Braque D’Auvergne

1. Introduction

A comprehensive guide to Braque d'Auvergne breed: traits and care

Braque d'Auvergne, a rare French breed, stands out with its impressive traits and endurance. This comprehensive guide explores its history, physical attributes, temperament, care, and the peculiarities of cohabitation with other pets, particularly cats.

Braque d'Auvergne is a Franco-Italian dog breed, an ancient breed that enjoyed popularity in the Auvergne Region of France and the northern part of the Italian Apennines. There are some common characteristics with the Braque d'Auvergne. Outside of these regions, the breed's existence is unknown and its numbers are few. The breed was recognized by the French Kennel Club in the late 1800s and it spent a long period without being a well-regarded breed outside of France and Italy. The paternal ancestry of Braque d'Auvergne is not clear, but it is certain that it has pointers ancestry. The breed is best known as a pointer-type dog capable of "finding" game at a distance, holding them still, and signaling with characteristic poses. The predominant traits are: extreme means of velocity, a powerful sense of smell, a keen temperament, keen free-hunting instincts, and above-average adaptability. Unfortunately, due to slow growth, availability, and illness, the breed has few representatives to be maintained. Despite its rarity, this stunning breed of dog, sometimes known as "Black & White Arrowheads," has a lot to offer.

These dogs have an amicable character and are always up to mischief and shenanigans. As a result of their active lifestyle and hardy construction, they are healthy, durable, and resistant to cold. In addition to its main role as a hunting dog, the Braque d'Auvergne can serve as an accompaniment for active people, guard dog for country houses and farms, search and rescue dog, and dog for various dog sports. Despite its hunting origins, the Braque d'Auvergne loves people and bonding with them, which can be used when training him its main hunting tasks. The harmonious proportion of the Braque d'Auvergne must always denote its stable, obedient, and balanced character. Square outline is the breed's characteristic, with a balanced body length and height.

Braque d'Auvergne are medium-sized dogs, usually 57.5–63 cm at the withers for males and 52.5–59 cm for females. They have a short, shining, fine, and breeding-insulated hair coat with a white background and black or black and tan patches. The coat is thicker on top of the head and above the eyes, which protects this sensitive but intelligent and keen part of the dog, devoid of "vneatro." The soft skin on the face allows for wide and deep snout development. Overall, Braque d'Auvergne dogs express gentleness in their appearance, with the vestigial folds on the outside of the ears enhancing their dolichocephalic character. This dog breed is guaranteed to surprise with immaculate beauty and elegance.

2. History of the Braque D’Auvergne Breed

The Braque d'Auvergne breed is a French breed of dog known for its versatility and trotting ability. It is one of several breeds of pointing dogs known as Braques. The word "Braque" means "to break" in French and refers to game management, handling, and retrieval in hunting. The word also means "to lose temperamentally", as in "to go astray" or "to break away" from something. There are several breeds derived from this word in France, including Braque de l'Ariège, Braque du Puy, Braque de Bourbonnais, Braque de l'Allier, Braque Saint-Germain, Braque de l'Aude, Braque de l'Isère, and Braque d'Auvergne. The latter one received its name in 1880 in honor of the Auvergne mountain region.

The origin of this breed is unclear, but it is suggested that it might be a descendant of the German breed of dogs named Bracken ("braque"), known to predate Christianity. Upon the arrival of the Romans in Gaul, the land of the Celts, the dogs migrated with hunters from the Mediterranean regions to the western, northern, and central regions of Europe. Fino-de-Perro, a pointing dog from Portugal resembling the Braque d'Auvergne, was mentioned in the writings of Olympic Games' winners in 480 B.C. The saying "Every nation has a breed of pointers" is described, revealing that Leinster, a province in Ireland, had its pointing dog called poitín. Of the remaining Celtic lands, only Scotland continued hunting in woodlands, thus preserving its pointing dog.

Starting in the 12th century, dogs named Brackes or Bracons occurred frequently in documents in French history, warranting the assumption that similar dogs existed in Gaul praised by the kings of the name. Widely known dogs with sharp noses have often been mentioned in literature. Braque d'Auvergne is also known as a "black-muzzle Braque" and belongs to the family of German Braques or "Heards".

3. Physical Characteristics

The Braque d'Auvergne, a medium-to-large-sized breed with notable physical attributes, exhibits a well-balanced conformation that reflects its active nature and purpose as a hunting companion. Distinctive features include a broad forehead, strong jaws, and a noble expression, complemented by drooping ears and large, dark, rounded eyes. The breed's coat, a crucial aspect of its identity, comprises short, dense, and shiny hair that can be light or dark in color, often adorned with characteristic white patches and colorful spots. This remarkable coat not only contributes to the Braque d'Auvergne's aesthetic appeal but also ensures comfort and protection in various conditions.

