Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison

Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Braque Francais - Breed ComparisonBoth Grand Gascon Saintongeois and Braque Francais are originated from France. Both Grand Gascon Saintongeois and Braque Francais are having almost same height. Grand Gascon Saintongeois may weigh 20 kg / 44 pounds lesser than Braque Francais. Both Grand Gascon Saintongeois and Braque Francais has almost same life span. Grand Gascon Saintongeois may have less litter size than Braque Francais. Both Grand Gascon Saintongeois and Braque Francais requires Low maintenance.

History

grand gascon saintongeois - historyKnown also as the Virelade, the Grand Gascon Saintongeois hails from the Saintongeois region of France, being a newish addition to the hunting dog breed.

The Saintongeois hound and the Grand Blue de Gascogne are the ancestors of this scentdog as these two breeds themselves, are exceptional hunters. The Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a large dog and favored by the French nobility for its ability to hunt.

After the French Revolution the popularity of the breed waned. It was Baron Joseph de Carayon-LaTour who tried to revive the Saintongeois Hound. The dogs were mated with the Grand Bleu de Gascogne and were so outstanding that breeding was continued. The breed that was created is the Grand Gascon Saintongeois which we know today.

It was in January 1993 that the Grand Gascon Saintongeois was officially recognized by the United Kennel Club.

braque francais - historyBraque Francais was at first one general breed of hounds in the Gascognes and Pyrenees Mountains areas of France. The one breed became two. Known as the Braque Francais Gascognes and the Braque Francais Pyrenees - two separate breeds of very alike dogs. The Gascognes is a lot less common than his smaller brother. Not very much is known about the beginnings of these two strains of Braque Francais as the breed has been around since at least the 15th century. Because the Braque Francais was exported or taken to so many different countries in the 15th-18th centuries, a lot of the origins of the breeds were lost. A major bloodline search was The conducted in the 19th century and found that these were two very distinct breeds of dog.

It is known that France was the birthplace of this breed and it was developed because of a need for a tracker that could point, flush and retrieve. The Braque Francais Gascogne probably came from the south of France. It is related to the German Shorthair Pointer and the English Pointer as well. Having existed since the 15th century, he was the father of all pointing dogs in France. By the 17th century the breed had grown enough to be called the “old style Braque Francais”,

Though the origin of the breed is not known there are of course several theories about it. The most prevalent belief is that the Braque Francais Gascogne is a descendent of the Chien d’Oysel, a spaniel breed of medium size and white or brown with brown markings. The Chien d’Oysel is an ancient breed used for hunting prior to the 13th century. Hunters crossed the Chien with local dogs on a routine basis.

Braque Francais came out of these breedings. It was probably French Scent hounds that created the larger size of the Gascogne. This also increased the stamina and strength of the Gascogne as opposed to the Pyrenees. There was also a mixing in of the Grand Bleu De Gasgogne and the Petit Bleu De Gasgogne.

The other prominent theory is that this breed the Gasgogne was actually developed from the Portugese, Spanish and Italian pointers rather than the French dogs. These dogs originated not with the Chien d’Oysel but with the scent hounds. From these dogs came the Spanish and English Pointers. All that is truly known is that all of these types of dogs were present in Europe by the fifteenth century and were moved among countries and cross bred regularly. However in the part of France called the Central Pyrenees region and in a small southern part of France the original, old style Braque Francais was pure bred. This aspect of the breed contributed to the development of all of the French pointers and European shorthaired dogs. By the end of the 1800’s today’s breed was developed.

In 1850 the first Braque Francais breed club was established and in the breed standards for both dogs followed in 1880. They were then registered in the French Kennel Club and the International Kennel Club (FCI). The French Kennel Club does not allow dogs with any common ancestors in Generations 1-3 into the Club in order to keep out the practice of inbreeding. In Canada only the Gascogne is recognized and the United States’ United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes both. The American Kennel Club (AKC) does not recognize either.

