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Breed Characteristics
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Braque du Bourbonnais
| Other Names | Bourbonnais Pointer, Pointer of Bourbonnais, French Pointer, Braque de Bourbonnais, Bourbonnais Pointing Dog, French Pointing Dog |
| Country of Origin | France |
| Weight | Males: 39.5 - 55 lbs. (18 - 25 kg) Females: 35 - 48.5 lbs. (16 - 22 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 20 - 22.5 in. (51 - 57 cm) Females: 18.5 - 22 in. (47 - 56 cm) |
| Coat | The coat of the Braque du Bourbonnais is short, fine, and very thick. The hair on the back is usually somewhat courser and longer than what is found on the rest of the body. The hair on the head, face, and ears must be shorter and finer than the rest of the coat, and the same is true to a lesser extent of the hair on the fronts of all four legs. |
| Colour | The primary colour of the Braque du Bourbonnais should always be white. This white is ideally accompanied exclusively light brown of fawn ticking. Ticking is a term used to describe dogs with a large number of very small and light spots that make it look as though the dog is covered in ticks. Standards have been recently changed to allow solid patches of colour, although it is desirable for them to be as small in size and few in number as possible. These markings are most common on the head, and a large percentage of these dogs have solidly marked ears. |
| Litter Size | 4-8 Puppies |
| Life Span | 12 -15 years |
| Origin & History | The Braque du Bourbonnais is one of the oldest of all pointing breeds. This dog was developed no later than 1598, when descriptions of the breed begin to appear in French hunting and cultural writings. The earliest Braque du Bourbonnaises were already described as excellent hunting dogs and agreeable companions. All agree that the breed was developed in Bourbonnais, a historic province located in central France that achieved great importance due to its location almost directly between Paris and Marseille. Because the Braque du Bourbonnais was developed long before written records were kept of dog breeding, it is impossible to make any definitive statements about its ancestry. It is almost universally agreed that the Braque du Bourbonnais was developed by crossing the Braque Francais (Gascogne) or Large French Pointer with local hunting breeds from Bourbonnais. The origin of the Braque Francais(Gascogne) itself is somewhat disputed, with some claiming it was developed by crossing the Spaniel-like Chien d’Oysel with larger scenthounds and others claiming it was developed from Spanish and Italian pointers. Either way, the French Pointer was well-established throughout France by the end of the 15th Century. Many different regions developed unique local breeds from the Braque Francais (Gascogne), including Bourbonnais. Although the Braque du Bourbonnais was one of the oldest breeds of French Pointing dog, it was apparently never especially common. The breed was well-known to sportsmen across France by the end of the 17th Century, but relatively few kept and owned the breed. This was probably due to the rigid breeding standards placed upon the dog even from its earliest days as a breed. Braque du Bourbonnaises were required to be born either tailless or with a short natural tail. Additionally, breeders put extreme focus on colouration; wanting to highlight a colouration unique to the breed, known as faded lilac. Faded lilac is defined as a white coat covered in fine lines, lightly coloured ticking, or light tan. Dogs that did not exhibit the desired tail or colouration were not considered pure or used for breeding. However in spite of these stringent breeding practices and the relatively few individuals that kept the Braque du Bourbonnais, the breed managed to survive in substantial, if not large, numbers until the 20th Century. Breed numbers, however, did start to decline during the 19th Century as French hunters came to prefer the English Pointer, a strictly pointing dog, over native French breeds. Although this served to reduce Braque du Bourbonnais numbers, it was not to the extent suffered by some other breeds such as the Braque Francais (Gascogne). World War I proved very challenging to the Braque du Bourbonnais, and breeding almost ceased. In the postwar years, Braque du Bourbonnais breeders banded together to save their beloved hunting companion. The first breed club was founded in 1925, and the first standard was published in 1930. By World War II, the Braque du Bourbonnais was well on its way to a full recovery. World War II almost drove the Braque du Bourbonnais to complete extinction. So little breeding activity took place in World War II and the years immediately following it that the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) dropped the breed from its organization. A large reason for the breed’s decline was the very strict appearance standards placed upon its breeding. Breeders began to place such an emphasis on its appearance that the dog’s working ability was compromised. The Braque du Bourbonnais was a much less skilled working gun dog than it had been prior to World War II, and most sportsmen lost interest in the breed. From 1963 until 1973, no purebred Braque du Bourbonnaises were registered, and the breed was very close to total extinction. In 1970, a French hunter and Braque du Bourbonnais became determined to save the breed from extinction. He gathered together several other interested breeders and began to scour the French countryside for any surviving breed members he could find. Despite an exhaustive search, no dogs that were thought to be purebred Braque du Bourbonnaises were found. A number of dogs that were known or thought to be Braque du Bourbonnais mixes were located, and these animals were entered into a breeding program designed to restore the breed to its former glory. These breeders decided that while appearance conformation was very important to their efforts, it should always take a back seat to hunting ability and drive. In 1982, Michel Comte and other Braque du Bourbonnais breeders founded a new Club du Braque du Bourbonnais Club. In 1985, the breed was reregistered with the French FCI affiliate, the Society Central Canine (SCC). The Club du Braque du Bourbonnais developed a looser standard that allowed for docked tails and sizable spots. This new standard was officially accepted by the FCI in 1992, when that organization re-recognized the Braque du Bourbonnais. The efforts of Braque du Bourbonnais breeders in