Head: The Braque d'Auvergne's head is a prominent feature, being quite broad and strong, and in proportion with the rest of the body. The forehead is wide, with a slight interruption at the top. The sides of the head are not parallel; their lines meet in a rounded curve, and the typical expression shows a closely matrimonial view. The jaws are strong and square, with a good under-shot. The skull is rounded, equal to the head in width. The brow is prominent, ears long, rather heavy, broad at the base and well-tapered, with hair somewhat longer than on the head. The eyes are large, sufficiently dark, rounded, with a lively expression.

Neck and Body: The neck is of medium length. It is finely muscled, in a continuous curve from the occipital bone to the withers. The body is in shape of a powerful triangle, with a long back and good loins. The chest is deep, oval and with well-turned ribs; withered at the front and discreetly tapering at the back. The skin is fast to the underlying muscles and is smooth without folds or wrinkles; the belly is well tucked up. The tail is short, finer than the bristle of hair, authorizing the head of some of the ends to give a rounder aspect; however, the hair is short on the top part and with a slightly longer bristle under; the latter appearing in fringes, forming a small tassel at the end. As being used for hunting, the Braque d'Auvergne has a pronounced stop.

Limbs: The limbs are very muscular with a correct angle. The front limbs are straight when viewed either from the front or the side, being strong; the feet are rounder than the hind feet. The back limbs are very powerful and ample; the elbows tight up to the body, turning neither in nor out; the hocks low, without signs of dew claws; the feet are supplied with large pads being well-cushioned, furnished with very hard soles and with rounded claws. The paws are oval, with toes that are close together and concave, moderately developed thumbs. These allow dexterity in playing and handling objects.

Coat and Color: The coat is of medium length, dense, with shiny hair. The undercoat is very warm and allows the Braque d'Auvergne to stand at not less than -25 dry temperature; this naturally covers part of the limbs and the inside of the ears. It is straight in general. The color is light or dark, being currently grey with silver spots of granite coloring; speckled, or patchy with varnished vanilla colors - pure grey on one side; pure black on the other; light colored on the belly; grey with darker spots in the top: all of which colors must have patches of white.

3.1. Coat and Color

The Braque d'Auvergne is one of the lesser-known French breeds that went beyond the borders of France in the twentieth century. The Braque d'Auvergne is one of the French breeds that should easily be in the group of top picks for your canine companion. The exciting combinations of winning traits are generously spread throughout this breed. The sufficient size for picking entry from vehicles, the right amount of robust build for construction, the correct dispositions towards agility, intelligence, and helpfulness in common tasks are just a few of the characteristics of the Braque d'Auvergne that make this breed stand out.

A breed for all purposes, the Braque d'Auvergne accepts quarters in any terrain and seeks out all the right prey as its quarry. The poise, focus, and curiosity with which the Braque d'Auvergne undertakes its missions in the field are a delight to observe and exhilarating to be part of, like the chaotic dance of a flock of birds. A lot of this elegance and trustfulness comes down to the coveted inheritance of the excellent hunting capabilities from the Braque family. Although most admirable in hunting, this elegance would also make moving and exercising with them in the open fields an extraordinary experience. In their personal life, these warm-hearted and companionable friends generously bring joy and affection to their family members.

The coat is very short, close, and silky. The color is speckled black and white: ground white with black spots and with medium size patches which may have a dented character, blotchy black, chestnut brown and white: ground white with chestnut spots and specks with small size patches. Muzzle, forehead, the patch above an eye and all the ears are brown. Marks may be brown, black, or pale brown in color. The coat is very smooth, coarse, brill, black spotted and not visible tan chapped. The Braque d'Auvergne emerged around 1600 in the Auvergne region of central France and is the only breed of pointing dog to have originated in this region. The Braque d'Auvergne shares resemblance with the longer-nosed Braque Francais, which may have similar ancestry. There are few documented details regarding the breed's origins. Braque d'Auvergne was first mentioned in a 17th-century book, "Le Chasse et la Chasse" by Gaston IV de Foix-Béarn. Their popularity surged in the mid-1960s, reaching the peaks of success and high standards during the periods from 1980 to 1990.

3.2. Size and Build

The Braque d'Auvergne breed is a well-proportioned dog renowned for its elegant shape and build. Males stand 58-64 cm, while females stand 54-60 cm, with an ideal height of 60 cm for males and 56 cm for females. The breed's forequarters are slightly longer than the hindquarters, leading into straight forearms with slight angles at the shoulder and elbows. The breed's chest is deep and broad, and its ribs are well-coupled, contributing to a strong, muscular body.

The Braque d'Auvergne's hindquarters are well-balanced, with strong, straight thighs that incline towards the hocks. The breed's bones are robust, and its paws are round with hard pads and well-arched toes. The dog has a long, muscular neck that holds a strong, straight head, supported by a set of high, drooping ears. The Braque d'Auvergne has a strong, slim back that leads to a smooth, strong, muscular loins and a low set tail. The breed's hair is short, flat, soft, and smooth, with the back and head covered with slate mottled spots scattering through darker shades.