With most local regions and countries choosing their local dogs over other breeds, the Braque Francais Gascogne has become fairly rare outside of France where the breed was the most popular gun dog throughout the 1700’s. The Gascogne was mostly a dog of the hunting nobility because of its size and food needs. Following the French Revolution, the breed fell off dramatically, while the smaller Pyrenees continued to thrive. This was because in the Pyrenees Mountains and the Southwestern region of Gascony, the English Pointer never supplanted the Braque Francais.

The Second World War was brutal to the Braque Francais Gascognes and as it recovered it became much less common than its sister breed. Today it is found almost exclusively in France.

Description

grand gascon saintongeois puppy - descriptionThe Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a large, well built breed of dog that looks strong and robust. His head is strong and covered with loose skin that forms wrinkles around the cheeks. He stands at 61-73cm and weighs 30 to 35kg.

He has straight, long legs. He has a short, smooth coat which is white with black patches. Sometimes you'll also find a speckled or ticked pattern. There'll be tan dots over the eyes.

The eyes are brown, the nose black and the long, thin textured ears are low on the dogs head and also well back on the skull. The tail is long.

Temperament:

He is known for his deep voice to voice an opinion. He is a loving, friendly, courageous and affectionate breed with a well balanced temperament, making him a splendid pet. He is also intelligent and so he won't battle at all to learn some rules. Training and socialization will be good for him even though he is such an amicable dog already, but then he just becomes extra obedient.

braque francais puppy - descriptionThe Braque Francais Gascogne is a larger dog than the Pyrenees breed and is a very handsome dog. Both have a deep chest, a solid bodies, strong and slender legs and are well-proportioned. They have padded, round paws and a large brown head with floppy ears. The muzzle is a pointed block and he has a scissors bite, with a black nose and dark or amber eyes. The eyes are very expressive and round. The tail can be straight and long, or it can be docked. They are tall and athletic.

Characteristics

grand gascon saintongeois dog - characteristicsYour Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a true hunting dog breed and valued for his hunting prowess. He has another side to him though and is gentle, loving and calm with his human family.

He makes a wonderful family companion, getting on well with children as well as pets in the home. He may show a bit of aggression to strangers and this is why training and socialization works so well with him as it helps him behave well around family and strangers.

Training is never a problem as he is an intelligent dog. He is an energetic dog and won't fit well into city life in tiny properties, also because of his tendency to bark when bored. He fits well into country life or large properties.

When you provide your large pet with good food, a warm place to sleep, exercise and plenty of love and attention, the Grand Gascon Saintongeois is going to turn out to be one of the most loyal, affectionate pets you can imagine.

braque francais dog - characteristicsThis is a working breed, but they are nevertheless friendly and loyal to their families. They want to please their people and are usually docile. They love kids and are good as a first ever dog. They are friendly and even-tempered. They tolerate people they do not know but can be shy and are not guard dogs. instead they are loving, affectionate and people oriented. They need to be with their families and never left outside alone. They can develop separation anxiety.

Health Problems

grand gascon saintongeois puppies - health problemsYour Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a robust dog, who with good care can reach up to 14 years of age. You're not going to be running to the vet often with this strong looking dog, but even so, there are one to two problems that you'll want to look out for.

Ear Infections:

Long-eared dogs are more susceptible to canine ear infections. The symptoms of the infection will be dependent on how severe it is. Certainly your dog may experience pain and you'll see him shaking his head and pawing at his ear. If both ears are affected by inflammation, he may even walk in a wobbly fashion and the infection could lead to deafness. It is imperative that he get to the vet as soon as possible.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is where the ball and socket joint of the hip is malformed. It results in a joint rubbing and grinding. It can lead to loss of function of the hip joints. It is a common skeletal disease in young or old dogs, small or large dogs and in both males and females.

