Breed Summary
Braque Francais (Gascogne and Pyrenees Type)
Breed Summary
Origins
The Braque Francais breed is a pointing dog of antiquity, believed to be descended from the Chien D’ Oysel and the predecessor of many of the modern-day pointing dogs. These pointing dogs and their ancestors have been used throughout France since the 14th century.
Known as the Braque Francais breeds, they eventually fell out of favor with hunters in exchange for the faster, lighter, and racier English dogs that were crossed with Greyhounds. However, some enthusiasts of the Braque Francais breeds preferred the larger native dogs to the racier imports, and they kept them for generations throughout the centuries in various regions throughout France. Over time, each region developed its own type or variety of Braque Francais.
The Gascogne region kept in tradition with the large and heavier French hunting hounds. These dogs were also split into the Auvergne region, where the Braque d’Auvergne was developed from the Braque Francais Gascony type. These Auvergne dogs, like the Gascogne dogs, are large, robust hunting dogs. In the Bourbon province of central France, the Braque du Bourbonnais was developed. In the Pyrenees region, a smaller, lighter dog with more stamina was favored. From these dogs, further crosses were made to produce more regional dogs, such as the Braque de l'Ariège, when the local French hounds were crossed with ancestors of the Bracco Italiano and Perdiguero de Burgos in the Ariegeois region. The Braque Saint-Germain was the result of the Braque Francais ancestors crossed to the English Pointers of the time in the Paris/Saint-Germain area of France.Breed Characteristics
Mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body. It is neither heavy nor light in substance or size. The topskull is moderately broad and almost flat to just very slightly arched. The occiput is only slightly pronounced. A faint median furrow starts at the stop and disappears toward the occiput. The brows are well-developed. Although the head is lean, it is powerfully equipped with strong, smooth, well-developed, yet never overly prominent muscle. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles.
Pyrenees:
Mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size, wedge-shaped, and in proportion to the rest of the body. It is neither heavy nor light in substance or size. The topskull is moderately broad and slightly arched on the side and top. The occiput is only slightly pronounced. A faint median furrow starts at the stop and disappears toward the occiput. The brows are well developed. Although the head is lean, it is powerfully equipped with strong, smooth, well-developed, yet never overly prominent muscle. The head is clean-cut without excess skin or wrinkles.
Medium in length and rounded at the tip. They are set high on the skull, at the level of the eye. They hang flat and close to the head and face. When held forward, the tips should extend approximately to the edge of the nose leather. The ears are never long, overly large, or "fly-away."
Pyrenees Type
Medium in length and rounded at the tip. They are set high on the skull, slightly above the level of the eye. They hang flat and close to the head and face. When held forward, the tips should extend approximately two centimeters from the nose leather. The ears are never long, overly large, or "fly-away."
The nose is well pigmented and liver in color. The nose is broad, and the nostrils are well-opened.
Pyrenees Type
The nose is well pigmented and liver to chestnut in color. The nose is broad, and the nostrils are well-opened.
Set neither high nor low on the croup but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. Carried horizontally when working, but also kept in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, never tucked or carried high above the topline. The tail may be left naturally long or naturally bobbed short. Bobbed tails can be almost any length shorter than that of a natural tail. Natural tails are of a moderately long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, sabered, or gently curved.
Pyrenees Type:
Set neither high nor low on the croup but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. Carried horizontally when working, but also kept in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, never tucked or carried high above the topline. The tail may be docked short (least desirable), left naturally long, or naturally bobbed short. Docked tails are cut to allow four remaining tail vertebrae. Bobbed tails can be almost any length shorter than that of a natural tail. Natural tails are of a moderately long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, sabered, or gently curved.
Breed Standard
BREED GROUP 11: Gun Dog Breeds
Somewhat off-square to slightly rectangular, with the length of the body measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump, just slightly greater than the height at the withers. The ideal body-height-to-length ratio is between 10:9 and 5:4. Females may be slightly longer. Overall, the Braque Francais Gascogne type should appear powerful yet capable of great endurance, never heavy or cloddy. They are hearty with strong bones throughout. Males should appear masculine, being more substantial in size and mass, while females should appear more feminine and slightly less substantial. Neither should lack overall type.
HEIGHT: Males: 23-27 inches; Females: 22-27 inches.
WEIGHT: Males: 63-70 pounds; Females: 53-65 pounds. The weight of males or females is always in proportion to height.
Pyrenees:
Somewhat off-square with the length of the body, measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump, being equal to or just slightly greater than the height at the withers. The ideal body-height-to-length ratio is between 1:1 and 10:9. Females may be slightly longer. The body is well put together, with sturdy substance, and somewhat fine to medium bone, appearing lighter and smaller than the Gascogne type. They are capable of speed, agility, and endurance. Males should appear masculine, being more substantial in size and mass, while females should appear more feminine and slightly less substantial. Neither should lack overall type.
HEIGHT: Males: 18-23 inches; Females: 18-22 inches.
WEIGHT: Males: 38-55 pounds; Females: 38-55. The weight of a male or female is always in proportion to height.
Head
Mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body. It is neither heavy nor light in substance or size. The topskull is moderately broad and almost flat to just very slightly arched. The occiput is only slightly pronounced. A faint median furrow starts at the stop and disappears toward the occiput. The brows are well-developed. Although the head is lean, it is powerfully equipped with strong, smooth, well-developed, yet never overly prominent muscle. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles.
Pyrenees:
Mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size, wedge-shaped, and in proportion to the rest of the body. It is neither heavy nor light in substance or size. The topskull is moderately broad and slightly arched on the side and top. The occiput is only slightly pronounced. A faint median furrow starts at the stop and disappears toward the occiput. The brows are well developed. Although the head is lean, it is powerfully equipped with strong, smooth, well-developed, yet never overly prominent muscle. The head is clean-cut without excess skin or wrinkles.
The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is parallel.
The lips fit rather well over the teeth and jaws. They just cover the lower jaw, giving the muzzle a deep, full, and convex appearance. They should never appear overly pendulous or tight.
Pyrenees Type
The lips are clean and fit well over the teeth and jaws, just covering the lower jaw, giving the muzzle its deep and full appearance. The lips are never pendulous, yet never to so tightly fit that the muzzle appears tapered.
The nose is well pigmented and liver in color. The nose is broad, and the nostrils are well-opened.
Pyrenees Type
The nose is well pigmented and liver to chestnut in color. The nose is broad, and the nostrils are well-opened.
Medium in length and rounded at the tip. They are set high on the skull, at the level of the eye. They hang flat and close to the head and face. When held forward, the tips should extend approximately to the edge of the nose leather. The ears are never long, overly large, or "fly-away."
Pyrenees Type
Medium in length and rounded at the tip. They are set high on the skull, slightly above the level of the eye. They hang flat and close to the head and face. When held forward, the tips should extend approximately two centimeters from the nose leather. The ears are never long, overly large, or "fly-away."
Body and Tail
Set neither high nor low on the croup but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. Carried horizontally when working, but also kept in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, never tucked or carried high above the topline. The tail may be left naturally long or naturally bobbed short. Bobbed tails can be almost any length shorter than that of a natural tail. Natural tails are of a moderately long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, sabered, or gently curved.
Pyrenees Type:
Set neither high nor low on the croup but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. Carried horizontally when working, but also kept in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, never tucked or carried high above the topline. The tail may be docked short (least desirable), left naturally long, or naturally bobbed short. Docked tails are cut to allow four remaining tail vertebrae. Bobbed tails can be almost any length shorter than that of a natural tail. Natural tails are of a moderately long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, sabered, or gently curved.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another.
Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
