Braque Francais (Gascogne)

Despite its imposing size and original hunting purpose, the Braque Francais (Gascogne) is characterized by friendliness and sensuality. It is especially true for family members and the owner: he will be 100% devoted to them. Loves active games. Will gladly prefer to play with a child than lie on the sofa or chew on a toy.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The first information about the Braque Francais (Gascogne) dates back to the 17th century. At that time, the historical region of France Gascony, was the most popular area for hunting. It is not for nothing that the French Gascon Braccoon is called “bird dog”. He excelled at hunting on water and even in a dense swamp.

The breed was first described in 1683. That year’s standard stated that the Braque Francais (Gascogne) is descended from Italian and Spanish lancers. It differs from its closest relative, the Braque Francais (Pyrenees) type, only by its larger and more massive build.

Difficult political conditions at the turn of the century almost led to the complete disappearance of the breed. However, cynologists took matters into their own hands and resumed the breeding of French Gascon Braccoons. Hunters valued the Braque Francais (Gascogne) for their hunting abilities and unprecedented endurance. In 1830 the breed was officially recognized by the International Canine Federation. The breed is not considered the most sought after by hunters and is not as popular among other legal dog breeds.

Appearance

Like its brethren, the Braque Francais (Gascogne) is a powerful, brave, and strong dog. It has a sense of irresistible excitement for the hunt. Its size is larger than that of the French Pyrenean Bracco. It means that the Braque Francais (Gascogne) is a bit of a loose canine. The format of the dog is rectangular. The head is large; the occipital tubercle is weakly expressed.

The muzzle is broad and moderately short. Flat forehead, sparse creases may form. The ears are long and floppy. Eyes slightly slanted, necessarily golden brown with an affectionate look. Deep chest. Strong broad back, ribs weakly expressed. The tail is of medium length. Slender limbs with well-developed musculature. The abdomen tightened. The coat is dense and short. Allowed color: a combination of light color with mottling and brown. Also, Braque Francais (Gascogne) can be found in an entirely brown color.

Character

Despite its imposing size and original hunting purpose, the Braque Francais (Gascogne) is characterized by friendliness and sensuality. It is especially true for family members and the owner: he will be 100% devoted to them. Loves active games. Will gladly prefer to play with a child than lie on the sofa or chew on a toy. Content of the Braque Francais (Gascogne) is not at all incompatible with life in an apartment. The pet needs maximum space for its overall well-being and comfort.

Also, the breed is not suited as a guard for your home. The Braque Francais (Gascogne) is too kind even to strangers. He needs long walks with some exercise. He needs somewhere to put all his energy and excitement.

Care

An obligatory condition for the Braque Francais’ care (Gascogne) is a thorough inspection of the coat. It is done in those cases where the pet acts as a helper in the hunt. There he will actively work in dense grass, woods, water, and bushes. You need to daily inspect and comb out the hair with a special brush with rare teeth. It is done to detect prickles, mites, or other insects immediately.

Frequent water treatments are not necessary. The water-repellent properties of Braque Francais (Gascogne) wool protect it from dirt. Otherwise, it is enough to follow standard hygienic recommendations. Clean the eyes and ears, and check them for inflammation every few days. The pet’s claws tend to shrink on their own. If that is not enough, trim them once a month.

Training

Like any strong-willed hunting dog, the Braque Francais (Gascogne) is prone to being stubborn. Therefore, you should prepare for some “whims” and be a little more persistent. The pet senses your mood and will not follow commands without trusting you. Remember that aggression breeds aggression. In general, the breed is well-trained and receptive. Especially if you use the playful method of training.

Common Diseases

The study of the Braque Francais (Gascogne) by cynologists has yielded no results in determining severe genetic diseases. The health of the breed is vital because they are agile and hardy dogs. However, there is a risk of some diseases:

• cardiac pathology and pulmonary artery stenosis;
• dysplasia of the hip and elbow joints;
• eye infections (everted eyelids).

Nutrition

A dog as vigorous as the Braque Francais (Gascogne) needs a balanced diet. The diet must include a sufficient amount of animal protein, which is necessary to build muscle tissue. During the molting period, do not forget to enrich the pet’s food with vitamins and micronutrients. These will help your dog cope with shedding as well as improve digestion.