Large dogs are more commonly affected though with hip dysplasia which can see arthritis developing too. Your dog will display decreased activity and difficulty with standing up after lying down. Veterinary intervention will be required.

braque francais puppies - health problemsThe Braque Francais is a fairly healthy breed. They are susceptible to certain health conditions that most dogs of their size and working history are susceptible to. These include Patellar luxation which seems to be one of the most common problems for them. They also can have hip and/or elbow dysplasia, aortic stenosis which is a narrowing of the aorta, and some eye issues such as ectropion, entropion, and PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy as well as cataracts.

Caring The Pet

grand gascon saintongeois dogs - caringThese large dogs with their short smooth coats have very little grooming needs. Regular brushing twice a week will remove dead hair and also ensure the good condition of the coat.

He has long ears and these will need to be checked regularly to avoid ear infections. It will be a good idea to learn how to clean the ears and to do it in such a way as to avoid damaging them. Signs of ear infection include redness, discharge, irritation and bad odor.

Diet:

Following the feeding instructions on the packaging of top quality kibble, provide your Grand Gascon Saintongeois with at least 2 meals a day. To steer away from the monotony of kibble every day, mix in some raw meat from time to time, and also include some cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables as a tasty treat. Fresh, cool water should always be easily accessible to him.

Feeding

braque francais dogs - caringThis is a high energy, working dog with a need for a high-quality energy food or raw food that you make up yourself. Be sure to include chicken, beef and fish. Feed him about 3 cups once a day or 1.5 cups twice a day.

Health issues

In addition to the conditions listed above, his long floppy ears can lead to ear infections if not cared for. Wash them out daily. He is also susceptible to bloat so don’t feed him large meals and don’t let him exercise or work right before or right after exercise.

Exercise and games

These dogs have a variety of hunting skills. They are not only pointers but can flush, trail and retrieve. The Gascogne is not as quick as the Pyrenees. They need a lot of exercise daily or they need a hunting job. They would do well with barn hunt, lure coursing and free play in an off leash fenced in area. If they don’t get rid of their energy, they can be destructive. They were bred to hunt and cannot resist the chase,

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
France
France
Height Male:
61 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
47 - 69 cm
18 - 28 inches
Height Female:
61 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
45 - 65 cm
17 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
30 - 35 kg
66 - 78 pounds
20 - 55 kg
44 - 122 pounds
Weight Female:
30 - 35 kg
66 - 78 pounds
19 - 52 kg
41 - 115 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
3 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Virelade
French Pointing Dog -; Braque Francais, de Grande Taille
Colors Available:
White with black patches
brown, Chestnut brown, either solid or mixed with white. With or without ticking or roaning or tan marking
Coat:
Short and smooth
thick
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Sweet
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Irish Setter vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  2. Portuguese Pointer vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  3. Perdiguero de Burgos vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  4. Irish Red and White Setter vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  5. Pachon Navarro vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  6. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  7. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  8. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  9. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  10. Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  11. Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  12. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  13. Spanish Pointer vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  14. Spinone Italiano vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  15. Talbot vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  16. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  17. Weimaraner vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  18. Longhaired Weimaraner vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  19. Samoyed vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  20. Labradoodle vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  21. Mixed vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  22. Great Pyrenees vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  23. Old English Sheepdog vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  24. Presa Canario vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  25. Labrador Husky vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  26. East Siberian Laika vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  27. French Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  28. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  29. Finnish Spitz vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  30. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  31. English Water Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  32. Field Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  33. Curly Coated Retriever vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  34. Lagotto Romagnolo vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  35. Braque Francais vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  36. Braque Francais vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  37. Braque Francais vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  38. Braque Francais vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  39. Braque Francais vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  40. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  41. Shikoku vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  42. Slovakian Hound vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  43. Small Munsterlander vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  44. Sussex Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  45. Kooikerhondje vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  46. Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  47. West Siberian Laika vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  48. Wetterhoun vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  49. Braque Saint-Germain vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  50. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds