José Luis Recondo: Lessons from the International Leader of the Epagneul Breton
- clubebus
- May 8
- 6 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
A Historic Guest at the 2025 National Conclave
The CEB-US was honored to have José Luis Recondo of Spain as our esteemed guest foreign judge at the 2025 Conclave. This was a milestone for the breed in the United States and an unparalleled opportunity to learn directly from one of the most respected authorities in the Epagneul Breton world. Mr. Recondo is the current president of the Amicale Internationale des Clubs de l'Épagneul Breton (AICEB), the global governing body for our breed. His stature within the Breton community is unmatched, making his insight and thoughtfulness a pivotal movement for the breed. Below is a list of topics and ideas that Sr. Recondo highlighted for keeping the Breton's heritage in focus and future outlook aligned with the standard.
Emphasis on Natural Ability
One of the most striking takeaways from José Luis Recondo’s time at the Conclave was his emphasis on natural ability. For José, the TAN test is not just a first step for young dogs; it’s a critical benchmark for choosing breeding stock.
In his view, the TAN should carry equal or greater weight than higher classification titles, because it reveals a dog’s inherent qualities — drive, connection, point, and confidence — before layers of training can cover them up. He cautioned that overtraining can often mask flaws — making it harder to evaluate whether a dog’s performance is truly the result of instinct or simply a well-rehearsed routine. To this point, in France a dog cannot run a TAN until it is 18 months old and a dog cannot enter a trial until it has earned its TAN, proven its hip health, and passed a conformation evaluation.
When it comes to progressing the breed, José urged breeders to prioritize raw talent and uncoached ability. A dog should search with purpose, point with confidence, and make smart decisions in the field — not because it was drilled to do so, but because those traits come naturally.
Gait as a Window Into Genetics
This philosophy extended to his focus on gait and movement. José frequently brought dogs back for second looks, particularly in open, short grass where their natural gait could be clearly seen. To him, gait is more than just aesthetics — it's a reflection of structure, stamina, and efficiency, all of which are inherited.
José emphasized the importance of a gait that is short, compact, and efficient — yet still aggressive in covering ground. The movement should be fluid and effortless, with neither the front nor rear legs overextended. The dog’s head should be held high, signaling confidence, but not exaggerated. “It should look like the dog is gliding,” he said.
He noted that in rugged hunting terrain, a dog may fall out of ideal gait due to environmental challenges. That’s why he often brought dogs back to run on bare fields — to isolate structure from terrain and evaluate their natural movement without distraction. To him, this clarified which dogs had the structure to support correct movement and provided the opportunity to showcase the dog that not only had the best bird work but also the best morphological traits.
He also made clear that he would cut a dog’s run short if it showed no desire to quarter or cover the field aggressively. “These are bird dogs,” he said, “they must want to find the bird.”
Sr. Recondo provided three videos of examples of the gait. The first two showcase dogs with a near perfect gait (Dracula and Cyclon). The third video shows a dog (Golfa) with a gait that is overextended causing a rocking/seesaw motion which is undesirable.
Dracula Du Mas d'Eyraud - Excellent/Outstanding gait. [https://youtu.be/y5h6XD_HPM0]
Cyclon de l'Ardour - Excellent/Outstanding gait. [https://youtu.be/8dMCdVMRPxg?si=ZjpAkio-uSzZTmBr]
Golfa de Casa Ato - Undesireable gait. [https://youtu.be/7bSsCSBWP9E]
Stay tuned for the next installment to include more takeaways from Sr. Recondo.
Dominating the Bird
One of José’s most powerful statements came in his discussion of bird work. “I want to see a dog that dominates the bird,” he said. This was more than a comment on physical proximity — it was about presence, confidence, and intensity on point.
Rather than favoring dogs that cautiously point from a distance to avoid flushing the bird, José preferred dogs that push the envelope — a dog that gets close, takes command, and learns to master that delicate balance. Yes, it’s a risk. But for him, it’s a risk worth taking.
José took it a step further, requesting handlers release their dog for a couler rather than the handler walking around in front of the dog trying to flush the bird. He wanted the dog to own the sequence, with the bird under its control and a clean flush resulting.
That fine line — between dominating the bird and making it flush — is where real bird dogs are forged, in José’s view. It’s where instinct meets experience and where the Breton shows its true quality.
Conformation: Cobbiness and Chest Depth
During the Specialty Show, José placed considerable emphasis on the physical standard of the Epagneul Breton — particularly cobbiness and chest depth.
He routinely measured both height at the withers and chest circumference at the elbows. While not a written standard, José said the chest circumference should be at least 10 cm more than the dog’s height. Many of our dogs were borderline — either just meeting or barely exceeding this mark.
He pointed out that several dogs lacked true cobbiness, both in length and in chest development. This, he warned, affects not only the dog’s appearance but also its efficiency in the field. He also critiqued tail lengths, noting that a dog already borderline in cobbiness appears even longer when the tail is too prominent.
In short, José reminded us that structure is not just about beauty — it's about function.
Setter Influence: Faults That Must Be Removed
Among Sr. Recondo’s many insights, one stood out as both a warning and a challenge to U.S. breeders and the CEB-US: the subtle presence of setter-like traits in some Epagneul Bretons. He noted these traits as clear deviations from the standard and signs of past outcrossing that still echo in the breed’s morphology and behavior today.
Morphologically, these faults show up as longer, narrower bodies lacking the cobbiness and depth of chest that are essential to the breed. Bretons should be compact and powerful — not long, lean, or setter-like. As previously discussed, José measured chest circumference at the elbow, noting that it should be at least 10cm greater than the height at the withers. Many of our dogs were barely meeting this minimum, signaling the need for more rigorous selection toward proper structure.
Head shape and muzzle length are other critical areas. The Breton should have a strong, broad head with a relatively short muzzle with a distinct 3:2 head to muzzle ratio — features that support the breed’s confident and expressive demeanor. Setter-like heads with narrow skulls and elongated muzzles dilute this expression and should be considered disqualifying faults when taken to extremes.
These same setter influences often show up behaviorally in the field, particularly on point. José cautioned against dogs that crouch, lie down, or drop their head low when pointing. While these postures may look "stylish," they contradict the Breton’s true style: bold, upright, and dominant. A correct point should exude intensity and authority, with the chest puffed out, head held high, and the dog appearing to command the bird.
Setter traits also compromise the Breton’s gait. Due to their longer, leaner structure, setters often carry their head lower during movement to maintain balance. The AKC describes the English Setter's gait as: “At an extended trot the head reaches slightly forward, keeping the dog in balance. The forelegs reach well ahead as if to pull in the ground without giving the appearance of a hackney gait ” The description is almost an exact contradiction of the Epagneul Breton gait standard and should be avoided for future generations.
In short, breeders must stay vigilant. The presence of setter traits, however subtle, signals a drift away from the Breton's standard.
Comments