Braque Francais

The Braque Francais is a breed of hunting dog, originated from an ancient breed of gun dog. These dogs were traditionally used by hunters to locate game birds. There are two distinct types of Braque Francaises. Both originated in the southern part of France. One is the Gascogne type and the other is the Pyrenees type. Both these dogs are pointers. These dogs are very popular dogs even today in France but are not commonly found elsewhere in the world.

Both types of the Braque Francais are medium or large size dogs. They have drop ears and long, slender legs. These dogs have short coats that range from white with brown speckles to chestnut brown in color. These dogs often have coats with multiple large brown spots on them. The tail is usually docked in this breed of dogs. However, it may also be left to grow long or might be naturally short. These dogs almost always have brown heads. The Pyrenean type is typically smaller than the Gascogne. A Gascogne type can be up to 10 cm longer than a Pyrenean.

Pyrenean dogs are typically 47-58 cm long and Gascogne dogs are about 58-69 cm long. Gascogne type dogs have thicker coats while the Pyrenean type is more mottled with more brown spots all over the body. The head is also somewhat broader in the Pyrenean type and the ears are shorter than the Gascogne. In the Gascogne, the ears will typically reach the tip of the nose if pulled forward. Also, the Gascogne type exhibits a broader, squarer muzzle due to their pendulous lips. The Pyrenean type has a narrower muzzle.

There are some prescribed elements of a Braque Francais’ appearance which could make it unfit for breeding, especially for show purposes. These include the lack of a tail, a split nose or a nose that is de-pigmented, or a condition called syndactyly in which the toes are stuck together, or excess number of toes, or the absence of toes altogether.

In hunting, the Braque Francais is used not only as pointers but also to retrieve and/or flush prey. These dogs also have the ability to trail prey irrespective of the terrain. However, of the two varieties, Pyrenean dogs are much faster without needing to sprint. Gascognes are much slower in their movements.

The existence of the Braque Francais can be traced all the way back to the 15th century. Over centuries, these dogs have been cross bred with many other breeds in different countries. At the end of the 19th century, efforts were made to locate the original breed and that led to the discovery of the two regional types. These dogs might be the descendants of Spanish Pointers (also known as Paccho Navaro) and Southern Hounds, a breed that is now extinct. The first club for the Braque Francais was formed in 1850 and breed standards were formalized in 1880. It is common for these dogs to be advertised as a rare breed.