Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Brittanys Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Brittanys Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Brittanys Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Brittanys Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Brittanys Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Brittanys Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Brittanys Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Brittanys Easy to Train?
- Do Brittanys Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Brittanys Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Brittanys have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Brittanys Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Brittanys Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Brittanys Playful? What is the Energy Level of Brittanys
- Conclusion on Brittany Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Brittany
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Brittany out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Brittany based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Brittany breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Brittany by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Brittany.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Brittany for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Brittany.
The summary table below shows the score of the Brittany for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Energy Level | 80.0 percent |
| Prey Drive | 73.2 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 6.9 percent |
| Excitability | 52.3 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 49.1 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 40.9 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 29.9 percent |
| Stubbornness | 28.8 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 28.5 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 25.7 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 22.5 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 15.3 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 15.3 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 15.0 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Brittany`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Brittany, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Brittany.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Brittanys Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Brittanys are a little bit aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Brittany ranks low for aggression towards strangers.
The Brittany ranks number 96 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 22.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit aggressive towards strangers just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 93 | Pointer | 23.5 % |
| 94 | Norwegian Elkhound | 23.2 % |
| 95 | Labrador Retriever | 22.8 % |
| 96 | Brittany | 22.5 % |
| 97 | Scottish Terrier | 21.2 % |
| 98 | Border Terrier | 20.5 % |
| 99 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 20.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Brittanys Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Brittanys are not aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Brittany ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.
The Brittany ranks number 105 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has an owner-directed-aggression score of 6.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 7.3 % |
| 103 | Irish Wolfhound | 7.2 % |
| 104 | Australian Shepherd | 7.0 % |
| 105 | Brittany | 6.9 % |
| 106 | Doberman Pinscher | 6.7 % |
| 107 | Pit Bull | 6.6 % |
| 108 | Collie | 6.5 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Brittanys Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Brittanys are not aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Brittany ranks very low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Brittany ranks number 105 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has a dog-directed aggression score of 25.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not dog-aggressive just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | Newfoundland | 27.0 % |
| 103 | Golden Retriever | 26.7 % |
| 104 | Chinook | 26.3 % |
| 105 | Brittany | 25.7 % |
| 106 | Italian Greyhound | 23.5 % |
| 107 | Basset Hound | 21.6 % |
| 108 | Pug | 21.4 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Brittanys Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Brittanys are a little bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Brittany ranks low for fear of strangers.
The Brittany ranks number 94 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has a stranger-directed-fear score of 15.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit stranger-fearful just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Akita | 15.8 % |
| 92 | Gordon Setter | 15.7 % |
| 93 | Bulldog | 15.3 % |
| 94 | Brittany | 15.3 % |
| 95 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 14.9 % |
| 96 | Kuvasz | 14.5 % |
| 97 | Bull Terrier | 14.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Brittanys Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Brittanys are a little bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Brittany ranks low for fear of other dogs.
The Brittany ranks number 77 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has a dog-directed-fear score of 29.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit other-dog-fearful just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 31.6 % |
| 75 | Keeshond | 31.4 % |
| 76 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 30.4 % |
| 77 | Brittany | 29.9 % |
| 78 | Golden Retriever | 29.4 % |
| 79 | Labrador Retriever | 27.9 % |
| 80 | Doberman Pinscher | 27.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Brittanys Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Brittanys are not fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Brittany ranks very low for non-social fear.
The Brittany ranks number 107 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has a nonsocial-fear score of 15.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are not nonsocial-fearful just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 104 | Bouvier des Flandres | 15.2 % |
| 105 | Norwegian Elkhound | 15.1 % |
| 106 | Gordon Setter | 15.0 % |
| 107 | Brittany | 15.0 % |
| 108 | Doberman Pinscher | 14.9 % |
| 109 | English Springer Spaniel | 13.5 % |
| 110 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 13.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Brittanys Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Brittanys are not competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Brittany ranks very low on dog rivalry.