This dog breed is known for its gentle approach, making it an ideal companion for children. The Braque d'Auvergne is an energetic, adaptable dog breed that can keep up with the owner on long mountain treks or rigorous training. Braque d'Auvergne dogs are also happy to relax at home with the family. The breed has a fun-loving personality and enjoys playing and being around people. Despite being an active breed, the Braque d'Auvergne will happily curl up closely and snooze with the owner and family.

The Braque d'Auvergne dog breed may not be widely recognized but comes with amazing qualities, including being affectionate, loyal, gentle, intelligent, and friendly. The breed does not possess a strong odor and is clean and easy to keep. The Braque d'Auvergne dogs shed moderately and are easy to groom. Regular brushing and occasional baths, depending on the activity level, will keep the coat in great condition. This breed is currently categorized as 'Vulnerable Native Breed' by the UK Kennel Club.

4. Temperament and Behavior

The Braque d'Auvergne temperament is essentially what defines the breed. As also referred to in this section, it is sociable, vigilant, courageous, calm, and amiable. It is important for any owner of this Braque, regular and future, to understand these characteristics.

Being a Braque, it is a pointing breed. This means that the Braque d'Auvergne will point at a location through a priori behavior in the hunting field. This pointing behavior can be taught from young ages, but most Braques take a natural pointing by themselves.

Being sociable means that the dog is ready to be social with others. Sociability, on average, offsets a couple of behavioral traits, such as aggression and vigilance. Social dogs will, on average, be given more confidence when assessed through these behavioral traits. Moreover, their sociability urges them to be more open-minded.

The Braque d'Auvergne is a vigilant dog, meaning that it will have a certain level of guarding behavior. This vigilance is higher than in the average companion breed (see Introduction), falling on the borders of a hunting dog. This means it will be wary about the presence of other people in their field (outside of their owner's group). However, vigilance is accompanied by a healthy proportion of sociability, making the Braque d'Auvergne less prone to attack strangers carelessly than more widely vigilant dogs.

The Braque d'Auvergne is courageous, meaning that it will roughly have an average response to adversity. In the presence of adversity or harmful situations, this dog will not act more aggressively than other dogs, but also not hold back if it encounters it.

Courageous dogs are also more confident, making them less hesitant in their behavior and responses. However, because of this confidence, the Braque will react more strongly to harmful situations when it feels that way. Another part of the behavior that can be tunably bred.

5. Training and Exercise

Training and exercise for the Braque d'Auvergne breed must begin at an early age and continue steadily into adult life. They are highly intelligent dogs that are generally easy to train and enjoy it, provided it is done in a gentle and positive way. They must not be trained in a harsh, dictatorial manner as they are sensitive and will sulk and refuse to obey commands.

Exercise must be plentiful, at least 1½ hours per day, consisting of off-lead runs, a good deal of freedom, and variety. Suitable exercise includes walking, running, and swimming, but should be balanced, as periods of too much activity could cause dysplasia, hip problems, and other serious medical conditions. Puppy exercise must be limited to prevent injuries to their developing joints, and pathways should not be too slippery. They make wonderful companions for active families.

6. Health and Grooming

Engaging in a proactive approach toward safeguarding your Braque d'Auvergne's well-being is a commendable pursuit that ensures a long and healthy life for this adored companion. The Braque d'Auvergne breed falls under the category of generally healthy breeds, with only a few conditions that potential owners should be informed of. Being aware of these concerns and having a healthy dose of prevention and care plays a major role in addressing or even avoiding many health issues associated with this breed.

A fundamental aspect of caring for a Braque d'Auvergne is its moderate grooming needs. This breed possesses a short and smooth coat that requires minimal upkeep, making it a practical choice for those who might find extensive grooming tasks daunting. The recommended grooming routine for Braque d'Auvergne is a weekly brushing session, which promotes new hair growth, maintains coat health, and serves as an excellent bonding experience between owner and dog. Apparently, a grooming glove paired with a soft bristle brush may be the best combination for Braque d'Auvergne. Both tools make the grooming experience pleasant for the dog while enhancing stimulation and blood circulation. Importantly, this breed is considered an average shedder, ensuring that the amount of shedding hair on furniture and the floor remains manageable.

In addition to regular brushing, Braque d'Auvergne dogs require the same standard care as most dogs. Their nails should be trimmed every month or as needed if they do not wear down naturally through outdoor activities. Ear cleaning is also necessary on a monthly basis to prevent infections due to wax buildup. Teeth should be brushed regularly or given dental chews to ensure health and freshness. Furthermore, this energetic dog benefits from extended outdoor play, walks, and potentially swimming in nearby bodies of water, as well as sufficient time spent in a fenced yard. Ultimately, ensuring proper care for this breed plays a major role in a healthy lifestyle and allows for a longer life expectancy for the well-loved companion.