The Brittany breed of dog is a medium size dog, leggy, suggesting the ability to cover a lot of ground with great agility. He is vigorous, energetic and quick, but also rugged. His height at the shoulders should be the same as the length of his body. The Brittany's expression is alert and eager, but soft. His eyes are set in his head and protected from briars by a heavy, expressive eyebrow. The skull is well chiseled under the eyes, so that the lower lid does not form a pocket or haw that could catch seeds, dirt and weed dust. Preference is given to darker colored eyes, though lighter shades of amber are not penalized. The ears are set high, above the level of the eyes. Short and triangular, reaching about half the length of the muzzle, they lie flat and close to the head, with dense, but relatively short hair and little fringe. The skull is medium length, rounded, very slightly wedge-shaped. It is not quite as wide as it is long, with a well defined, but gently sloping stop. The occiput is only apparent to the touch. The muzzle of the Brittany breed of dog is medium length and should taper gradually in both horizontal and vertical dimensions as it approaches the nostrils. The Brittany's nostrils should be well open to permit deep breathing of air and adequate scenting. Noses are fawn, tan, shades of brown or deep pink. A black nose is a disqualification. The lips are tight and dry, so that feathers will not stick. Drooling is heavily penalized. Flews are penalized. The neck of the Brittany breed of dog is medium length and well set into sloping shoulders. There is a slight slope from the highest point of the shoulders to the root of the tail. The Brittany's chest is deep, reaching the level of the elbow. Ribs are well sprung. The back is short and straight, flanks are rounded and fairly full, loins short and strong. The tail of the Brittany breed of dog ranges from nonexistent to approximately four inches, whether natural or docked. It is set on high, extending from the spine at about the same level. The Brittany's shoulder blades should not protrude too much nor be too wide apart, with perhaps two thumbs' width between. Sloping and muscular. Blade and upper arm should form nearly a ninety degree angle. His front legs, when viewed from the front, are perpendicular, but not set too wide. Elbows and feet turn neither in nor out. Pasterns slightly sloped. Leg bones clean, graceful, but not too fine. Height at elbows should approximately equal distance from elbow to withers. The feet should be strong, proportionate, with close fitting, well arched toes and thick pads. Toes are not heavily feathered. Dewclaws may be removed. The Brittany's hindquarters are strong and muscular, with powerful thighs and well bent stifles, giving the angulation needed for powerful drive. The stifles are well bent, but should not be so angulated as to place the hock joint far out behind the dog. Thighs are well feathered but not profusely, halfway to the hock. The coat of the Brittany breed of dog is dense, flat or wavy, never curly. Texture neither wiry nor silky. Ears should carry little fringe. The front and hind legs should have some feathering, but too little is preferred to too much. The skin is fine and fairly loose, since loose skin rolls with briars and sticks, mitigating punctures or tearing. The Brittany breed of dog may be orange and white or liver and white in either clear or roan patterns. Some ticking is desirable. The orange or liver is found in the standard parti-color or piebald patterns. Tri-colors are allowed but not preferred. A tri-color is a liver and white dog with classic orange markings on eyebrows, muzzle and cheeks, inside the ears and under the tail, freckles on the lower legs are orange. Black is a disqualification. With regard to the Brittany's gait, when he is seen at a trot, his hind foot should step into or beyond the print left by the front foot. Clean movement, coming and going, is very important. However, the most important gait is the side gait, which is smooth, efficient and ground covering.