Braque du Bourbonnais vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison

Braque du Bourbonnais vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed ComparisonBoth Braque du Bourbonnais and Braque d'Auvergne are originated from France. Braque du Bourbonnais may grow 8 cm / 3 inches shorter than Braque d'Auvergne. Braque du Bourbonnais may weigh 37 kg / 81 pounds lesser than Braque d'Auvergne. Braque du Bourbonnais may live 3 years less than Braque d'Auvergne. Braque du Bourbonnais may have less litter size than Braque d'Auvergne. Both Braque du Bourbonnais and Braque d'Auvergne requires Low maintenance.

History

braque du bourbonnais - historyThe Braque du Bourbonnais is an ancient breed, seen in the 15th century in France in the province of Bourbonnais. He became extremely popular with hunters by the 1800’s as a good pointer. He has become very popular in the United States and all of North America. There are often more puppies born in the U.S. than in France. The British call this breed the Bourbonnais Pointing Dog.

As with so many European hunting and working dogs, the Braque du Bourbonnais almost disappeared following World War I but was saved by the first breed club, established in 1925. Then following World War II, they were again in danger as the club dissolved and birth rates among the breed decreased drastically.

Actually, there were no dogs at all in the French registry between 1963 and 1973. This was attributed to the fact that the registry put more emphasis on the secondary characteristics such as color, length of tail) instead of the hunting characteristics. Because of this some hunter-breeders vowed to bring the real Braque du Bourbonnais back.

Michel Comte took on this task in 1970 but could not find any dogs with pure Bourbonnais blood. So, he took missed breed with characteristics like the Bourbonnais and inbred several litters until he had a dog he was satisfied with. He registered this dog with the LOF in 1973-75. Seeing this several other breeders got into the act and they successfully brought the breed back.

Michel became president of the new Club du Braque du Bourbonnais in 1981 and remained so until 2001. During this time the breed excelled at field trials and was first sent to the U.S. in 1988. The breed is now thriving in both Europe and North America.

braque d auvergne - historySometime over 5 centuries ago, in the Cantal Region of France, was born a hunting breed, that might be the real ancestor of today’s pointing hunter dogs. Perhaps the oldest of all pointing gun dog is the Braque d’Auvergne. This breed comes from Central France in the region of Auvergne. This breed was developed prior to written dog breeding records in order to hunt in this region and find, point, flush out and retrieve fowl. This breed is clearly one of if not the oldest breeds in the French Braque. There is no agreement among historians on what breed is the oldest of the European pointing dogs and where they were developed – was it Spain or was it France? It is thought that the Braque Francais Gascogne is the original one of these in the early 1600’s while the Braque d’Auvergne came soon after. Due to the different hunting needs in the different parts of France, the Braque Francais Gascogne was crossed with a lot of other local scent hounds. The Braque d’Auvergne is one of the very oldest of all of these. There are records of the breeds existence in the 1700’s. It is probable that the Braque d’Auvergne was developed by crossing local dogs with Gascogne as well as with the Petit Bleu de Gascogne and the Grand Bleu de Gascogne.

