Brittany dogs are liked by most owners because of their agility, alertness, energy, and strength.
If you are planning on getting one of these dogs, ensure that you keep a Brittany Spaniel growth chart to help you track their progress as they become older.
Brittany dogs have a distinctive feature which is that they need plenty of exercise, therefore, you should be ready to be an active companion.
They make great sports dogs and hunters because they are obedient and trainable because of their zeal and versatility.
Continue reading to get more information on how you can ensure your Brittany grows well, the different developmental stages that they go through as well as the different health conditions that you should watch out for.
When Do Brittany Stop Growing?
Brittany reaches their adult size and stops growing when they reach between the ages of 12 and 16 months. Some will stop growing sooner while others take their time.
When it comes to development between males and females, there isn’t much difference as both genders grow at a similar rate.
Brittany puppies reach their emotional growth at around the third birthday.
The rate at which your puppy grows can be affected by some factors such as diet, exercise levels, genetics, and health conditions.
For instance, if your puppy is suffering from a health condition, they may take longer to reach their adult size because they may not be eating well due to a lack of appetite.
Therefore, regularly taking your puppy to the vet will ensure that you catch an illness early and provide treatment.
Brittany Spaniel Growth Chart
A Brittany Spaniel growth chart helps you to monitor your puppy’s weight as they grow to ensure that the numbers remain ideal for their age category.
Your puppy’s weight can be impacted by a few things including the type of food they are eating and the exercise level.
Remember that the numbers in the weight chart are just an estimation so your puppy’s weight may slightly be higher or lower.
However, if the weight difference is significant you should speak to your so that they can guide you on how to get your puppy to their ideal weight.
A three-month-old Brittany should have a weight of between 13 and 16 pounds, at six months they should weigh about 23 and 30 pounds, and at 12 months your puppy should have a weight of around 30 to 38 pounds.
Brittany Spaniel Weight Chart
Age | Average weight LBS | Average weight KG |
---|---|---|
3 Months | 13 - 16 lbs | 6 - 7 kg |
4 Months | 17 - 21 lbs | 7.5 - 9.5 kg |
5 Months | 20 - 25 lbs | 9 - 11 kg |
6 Months | 23 - 30 lbs | 10.5 - 13.5 kg |
7 months | 25 - 32 lbs | 11 - 14.5 kg |
8 months | 26 - 33 lbs | 12 - 15 kg |
9 months | 27 - 35 lbs | 12 - 16 kg |
10 months | 28 - 36 lbs | 12.5 - 16.5 kg |
11 months | 29 - 37 lbs | 13 - 17 kg |
12 months | 30 - 38 lbs | 13.5 - 17 kg |
Brittany Puppy Development Stages
Birth – 2 Weeks
When Brittany puppies are born, they are not fully developed which puts them in a sensitive state.
Since their bodies are not fully functional, they depend on their mother or the breeder for nutrition and warmth.
They do not have the full hearing capacity and their eyes are still closed, but they can smell and taste their mother’s milk.
You should expect your Brittany puppy to sleep most of the day for them to gain strength. They will not be moving that much as their muscles are underdeveloped.
3 Weeks – 12 Weeks
Ensure that your Brittany puppy has everything they need at this stage of their life.
The weaning process begins in the fourth week which may be difficult for some puppies, so the process should be done slowly to avoid upsetting their stomach.
Since their stomachs and mouth are tender and small, feeding them solid foods may be challenging. They still need adequate nutrition but make sure their food is soft when starting the weaning process.
At the age of two months, your puppy will be ready to move to their new home and the weaning process should be done by now. They should also be vaccinated.
4 Months – 9 Months
Your puppy will experience a growth spurt at this stage because of the increase in the food that they are eating. They now have an energetic and lively personality and want to play more. You should keep them busy so that they are constantly stimulated as this keeps them away from destructive behavior.
You should take them to obedience and socialization training so that they develop good behavior which they carry into adulthood. They will also be able to handle their dominant behavior which tends to develop at this stage.
Continue feeding them a diet that is high in protein so that they can develop healthy and strong muscles.
10 Months – 18 Months
This is the stage where your puppy will achieve their adult size and stop growing. Some Brittany puppies will be adults sooner while others will wait until later around the age of 16-month mark.
You should transition them to adult food slowly over a period of one week so as not to cause stomach issues such as vomiting and diarrhea. To make the transitioning easier, stick to the brand that they were feeding on as puppies.
