse after shampooing and left in. A good spray around the pee feathers stops discolouration and breakage too. A real outdoors dog’s best friend. This will not alter the texture but keep the coat hydrated and protected. It gives incredible sheen and finish to the hair. We cannot stress enough the wonderful attributes of this product.

On show day apply Plush Puppy Cover Up Cream. A great cover for stains or discolouration. Excellent on “red” area on worn elbows and to the white on the muzzle. Use this when you really need to cover stains your whites or intensify white areas. Apply with a barely damp sponge using a small amount. Build up coverage as required layer by layer. Then use powder or chalk as required whilst cream is drying. Brush off excess when dry.

Add a tiny bit of Plush Puppy Chalkestral with your fingertips to the white legs to assist holding the white powder you apply. You need something to help grip and to protect the coat from abrasion.

Best of all is Plush Puppy Fairy Frost Regular. This ultra-fine and bright white powder that is more effective and innovative than the usual methods of white chalking and adding powder to coats. Fairy Frost will create the brightest white tone that clings all day. Plus, it covers all coats without creating harshness. Fine and easy to use, our formulation means a little goes a long way. Fairy Frost Regular is naturally sourced and contains no chalk or talc. Use this product instead of chalk or mix with your usual white powder. This product is best for glamorous, perfect whites as it never gets clumpy, even when wet. This stays on the coat well and will last the day till washed off. Apply with the Plush Puppy Ultimate Powder Application Brush. Work well into the area where required for enhancing whites and cover. The absolute best for glamorous perfect whites.

Keep on hand Plush Puppy Wonder Wash for “those show day” last-minute emergencies too as this will clean up the whites, pronto. Just spray foam with the fingers and towel off. Wonder Wash is a brilliant quick self rinsing bathing alternative solution for quick and easy clean ups without the need for a complete bath. In moments when regular shampooing is not an option, Wonder Wash will clean, whiten and brighten problem areas on all coat kinds. Always keep our handy Plush Puppy Wonder Wash in your tack box. It contains optical brighteners, has a fresh apple fragrance, and violet tone.

For show day grooming I recommend Plush Puppy OMG. OMG is the perfect product for this coat type when used correctly. A light spray of OMG and brushing in allows this product to refresh the coat leaving it feeling wonderful. It separates the coat and leaves the most amazing finish. Use the concentrate form at 1:30/40 (1 part OMG to 30-40 parts water). The stronger the mix the stronger their effects.

Using OMG can be a one-off at shows or during the drying process after bathing. This is also an amazing product for regular brushing as it hydrates the coat reducing stress and coat loss. Its active ingredients smooth the cuticle and protect the coat. It will still allow you to brush the dog and refresh to coat without over softening. OMG never builds up and never goes stringy. A product that took years to develop using amazing technology for maximum effects. A true necessity for the tool kit.

Now for the last-minute titivations.

Apply a very light dusting of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust to the last two rows of the Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush. Stroke through the bib, pants and lightly to the topline, to add that extra sparkle without being overdone. Everyone loves this product and it’s sensational – used wisely.

Spray a sparing mist of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb about 12 inches/30cms above the topline. Allow it to fall just onto the topline adding that last minute sheen and overall healthy coat vigour.

You own a breed that is almost sanctified as of a class of dogs from the old school of esteemed dogs, the Gundogs. This is a dog for the purists at heart and those who like a dog who can do something worthwhile in the traditions of upholding the skills and arts of hunting. The Brittany is a remarkable dog covering ground well and with importance placed on his side gait in the show ring. With just a bit of added flash and dash, he can be lifted into the stratosphere of centre stage dog. Up against the glam hairdo dogs, the Brittany can surely hold his own and prove he well deserves his role as able to work all types of conditions to his advantage!

Recommended Products

Styling & Finishing

Blow Dry Cream

£18.50

Styling & Finishing

Swishy Coat

£26.00

Bathing Alternatives

Wonder Wash

£15.00£32.00

Styling & Finishing

Seabreeze Oil

£29.00£91.00

Conditioner

Coat Rescue

£19.50£47.50