Braque Francais Dog Breed

The Braque Francais, generally considered a member of the Sporting group, has existed as a pointing dog in France since at least the sixteenth century. These dogs, which are fairly rare outside their native France, are excellent hunting companions, but they make calm, well-balanced family pets as well.

Some breed specifications: breed members are divided into two sub-types, the Gascogne and the Pyrenees. Both variants are medium-sized, with the Gascogne type averaging 25 inches in height and the Pyrenees at about 21 inches; both varieties weigh an average of 45 pounds, and both have short-haired coats that are typically brown and white.

PROS:

• Intelligent
• Fantastic hunting capabilities
• Calm, quiet demeanor
• Little grooming required
• Good with children
• Excellent health
• Easily trained
• Socializes well with most other pets (birds might be an exception)
• Low-maintenance overall

CONS:

• Poor watchdog abilities
• Very sensitive to harsh treatment
• High prey drive means they may chase smaller pets (especially birds)
• Tends to be timid and nervous at times
• Prone to separation anxiety if left alone
• Not great for apartment life

Although these dogs may be small for a typical hunting breed, they are considered medium sized. Pyrenees type males of this breed are 18.5-23 inches tall, while females may reach up to 22 inches; the Gascogne type is slightly larger at 23-27 inches. The weights differ slightly by gender with females weighing 38-45 pounds and males 45-55 pounds.

Members of this breed are all around well-behaved, wonderful pets for families, individuals, and hunters alike. The French Pointer's serene, obedient, affectionate demeanor make them great indoor pets and a good option for families with children. Strangers should not beware; this is a friendly breed. Although they have an intense prey drive towards avian species, they will be good with other pets.

The Braque Francais is a low maintenance breed. In regards to grooming, the coat is short and requires little effort. Some playtime outdoors and a long walk or run should suffice for these dogs.

This breed is one of the oldest pointing dog breeds in France, with records going back to the late 1500's when wild birds were an important source of food for the average family. They are considered the stock breed from which various French Pointers come from such as the Braque d'Auvergne and the Braque du Bourbonnais which are named from their originating territory. The Braque Francais itself is thought to be descended from the Spanish Pointer and the Southern Hound (now extinct). When French Pointer clubs began appearing in the late 19th century it was decided there would be two standards for the breed. One standard was inducted for the older style Gascogne type, which had kept a heavier, hardier look of a traditional gundog; and one for the Pyrenees type, which had evolved a lighter, faster dog that excelled in field trials and competitions. Today the Pyrenean is the most popular type while the Gascogne is a rare find outside of France. The breed, at least one of the two types, is recognized by the French, International, Canadian and United Kennel Clubs.

The Pyrenean and Gascogne type very similar, except the Pyrenean is slightly smaller. Both are muscular dogs but the Pyrenean is slighter, which makes them faster moving. The head of this breed is typically brown with large folded ears with that of the Pyrenees type being thinner. The coat of the Pyrenean type is shorter and finer haired, however both usually have a white and brown ticked/speckled coat and usually 1 or more large brown spots. The Gascogne type may have less ticking on the body. The nose is chestnut brown and The tail for both kinds is either naturally short or docked and the legs are long and lean muscled.

This breed is calm, quiet and eager to please the owner, which makes them great family house dogs. Once outdoors they are energetic with plenty of stamina for exercise. Their natural inclination towards obedience causes them to stick close to the owner. Training this breed is easy and they learn quickly. Positive enforcement with plenty of praise is required as they are very sensitive to negative or harsh treatment.

The Braque Francais is an especially good dog for bird hunters as it will point and retrieve on water as well as land however, they can be taught to follow blood trails. It is said that this breed wants to hunt for you instead of for themselves, due to their obedience, and makes a wonderful, easily trained companion for the sportsman.

This breed has few documented health issues as the French Kennel Club denies registration to dogs that have been inbred or linebred within the first three generations. Hip and joint issues should be assessed for as the dog ages but, other than this common issue, these are robust dogs that can live up to 15 years.