In all of Western Europe, the region of Auvergne is not very populated and has unique geography in that is hilly and has many extinct and eroded volcanoes. A lot of the region is still unpopulated. In this environment, wildlife has flourished, and hunting is successful in providing food for the regions people. This circumstance with an abundance of birds, led to the breeding of the Braque Auvergne to specialize in hunting in this area. The breed is not very popular outside of Auvergne and probably never was. That fact allowed them to be devastated by the Second World War. The Reunion des Amateurs de Braque d’Auvergne (RABA) was started to promote the pure breeding and the protection of the d’Auvergnes. But when Auvergnes was occupied during the war, the slowed breeding of the Braque d ‘ Auvergne almost eliminated the breed. There might have only been about 25 dogs left following the end of the war. These remaining dogs were used to revive the breed, but it is still uncommon, but not rare. Individuals have been imported by other countries including North America. The United Kennel Club (UKC) accepted the breed in 2006 but is not accepted by the AKC (American Kennel Club). The breed is still a working breed and outside of France, very rare.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Gun dog
Origin:
France
France
Height Male:
51 - 57 cm
20 - 23 inches
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
Height Female:
49 - 56 cm
19 - 23 inches
51 - 61 cm
20 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
18 - 25 kg
39 - 56 pounds
48 - 62 kg
105 - 137 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 22 kg
35 - 49 pounds
43 - 57 kg
94 - 126 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 6
4 - 10
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Bourbonnais Pointer • Bourbonnais Pointing Dog • French Pointing Dog • French Pointer • Braques Francaises • Braque Bourbonnais
Bleu d'Auvergne Braque d’Auvergne Pointer, Auvergne Pointer, Braque du Auvergne, Auvergnese Pointer, Auvergne Pointing Dog, Auvergnian Pointer, Auvergnese Pointing Dog, Auvergnian Pointing Dog French Pointer (Auvergne), Bleu d’Auvergne, Bleu de Auvergne
Colors Available:
White, with fine brown or fawn ticking
balck with white markings or mottled
Coat:
fine, short, dense
short
Shedding:
Constant
Moderate, Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Gentle, Intelligent, Quiet
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Outgoing, Social
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

braque du bourbonnais puppy - descriptionThis is an elegant breed with a medium sized, muscular bod and a round head. The nose will be the color of the coat and the muzzle is cone shaped with a wide base. He has large dark or hazel eyes, again depending on the color of the coat. The ears can drop below the throat and the neck is very muscular. He has a deep, wide chest and straight, muscular legs. The coat can come in two colors – liver and fawn – and ticked or spotted. They have a typical short pointer type tail.

braque d auvergne puppy - descriptionThe Braque d’Auvergne is a well built, strong hunting dog with long ears, a large head and a docked tail. His coat is white with black markings and black ears and head. The breed looks a lot like all the other pointing dogs from France. They are medium in stature and has the appearance of a working gundog. He is athletic, muscular and fit. Docking the tail is outlawed in many countries and all of the United Kingdom. In that case the tail is high on the rump and always straight. Their face and head are big for the size of the body and shaped like an oval. With a long muzzle, deep set eyes and a gentle expression, they are kindly and handsome dogs. Their skin is loose but not droopy or wrinkled like hound dogs.

Characteristics

braque du bourbonnais dog - characteristicsThe Braque du Bourbonnais is a gentle, calm dog. He is affectionate and kind when off the job but intelligent, adaptable and serious when hunting. They are intense when learning or hunting and they will learn quickly. They are good with other dogs.

braque d auvergne dog - characteristicsThis is a gentle, adaptable and obedient breed. With their intelligence and affectionate nature, they make great family dogs and are eager to please their people. Living with other dogs is fine but not with small, prey size animals. The Braque d’Auvergne should never be left alone pets like gerbils and hamsters. They must be socialized to cats as pets and not prey before living with them successfully. They need to work closely with one human partner. They are first and foremost a hunting dog and need some sort of hunting simulation. They are devoted to their families and want to be constantly in their presence. This can lead to separation anxiety if they are left alone too much. They are great with children and need a family.

Health Problems

This medium sized pointer can suffer from:

Hip Dysplasia – can be tested

braque du bourbonnais puppies - health problemsEntropion - both of these are issues with eyelashes turning inward or outward and both can

Ectropion - injure the eye

Pulmonic Stenosis of the heart – valve doesn’t open

braque d auvergne puppies - health problemsThe Braque d’Auvergne is a healthy breed but can face some of the same health concerns as other pointers and hunting dogs. The long, droopy ears can get infected easily if wet and need to be cleaned regularly so that food or dirt are not trapped their either. Because of the small gene pool however they may be at risk for several issues. The breeders in France express concerns about possible hip dysplasia and testing is highly recommended. Because they are at risk for other conditions that might not show up until later in life, it is also recommended that they be tested by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) as well as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

Caring The Pet

Feeding

braque du bourbonnais dogs - caringThis breed is prone to weight gain and obesity. Be careful not to overfeed them. Don’t free feed them but give them 2-3 smaller meals per day.

