Braque du Bourbonnais Dogs

Breed: Gun Dog, Sporting

Height: Dog: 20-22.5 inches, Bitch: 18.5-22 inches

Weight: Dog: 39.5-55 pounds, Bitch: 35-48.5 pounds

Coat Type: Short, fine and dense  

 

The Braque du Bourbonnais is a French dog with a rustic appearance. Generally, the dog is mostly tailless. However, you can spot a few sporting a short tail. The word Braque is a French word which means “to point” or “to aim” or “pointer”. Also known as Bourbonnais Pointer, Bourbonnais Pointing dog, French Pointing dog and French Pointer, this breed is a versatile gun dog and is considered an ideal partner for every hunter. It is a strong and powerful dog that methodically hunts any type of terrain. The dog soars over tall grasses and has a natural gallop that is a wonder to watch. Considered as one of the most ancient breeds of pointer dogs that has been in existence in France, this dog is a complete breed with hunting and home companionship characteristics. Read on further to know more about the Braque du Bourbonnais dog breed.

 

The Braque du Bourbonnais dog has been known to exist in France since 1500s. The breed was developed in the Province of Bourbonnais, a region in central France, thereby acquiring the name Braque du Bourbonnais. The dog has originated from the ancient breed of Spanish Pointers. Since the dog was strong and hardy, it was described as an enthusiastic hunter and was used for hunting games. The first Braque du Bourbonnais club was formed in 1925, by a group of dedicated breeders. The breed was first standardized in 1930. However, World War II saw a major decline in the number of Braque du Bourbonnais dogs. Eventually, information about the dogs was gathered by Michael Comte, his brother Gabriel Comte and veterinary surgeon, Doctor Monavon, to help the breed survive. In 1973, the first Braque du Bourbonnais was registered with the French studbook. Braque du Bourbonnais Club was recreated in 1981. Year 1988 marked the introduction of the breed to the American soil.

 

Braque du Bourbonnais is an elegant, medium-sized muscular dog. With strong and prominent withers, the dog has a slightly convex loin and a long, broad chest. It has a pear shaped head with a prominently marked stop. The nose is big in size, with well-opened nostrils and is of the same color as the coat. The big eyes have an intelligent and soft expression with a dark amber or hazel color. Set slightly above the level of eyes, the ears fall curled along the cheeks. The dog normally has a short tail measuring about 15 cm, but most of the breeds are born tailless. Coming to the coat, the canine sports a fine short-haired coat that is a little rough to touch. This breed can be found in two coat color types. While the first is chestnut brown coat with white patches which is moderately or heavily ticked showing a faded lilac or wine dregs effect, the other coat is fawn in color with white patching showing a peach blossom effect. The hair of the fawn-colored coat is moderately or heavily ticked.

 

Calm and affectionate, the Braque du Bourbonnais makes a loyal family companion. One can see the dog to be full of passion, cautious, balanced, co-operative and intelligent while hunting. It holds its head high testing the air for scents. It loves to play with children and thus, making a good family companion. The dog is easy to train. While some of these breeds can be nervous and shy with other dogs, others tend to be aggressive. However, a Braque du Bourbonnais is capable of tolerating other dogs and pets. The dog is not suited for an apartment life, due to its hunting nature. It does well with a family having an active lifestyle. The dog needs to be exercised daily and makes the best accompaniment to its master on jogging.

 

Braque du Bourbonnais dog is a healthy breed. However, a couple of health concerns such as hip dysplasia, entropion or ectropion eyes and pulmonic stenosis of the heart, have been noted in some dogs.

 

The short coat of Braque du Bourbonnais dog is easy to maintain and does not need an elaborate grooming routine. Since the dog has a “wash and wear” coat, brushing it occasionally is sufficient to distribute the natural oils of the coat and maintain its good condition. It should be bathed only when necessary. Since it is a hunting dog, the ears need to be cleaned and nails clipped on a regular basis.