Adult
As an adult, your Brittany needs to be fed a diet that contains all the nutrients in the right proportions including proteins, fats, carbs, vitamins, and fiber.
They will start looking more like an adult dog and less like a puppy. Their body will be proportioned now to the head.
Even though they won’t be looking like a puppy, they will still be full of energy and require exercise to keep them active and healthy.
How Big Do Brittany Get?
Brittany puppies grow at a different rate, but there are ways you can use to estimate the adult size of your puppy.
One of the best ways is to look at the parents since genetics play a key role in the physical characteristics of dogs.
If the parents are smaller in size, your puppy will likely be smaller but if they are larger, your puppy will be a bigger dog. You can get the parent’s information by visiting the breeder or asking them for the details.
If there is no parent’s information, you should do a DNA test with the help of your vet and use the information to predict your Brittany’s adult size.
Another way is looking at the paws of your puppy. If the paws seem bigger than the rest of the body, then your Brittany still has some growing to do so that the whole body can be proportional.
Finally, you can check the Brittany Spaniel weight chart and use the values to estimate your puppy’s final size.
When they are fully grown, Brittany dogs weigh about 30 to 40 pounds and stand at about 17 to 20 inches.
Brittany Spaniel Size Chart
The male and female Brittany do not vary much in size, and they generally grow at similar rates and reach their final size almost at the same time.
Typically, they weigh between 30 and 40 pounds with a height of around 17 to 20 inches.
Knowing the height of your dog will help you shop for their clothing and kennel items. The measurement between the floor and your puppy’s withers is their height.
Will Neutering/Spaying My Brittany Affect His Growth?
Before spaying or neutering, it may be a good idea to wait till your dog is at least 18 months. This is because by this age they have attained their full growth hence not many adverse effects.
Male dogs who are neutered in the early stages tend to develop joint-related issues.
However, there are advantages to having the dog neutered or spayed like the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and less aggressiveness in male dogs.
A host of diseases can also be avoided when the dog is neutered or spayed like cancers and other problems related to their health.
It is important to be aware that surgeries come with risks, hence enough time and great care should be given to the Brittany who have the surgery performed on them.
Springer Spaniels Vs Brittany Size
Springer Spaniels are heavier than Brittany. Brittany dogs are not classified, unlike the Springer spaniel which is classified as field and show dogs.
The average weight of Brittany is between 15 and 25 kilograms and height of 43cm and 52cm while the springer spaniel has 18 to 25kg and height of 46cm to 51cm.
Springer spaniels are a bit hairy, unlike Brittany. The springer spaniel has a broad skull that is flat on top while Brittany has round medium-sized and wedge-shaped snouts.
Factors That Affect Brittany‘s Growth
Genetics & Gender
Gender contributes a lot to the growth of Brittany, especially in the case of neutering the male. Growth is affected because of the testosterone hormone.
Genetics also play a role in the growth of females because they follow in line with their parent size. The genetics are passed on to them.
Nutrition
Provide your dog with food of high quality for smooth development without delay. Adjust your diet in terms of their rations throughout the lifespan of your dog because the food given to a puppy is not the food that you will give to the senior dog.
Britany is not usually prone to being overweight because of their natural inclination to exercise, however, they still need monitoring. Ensure to always provide clean water to your Brittany for him to drink throughout the day.
Physical Activity & Health
Brittany was initially bred for hunting thus they need a lot of exercise. They make great companions and love to go running with their owners.
Ensure that the dogs are properly hydrated during hot days. 1 to 2 hours is the minimal amount of exercise that is required to make Brittany happy. When these dogs are not active, they need to be mentally stimulated.
How Much To Feed A Growing Brittany Puppy?
When it comes to feeding your dog, do not allow them a free hand because if you fill their bowl with food, they may not be able to stop feeding once he is full. This might lead to obesity in dogs.
Babies should stay with their mom for at least four weeks to prevent them from contracting diseases because of the need for the mom’s milk.
You can introduce some solids at four weeks by mixing the solid diet with either milk or water.
When the puppy is eight weeks old, it should be fed four times a day. Puppies have unique dietary requirements which is a balanced diet.
Read the ingredient list on the food and ensure that meat is the first component. When a puppy is more than eight weeks the amount of food can be reduced to twice a day with about ¾ cup.
You must feed the puppy twice a day until they are about 1 year old.
How To Tell If Your Brittany Is Underweight Or Overweight?
Finding the right weight for Brittany can be a big challenge and pet parents need to be careful in ensuring their pets are the right weight.
Vet visits are also good for your Brittany to keep a check on their health in general including weight check.