The Brittany ranks number 116 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has a dog-rivalry score of 15.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are not competition-driven just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 113 | Pug | 19.2 % |
| 114 | Golden Retriever | 18.6 % |
| 115 | Kuvasz | 16.5 % |
| 116 | Brittany | 15.3 % |
| 117 | Labrador Retriever | 15.0 % |
| 118 | Border Terrier | 13.8 % |
| 119 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 12.4 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Brittanys Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Brittanys are somewhat easy to train.
This is because the Brittany ranks average for trainability.
The Brittany ranks number 52 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the trainability of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has a trainability score of 71.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat easy to train just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Dalmatian | 71.9 % |
| 50 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 71.4 % |
| 51 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 71.2 % |
| 52 | Brittany | 71.2 % |
| 53 | Norwegian Elkhound | 71.2 % |
| 54 | Great Dane | 70.9 % |
| 55 | Gordon Setter | 70.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Brittany is and how the intelligence of the Brittany affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Brittany is.
Do Brittanys Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Brittanys are very much into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Brittany ranks very high for small-pet-chasing.
The Brittany ranks number 17 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has a chasing score of 73.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much into chasing after smaller pets just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Shiba Inu | 75.0 % |
| 15 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 74.4 % |
| 16 | Airedale Terrier | 74.2 % |
| 17 | Brittany | 73.2 % |
| 18 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 72.2 % |
| 19 | Siberian Husky | 71.3 % |
| 20 | Australian Cattle Dog | 69.7 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Brittanys Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Brittanys are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Brittany ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Brittany ranks number 70 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 49.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | Border Terrier | 50.7 % |
| 68 | American Bulldog | 50.4 % |
| 69 | Saint Bernard | 49.6 % |
| 70 | Brittany | 49.1 % |
| 71 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 48.8 % |
| 72 | French Bulldog | 48.7 % |
| 73 | Whippet | 48.6 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Brittanys have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Brittanys are somewhat prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Brittany ranks average for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Brittany ranks number 59 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has a separation anxiety score of 40.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | Chow Chow | 42.2 % |
| 57 | Papillon | 41.7 % |
| 58 | Pointer | 41.3 % |
| 59 | Brittany | 40.9 % |
| 60 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 40.4 % |
| 61 | Boxer | 40.3 % |
| 62 | Dingo | 38.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Brittanys Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Brittanys are somewhat touch-sensitive.
This is because the Brittany ranks average for touch sensitivity.
The Brittany ranks number 58 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has a touch-sensitivity score of 28.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat touch-sensitive just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | American Bulldog | 29.8 % |
| 56 | Bull Terrier | 29.7 % |
| 57 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 29.3 % |
| 58 | Brittany | 28.5 % |
| 59 | Miniature Schnauzer | 28.5 % |
| 60 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 28.4 % |
| 61 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 28.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Brittanys Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Brittanys are quite a bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Brittany ranks high for excitability.
The Brittany ranks number 40 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has an excitability score of 52.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Gordon Setter | 52.8 % |
| 38 | Yorkshire Terrier | 52.7 % |
| 39 | Keeshond | 52.4 % |
| 40 | Brittany | 52.3 % |
| 41 | Bearded Collie | 51.6 % |
| 42 | Rat Terrier | 51.1 % |
| 43 | Pit Bull | 51.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Brittanys Playful? What is the Energy Level of Brittanys
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Brittanys are very much energetic.
This is because the Brittany ranks very high for energy level.
The Brittany ranks number 9 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 83 Brittany owners reported on the temperament of their Brittany in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Brittany has an energy-level score of 80.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much energetic just like the Brittany are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Australian Cattle Dog | 82.9 % |
| 7 | Pit Bull mix | 81.0 % |
| 8 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 80.9 % |
| 9 | Brittany | 80.0 % |
| 10 | Airedale Terrier | 79.7 % |
| 11 | Jack Russell Terrier | 79.1 % |
| 12 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 79.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Brittany Temperament
The temperament of your Brittany comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Brittany is exposed to.
You cannot change your Brittany`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Brittany to.
Exposing your Brittany to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Brittany to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Brittany`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Brittany.
If you think the Brittany is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Brittanys cost and Brittany puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Brittany breeders in the United States and the prices of their Brittany puppies.
