Keep in mind that Brittney's are a pointing breed and Springers are a flushing breed....... Also, as I'm sure you know there is a very large split between Field and Show lines with Springers. A Field-Bred Springers is nothing at all like a Show-bred Springer. I've raised field-bred Springers for about 19 years now. I've never had ear infection problems and the coat on a field-bred Springer is much shorter and flatter than a dog from show lines, so there is very little difference in coat between a Springer and a Brittney. I've never hunted over a French Brittney, but I understand they are a close working dog from what I've read.