You can tell if your Brittany is underweight or overweight by measuring their weight, observing their behavior, seeing the vet, and feeling their body.
You can tell that your Brittany is overweight when you cannot feel the ribs, cannot feel the spine, and if they have an oval or round shape.
Your Brittany is underweighted if the ribs are visible, the spine is visible, and looks weak generally.
When he is overweight, you can separate the chest from the stomach. When underweight stomachs and waists are visible.
What Are The Most Common Conditions To Be Aware Of In Growing Brittany Puppies?
Brittany dogs are usually healthy and do not suffer from most hereditary diseases. However, they may have issues like eye diseases and hip dysplasia that are common in most dogs. Cataracts and epilepsy can also affect Brittany.
You should also regularly check the ears to remove wax that builds up or other foreign matters. Having their teeth cleaned is also a good thing.
Some Brittany suffers hypothyroidism which is a condition that results from an underactive thyroid. Whenever they have this problem, it can cause lethargy or obesity. Proper nutrition is important for good health.
Do Brittany Experience Growing Pain?
Panosteitis or growing pain is a medical condition that causes lameness and pain in young dogs and Brittany are not left out.
Symptoms of this condition include pain, lethargy depression, loss of appetite, and fever. Your vet may recommend anti-inflammatory pain medication for your dog to manage the pain.
However, dogs outgrow this condition as they grow old. It also does not have long-term effects.
What To Do If My Brittany Is Not The Right Weight?
Most people cannot tell if their Brittany is the right weight. This is because they are a medium-sized breed but may seem too small or large to some people. There are a few ways to ascertain if your Brittany is the right weight;
You can use the weight chart to guide you during the growth of your puppy. Their adult weight should be between 30 to 40lbs. there may be a little variance based on Brittany’s level of health and lifestyle.
You can also use the BCS score which is similar to BMI calculation. A BCS will be able t pinpoint some features of the dog’s anatomy to tell if he is overweight or underweight.
How To Help Your Brittany Lose Weight If He Is Overweight?
You can help your Brittany to lose weight through the increase in physical activity. Whatever the level of activity involves an increase of physical exercise to what to do and what your dog can do.
You can choose between fast walking, slow walking, running, swimming, ball games, and agility sessions.
You can also modify your dog’s nutrition by decreasing the calorie content. Reduction of calorie content is done by reducing the amount of food given to the dog daily.
However, be careful not to starve your dog or his nutritional needs. it is done through a balanced, adequate, and less caloric diet.
Avoid homemade food because you will not be able to measure the protein, carbohydrate, fat, and fiber intake ratios. You will need to feed the Brittany with croquettes specially adapted for Overweight Brittany dogs.
This will help your dog to receive a quality diet in enough quantity with fewer calories.
Weight loss of your Brittany may take a while. There you need to be patient and weigh them regularly for weight monitoring.
How To Properly Weight My Brittany?
You can measure our Brittany using a dog’s weighing scale. This weighing scale will help you monitor the growth of the springer spaniel regularly to detect any abnormalities.
You can also use a bathroom scale to know your dog’s weight. When using the bathroom scale, hold your dog and stand on the scale then read the weight, then weigh yourself without the dog and find the difference to get the dog’s weight.
Brittany Genetics And Common Health Problems
The following are common health concerns affecting Brittany:
Hip Dysplasia occurs when the ball and socket of the hip joint misalign causing pain, immobility, and discomfort.
It is largely genetic and cannot be prevented hence you need to invest in a reputable breeder. Common signs are limping, pain, lameness, and decreased activity. Your vet may recommend a specialized diet and pain medication.
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland of the dog is underproductive.
The malfunction of the thyroid gland causes several issues like changes in appetite, hair loss, lethargy, and change in the coat or skin. Dogs will daily hormone supplements to improve life quality.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is seen in many dogs. It is passed down through generations.
It has a wide range of seizures hence consult a vet for any symptoms like collapsing, foaming on the mouth, twitching, and jerking.
Cataracts develop when cloudy film sets into the eyes of the dog preventing light from reaching the retina. This condition is not life-threatening but can lead to total blindness.
It can be corrected through surgery. You can also use preventative vet visits to ensure their eyes are healthy.
Final Words
The Brittany breed is intelligent and easily trainable and has a lot of energy which makes them willing to be part of training exercises.
With a little encouragement and patience, your puppy will develop proper behavior and socialization skills.
Hopefully, this article has provided you with all the growth information that you need to know about the Brittany breed.