Griffon Fauve De Bretagne Dog Breed

This breed is a medium sized scenthound originating in the Brittany region of France. They are passionate and tenacious hunter that were popular as far back as the 14th century for hunting boar and wolves! With the decline of the wolves came the decline of the Fawn Brittany Griffon until 1949 with the formation of the Club de Fauve de Bretagne. Presently, this breed is still somewhat rare but a much beloved family companion and versatile hunter, excelling in mountainous terrain tracking game both large and small. This is an excellent choice for most households that are at least moderately physically active; ideally, the owner will have a fenced yard. Here are some facts to consider before choosing a Griffon Fauve de Bretagne:

PROS

• Excellent family companion- good with kids
• Friendly with other dogs
• Not aggressive towards strangers
• Affectionate and loyal
• Training is fairly easy
• Grooming is low-moderate
• Good for active owners

CONS

• May not be suitable for homes with small, non-canine pets
• Not hypoallergenic
• Requires daily outdoor exercise
• Fenced yard is ideal

While it may sound like a contradiction, the FCI describes the Fawn Brittany Griffon as muscular and bony-- which we take to mean they are lightly muscled for stamina; they stand 19-22 inches at the shoulder with weight in proportion with the aforementioned description. Their characteristic feature is their short-medium length shaggy coat that should be some shade of fawn, golden wheaten or red; the coat is always harsh. They have long, dropped ears and a long tail carried slightly curved.

The intelligence of this breed is fairly high. You won't have to spend a ton of time and effort training them; this is especially important when hunting since they tend to be obedient. First time owners will find this an easy introductory breed.

Members of this breed are great family dogs due to their affectionate, loyal natures. They should be friendly with other dogs and visitors, however, due to their hunting instincts they will need early socialization to live with small, non-canine pets.

Griffon Fauve de Bretagne dogs are moderately active and do best with a nice big yard or property to run and play. They will need an hour of daily outdoor exercise in the form of long walks, hikes, jogs, trips to the dog park and, of course, hunting time! Failing to meet the exercise needs of your dog may result in destructive behavior.

The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne temperament has two facets. While on the hunt they are tenacious and courageous, tracking all types of game with passion and plenty of stamina! The other side of the coin has them as affectionate, social and friendly companion dogs. Training is on the easier side, even for a first time owner and, while hunting is their preferred activity, they can get on well with an active owner.

This breed is a good family dog and does well with other pets; early socialization is recommended with non-canine pets since these guys are natural hunters. The GFdB is not an aggressive dog and will probably be social with your visitors.

Not much information exists to attest to the health of the Griffon Fauve De Bretagne but they are known to have a lifespan of 12-13 years. Perhaps they truly are a breed with few health concerns, however, always be prepared for the most common of canine issues such as bloat and hip dysplasia. The shaggy coat of this breed makes it imperative to keep the eyes and ears clean to prevent infections. The best way to prevent taking home an unhealthy puppy is to choose a reputable breeder that offers proof of health (certificates for hip and eye, genetic testing results, etc.) for the dam and sire.