Best dog food for a Brittany Spaniel
A Brittany Spaniel is a compact, high-drive gundog, usually landing somewhere in the 14-18kg range as an adult, and most of that frame is muscle rather than bulk. That combination of small size and a lot of energy is the thing to feed for: a Brittany that works, walks for hours, or never sits still needs more from its food than a dog of the same weight that spends the day on the sofa.
Feeding a Brittany Spaniel
A medium breed
An adult Brittany Spaniel typically weighs 14–18 kg, so a healthy Brittany Spaniel eats a moderate amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A medium breed is usually done growing at ~12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 12–14 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
A high-energy dog eats like one
Brittany Spaniels sit at the top end for energy, and a dog working through a couple of hours of real exercise a day burns through the feeding guide faster than a dog on a short stroll. Feed to the dog's condition, not to the middle of the range on the bag.
How much should a Brittany Spaniel weigh?
Adult 14–18 kgfully grown at ~12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 2.2–2.8 kg | 15% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 3.5–4.5 kg | 25% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 7–9 kg | 50% |
| ~12 months | Fully grown | 14–18 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a medium breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Brittany Spaniel
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Brittany Spaniel's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Simpsons Dog Sensitive Lamb Potato
A grain-free lamb and potato dry food for dogs with sensitive skin or digestion
From£17.05
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Chicken
A grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, lightly baked and built on 50% chicken
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Burns Puppy Original Lamb & Rice
Complete Burns lamb and rice puppy food in a 2KG bag for up to 12 months
£14.99
Why size and energy both matter here
A Brittany's small-to-medium frame means portion sizes look modest next to a Labrador's, but the breed's stamina and drive mean that a low-energy recipe built for a sedentary dog of the same weight often leaves a working or very active Brittany looking lean and asking for more between meals.
The middle ground most owners land on is a standard adult recipe with a moderate protein and fat percentage rather than the very high-calorie formulas built for sled dogs or working gundogs in full season, unless your Brittany genuinely is out shooting or field-trialling for hours most days.
What to actually look for on the bag
A named meat as the first ingredient, a protein percentage in the high teens to twenties for an adult, and a fat percentage that reflects how active your particular dog is, are a more useful guide than anything printed on the front of the pack.
Brittanys are also prone to floppy, hairy ears that trap moisture, which is a grooming issue rather than a food one, but a coat in good condition, glossy rather than flaky, is one of the easier everyday signs that a diet is actually suiting the dog eating it.
Puppies, seniors and weight watching
A Brittany puppy grows quickly and benefits from a food formulated for medium-breed growth rather than an adult recipe, moving across to adult food once your vet or the food's own guidance confirms your dog has finished growing.
This is a breed that stays lean and busy well into middle age, which can make it easy to miss early weight gain once activity drops off in later years. A senior or light recipe, plus weighing food rather than guessing by eye, keeps portions honest.
Common questions
- Do Brittany Spaniels need a working-dog food?
- Only if your Brittany is genuinely working, with regular field trials, long days shooting, or similarly demanding exercise. A dog that gets a good daily walk and some off-lead running does fine on a standard adult recipe matched to its actual energy output.
- Are Brittany Spaniels prone to food sensitivities?
- There is nothing breed-specific documented that makes Brittanys unusually prone to food intolerance. If you notice recurring loose stools, itching or ear trouble after a diet change, it is worth mentioning to your vet rather than guessing at the cause yourself.
- How much should I feed a Brittany Spaniel puppy?
- Follow the guideline on the puppy food you choose for your dog's current weight and age, then adjust gradually based on body condition rather than sticking rigidly to the printed number, since every puppy grows at a slightly different rate.
- Is grain-free food better for a Brittany Spaniel?
- Not automatically. Grain-free is a formulation choice rather than a guaranteed health benefit for most dogs, and a well-made recipe containing grains can suit a Brittany just as well as one without. Choose based on how your individual dog does on it.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.