Health issues

Hip Dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis

Entropion - both of these are issues with eyelashes turning inward or outward and both can

Ectropion - injure the eye

Pulmonic Stenosis of the heart- minor will have no symptoms but eventually the heart will not be able to function efficiently and could lead to congestive heart failure.

Exercise and games

The Braque du Bourbonnais needs at least a minimum amount of exercise daily , especially if he is not used for hunting. A fenced backyard for playtime would be perfect but long walks will work. He likes to learn tricks, play ball or hide and seek. Outside activities could include hiking, swimming, agility, retrieving, rally and obedience trials, along with the usual field trials.

Feeding

braque d auvergne dogs - caringThe Braque d’Auvergne needs a high-quality diet fit for a working dog but not too much to make him obese. They are an active breed to choose a formula that is designed for working dogs.

Health issues

Although no studies have been conducted on the Braque d’Auvergne’s health issues there are many conditions that similar breeds are susceptible to and the d’Auvergne might be as well. This includes any of the following:

  • Dysplasia – elbow and hip
  • Cleft Palate or Cleft Lip.
  • Aortic Stenosis (Narrowing of the aorta)
  • Luxating Patella or moving kneecaps
  • PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Cataracts
  • Demodex/Demodicosis/Demodectic Mange

Exercise and games

This is an active, working dog who needs a lot of stimulation and exercise. The only real appropriate exercise for these dogs is hunting or outings in the woods. He not only needs the exercise, but he also needs to stimulate his sense of smell and his gundog intelligence. He might excel in lure chase or even a form or barn hunt. They certainly could excel at obedience trials and perhaps rally. If you are a weekend hunter then this is the ideal dog for you. They are so easy to train that they surpass other pointers for success with casual hunters. They hunt at a slower pace than many other gundogs. Their intelligence and athleticism lend itself well to agility and flyball also. They need a large (+acres)fenced in area to run and play.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. English Springer Spaniel vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  2. English Setter vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  3. French Brittany vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  4. Pudelpointer vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  5. Picardy Spaniel vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  6. Ariege Pointer vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  7. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  8. Irish Water Spaniel vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  9. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  10. Clumber Spaniel vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  11. Stabyhoun vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  12. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  13. Vizsla vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  14. Large Munsterlander vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  15. Tyrolean Hound vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  16. Cockalier vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  17. Braque du Bourbonnais vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  18. Braque du Bourbonnais vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  19. Braque du Bourbonnais vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  20. Braque du Bourbonnais vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  21. Braque du Bourbonnais vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  22. Braque du Bourbonnais vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  23. Braque du Bourbonnais vs Blue Picardy Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  24. Braque du Bourbonnais vs Canadian Pointer - Breed Comparison
  25. Cesky Fousek vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  26. English Springer Spaniel vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  27. Brittany vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  28. English Setter vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  29. French Brittany vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  30. Pudelpointer vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  31. Picardy Spaniel vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  32. Braque d'Auvergne vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  33. Braque d'Auvergne vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  34. Braque d'Auvergne vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  35. Braque d'Auvergne vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  36. Braque d'Auvergne vs Blue Picardy Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  37. Ariege Pointer vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  38. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  39. Irish Water Spaniel vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  40. Canadian Pointer vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  41. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  42. Clumber Spaniel vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  43. Stabyhoun vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  44. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  45. Vizsla vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  46. Large Munsterlander vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  47. Tyrolean Hound vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  48. Cockalier vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  49. Cesky Fousek vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds