Braque Francais

The Braque Francais was initially bred for hunting but today make great companions. Their English name is the French Pointing Dog.

Because these dogs are people pleasers and one of the least dominant breeds around, they are easy to train and fit in well with families who have young children due to their friendly temperament.

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History Of The Breed

The Braque Francais is an older breed of dog, having been in existence since the 15th century, and is considered the common ancestor to all of the shorthaired pointing breeds that are existing today. It was bred to hunt in the Pyrenees Mountain range, on the border of France and Spain. It is believed that this breed is a descendant of two types of gun dogs – the Old Spanish Pointer and the now-extinct Southern Hound.

Types Of

There are two types of Braque Francais breeds – the Gascony type and the Pyrenean type. The Gascony is heavier and larger and is considered closer to the original gun dog ancestors. The Pyrenean is the smaller of the two breeds and was made to be leaner and faster. There are several other types of pointers, including:

Weimaraner

The Weimaraner is a German breed that is both beautiful and athletic. They are large dogs that are distinguished by their steely gray coat.

Health and Entertainment for your Braque Francais

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In addition, Weimaraners have oversized, floppy ears and deep, emotional eyes, similar to a Bloodhound. These dogs were initially bred as a sportsman’s companion and are often referred to as the “gray ghost” or Weir. They are very adaptable and love to hunt, but they are also excellent family dogs.

Cesky Fousek

The Cesky Fousek are gun dogs that rank as one of the top sporting dogs in the world. Their appearance is very distinct but similar to the German Wirehaired Pointer. Cesky Fouseks have a multi-colored coat with a beard and mustache.

But it’s their sporting abilities that set them apart from other breeds. They are incredibly versatile and can acclimate to various climates and terrains. In addition, they are tenacious when finding big or small game.
Auvergne Pointer

The Auvergne Pointer was named after the Auvergne region in France and was initially used as a pointing dog. However, today they make excellent companions.

Auvergne Pointers are medium-sized dogs weighing around 48 to 62 pounds and measuring 20 to 24 inches tall. They often have solid black heads with black and white spotted coats. In addition, as with most hunting dogs, their fur is short and smooth. They are excellent retrievers, friendly, and highly intelligent.

Three Pros And Cons Of Owning A Braque Francais

It’s essential to know everything about a dog breed before purchasing one, so here are the pros and cons of the Braque Francais.

The Best Dog Food For The Braque Francais

Because the Braque Francais is a medium to large-sized dog, they require a diet specially formulated for large breeds. However, they are hunting dogs, and if you plan on using them for that purpose or as an active working dog, they need a diet specifically formulated for active or working dogs.

Always ensure the dog food you buy is made with top-quality ingredients like digestible carbohydrates and animal protein.

Size And Weight

The Braque Francais can grow to 18.5-27 inches tall and weighs between 40 to 80 pounds, making them a medium-large sized breed.

Common Health Issues

Typically a healthy dog, the Braque Francais is not susceptible to many serious health issues. However, like all canines, they are prone to a few minor conditions, including:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Patellar luxation
• Eye problems
• Aortic stenosis

But, they are most susceptible to eye conditions like cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, eyelid entropion, and ectropion. However, responsible breeding practices can weed out some health conditions, like hip dysplasia. The Braque Francais can live for 12 to 15 years with the proper care.

Temperament

The Braque Francais is a sensitive and social breed, making them well-balanced dogs that show incredible affection towards their owners, who they look to for guidance. Therefore, they are fantastic pets for families with older children. However, if not trained and socialized from a young age, they need constant supervision when they are around younger children, as their natural hunting instincts may take over if provoked or excited.

The Braque Francais loves human companionship, but this trait could be detrimental because they suffer from separation anxiety when left to their own device for long periods of time.

If you are looking for a guard dog, then the Braque Francais is not the breed you want. Unfortunately, they will not warn you of any potential threats but, instead, will try to befriend strangers.

How To Take Care Of A Braque Francais

Taking care of a Braque Francais is relatively easy. However, certain aspects of their care are essential to their well-being.

Grooming

Because these dogs have short and sleek coats, they only require a good brush once a week. In addition, they need their teeth brushed 3 times a week, and their nails need trimming once every 3 months.

This breed has floppy ears that are prone to ear infections because of the debris that gets trapped, so owners have to frequently check and clean their ears. In addition, owners need to dry their ears thoroughly after swimming or a bath.

Training

The Braque Francais is known for their obedient nature. It almost seems as if they were born to be trained. Because they are natural hunters, they don’t need a lot of instruction from their owners, especially when it comes to hunting birds and game.

In addition, training is made easier because of their superior intellect. However, this breed can be quite sensitive and requires a gentle hand when training. Screaming out harsh commands will not work for these dogs; instead, they respond well to positive reinforcement and patience.

Exercise

The Braque Francais thrives on outdoor life because of their high energy levels. Therefore, they will need over an hour of vigorous exercise every day.

They are the perfect breed for people who enjoy jogging or running and will benefit from a home with a large outside area where they can explore and play. However, if they do not receive an appropriate amount of exercise, they might start to act out in destructive ways.

Puppies

Braque Francais females can give birth to 6 – 8 puppies per litter. However, most litters consist of 3 to 6 puppies. These pups are not easy to get hold of, as they are very rare in the USA, but if you can manage to find a breeder, BraqueFracais puppies can cost anywhere between $1,200 to $1,500.

Braque Francais And Children

The Braque Francais are great family dogs and gets along well with children. However, if they are not socialized from a young age, they might be a problem with smaller kids. Children must always be taught how to behave appropriately around dogs, and toddlers should always be supervised around this breed, especially if they are very active dogs.

In addition, because of their hunting instincts, the Braque Francais does not get along well with smaller pets like cats, rabbits, or birds. While this breed prefers to be the only pet, they can get along with other dogs if introduced at an early age.

Dogs Similar To The Braque Francais

There are several breeds that are similar to the Braque Francais; they include:

German Shorthair Pointers

German Shorthair Pointers were bred in the 19^th Century in Germany for hunting purposes. They are versatile medium to large-sized dogs with streamlined physiques and powerful legs.

Brittany Spaniel

The breed was bred as gundogs, and they love chasing birds all the time, even when they don’t have to. Although most people know them as Brittany Spaniels, the AKC dropped Spaniel from their name in 1982.

They are very energetic dogs and great family companions. Therefore, they thrive with active families who enjoy spending lots of time outdoors.

English Pointer

The English Pointer is a medium-sized dog with a bold personality. They are an intelligent breed that points toward the fallen game with their nose while their tails align with their heads and bodies. This behavior comes so naturally to them; it is not uncommon to see a Pointer pup pointing at only 8 weeks of age.

Popular Names For A Braque Francais

• Casanova
• Serge
• Fabien
• Beau
• Vivienne
• Fatine
• Bijou
• Sabine
• Gigi