restoring the dog’s hunting ability and drive proved very successful and the revived breed quickly gained a reputation with breeders across France. By the end of the 1990’s, the Braque du Bourbonnais had spread to several other European nations including Germany, Greece, Belgium, and Italy. In the 1980’s, Bonnie Wilcox DVM and Chris Walkowicz were conducting research for their book Atlas of Dog Breeds: Dogs for all Reasons. During the course of their research, they contacted Francois Serret, a French breeder of Braque du Bourbonnais, for information on the breed. The two became very interested in the recovering breed, and in 1988 composed an article for Dog World Magazine entitled “Renaissance of a French Breed in America.” This article inspired several American fanciers to make an attempt to establish the breed in the United States. This group contacted French breeders who were very interested in establishing an American population to help stave off the Braque du Bourbonnais’ extinction. Later on in 1988, a Louisiana couple imported a pair of Braque du Bourbonnais to their home. The first American litter was whelped to this pair by the end of that year. No further breeding of these dogs or their offspring has subsequently been recorded. In 1989, Beth Cepil of New Tripoli, Pennsylvania imported one female and two male breed members. These dogs produced their first litter in 1991, the second Braque du Bourbonnais litter to be whelped in North America. The North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) recognized the breed and became its primary registry in the United States. NAVDHA events greatly increased the breed’s exposure among American hunters and gained it a number of new fanciers. More and more American sportsmen began to keep and breed Braque du Bourbonnaises. America quickly became the breed’s second home, and almost all breed members bred outside of France are now born in America. In fact, in some recent years, more Braque du Bourbonnaises were registered with NAVHDA in the United States than in France. Although most American breeders have chosen to remain affiliated in some way with the French breed club, a few decided to form the Braque du Bourbonnais Club of America (BBCA). Although the Braque du Bourbonnais remains a very rare breed in the United States it is well-established in that country, and its future there looks to be secure for the foreseeable future. In 2006, the breed was granted full recognition with the United Kennel Club (UKC) as a member of the Gun Dog Group. In 2011, the Braque du Bourbonnais was entered into the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service (AKC-FSS), the first step towards full recognition with that organization. At the same time, the BBCA was chosen to be the breed’s official AKC parent club. If the BBCA and the Braque du Bourbonnais breed can reach certain benchmarks, the breed will enter the AKC’s miscellaneous class and eventually earn full recognition. Unlike most modern breeds, the Braque du Bourbonnais remains primarily a working gun dog. The vast majority of breed members in both the United States and France are either working or retired hunting dogs. Many of these hunters are also treasured family companions, and a few families are beginning to keep this breed primarily for companionship. |
| Personality | The Braque du Bourbonnais is a calm, affectionate family companion. When hunting they are full of passion, cautious, balanced, cooperative and intelligent. They have a remarkable ease of adaptation to the most varied terrains and game. This intense pointing dog has an ability to train easily and quickly. They are people-oriented and not happy if isolated from the family. They need human leadership. Owners must be firm, confident and consistent with the rules. When exercised sufficiently, at least once a day, they make a very agreeable family companion. The Braque du Bourbonnais typically gets along with all other canines. |
Care Requirements
| Health | It does not appear as though any health surveys have been conducted on the Braque du Bourbonnais which makes it impossible to make any definitive statements about the breed’s health. Most fanciers seem to believe that the breed is in relatively good health compared to most pure bred dogs, and the average life expectancy for this breed is thought to be quite long, between 12 and 15 years. There are several problems which breeders of these dogs are concerned about. The most common problems are thought to be hip dysplasia, Ectropion, Entropion, and pulmonic stenosis. Pulmonic stenosis is a heart problem whose symptoms and impacts vary widely depending on the condition’s severity. Some dogs with the condition are completely unaffected while others die of heart failure at a young age. Pulmonic stenosis has been detected in several American lines of Braque du Bourbonnais. Although the actual percentage of affected dogs is probably much lower, at least 43% of American breed members are at least partially descended from lines affected with Pulmonic Stenosis. Because skeletal and visual problems have been known to occur in this breed it is highly advisable for owners to have their pets tested by both the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF). The OFA and CERF perform genetic and other tests to identify potential health defects before they show up. This is especially valuable in the detection of conditions that do not show up until the dog has reached an advanced age, making it especially important for anyone considering breeding their dog to have them tested to prevent the spread of potential genetic conditions to its offspring. |
| Grooming | These dogs are wrapped up in a medium-sized package that is easily maintained with their short, minimal shedding, “wash-and-wear” coats. As with all breeds, ear cleaning, nail clipping and bathing should be done when necessary. |
| Exercise | Daily exercise is important, which includes a long daily walk, where the dog is made to heel beside or behind the human. Never in front, as in the dog's mind, pack leader goes first. This breed is bred to hunt, so it prefers an active outdoor life. Without family companionship and daily exercise, it can become destructive or depressed. |
| Other Considerations | The Braque du Bourbonnais is not recommended for apartment life. This breed does best with a large yard and hunting family. These dogs need daily exercise. Due to this breed being people-oriented, they prefer to reside in the home with its owner and family, rather than be kenneled outside. |
