Breed Standard
The Epagneul Breton Breed Standard
The blueprint of form and function - guiding our breed, our club, and our future.
With roots tracing back to France in 1907, the Epagneul Breton standard defines more than appearance — it preserves identity. By honoring the official FCI standard here in the United States, CEB-US ensures our dogs stay true to their French heritage and connected to the global Breton community. This shared standard celebrates over a century of tradition and the enduring spirit of France’s beloved bird dog.
Why the Breed Standard Matters
The Epagneul Breton standard is much more than a technical document — it’s a living promise to protect the essence of the breed.
​
Every line of the standard reflects more than a century of thoughtful breeding in France, producing a compact, intelligent, and driven bird dog that works naturally with its hunter.
​
For the CEB-US, the standard is our compass. It connects us to the global Epagneul Breton community, ensures our dogs remain true to type, and reminds us that form and function are inseparable. When we preserve the standard, we preserve the bird dog of France.
The standard is not about perfection. It’s about preserving a living tradition of form and function — a dog built to hunt, think, and adapt to the uplands.
The Official Breed Standard
The United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes the Epagneul Breton under the standard officially adopted from the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI, Standard No. 95) — the same standard maintained by France’s Société Centrale Canine (SCC).
This alignment ensures that Epagneul Bretons bred, shown, and hunted in the United States remain part of a unified international standard.
​
Official Documents:
Download the FCI French Standard (not translated)
The Epagneul Breton at a Glance
General Type
Cobby, compact, and square - never long or low. Quick, agile, and build for endurance. Deep chested (reaching to the elbow) and well muscled.​​
Head & Expression
Lively and attentive expression with intelligent eyes, tight lips and 3:2 skull to muzzle ratio with parallel head planes. Male heads are more squared compared to slightly more feminine aspects of the female head.
Size
Strong top and good bone. Ideal male height at the withers measures between 49 cm to 50 cm (+/- 1 cm). Ideal female height measures 48 cm to 49 cm (+/- 1 cm).
Color & Coat
Orange & white, liver & white, black & white, tricolor, or roan variations. Disqualifier of sable color. Coat is fine, but not silky, lying flat or with a hint of curl.
Tail
Naturally short or docked very short.
Read the Full UKC Standard
Why It's Important to Preserve the Standard
The Epagneul Breton was bred to be a bird dog first and foremost. While appearance and show-ring style are part of its evaluation, it is the dog’s physical structure that provides the strength, balance, and mechanics needed to perform in the field. Its body, temperament, and coat all work together to create a dog capable of long days of hunting.
​
Maintaining the standard prevents exaggerations that compromise health or performance, and it ensures that every generation of Epagneul Bretons still looks, moves, and hunts like the dogs that came before them.
​
Preserving type means preserving ability. That’s why the CEB-US invests in evaluations, education, breeder awareness, and events that teach members how to interpret and apply the standard.
HOW CEB-US Puts the Standard to Work
The breed standard is the foundation of nearly everything we do as a club:
​
Education & Mentorship
CEB-US offers learning opportunities for breeders, handlers, and owners — from conformation clinics to online workshops and judge education. Members can access guides, videos, and one-on-one mentorship to understand the standard in action.
​
Conformation Events
In UKC and CEB-US shows, dogs are evaluated on how closely they conform to the standard — rewarding sound structure, balance, and movement that support field performance. Our National Specialty shows are judged by international judges, ensuring consistency with the FCI European standard and helping maintain the breed’s heritage and integrity across continents.
​
Watch a sample Confirmation Evaluation.
​
Breeder Support
Our breeder program encourages responsible breeding guided by the standard, helping breeders select pairings that enhance structural soundness, temperament, and function.
​
Community Resources
Through blog posts, newsletters, and the annual Conclave, we share educational materials that make the standard accessible and practical — connecting owners to experts who can help them evaluate and improve their dogs.
Learn, Participate, Preserve
Even if you’re a hunter who never plans to enter the show ring, the Epagneul Breton remains a bird dog at its core, and it’s through the standard — measured through confirmation evaluations and reinforced in the show ring — that we preserve the size, style, and athleticism that define the breed.
​
You don’t have to be a breeder or exhibitor to care about the standard — you just have to love the breed. By joining CEB-US and participating in events, you become part of a community dedicated to understanding and preserving the Epagneul Breton as a true, versatile bird dog.
