Basset Fauve de Bretagne

Sometimes called the Fawn Brittany Bassett or the Tawny Brittany Bassett, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is the smaller of the two hounds that came from the Brittany area of France in the 1800s. They were achieved by crossing the larger version, the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne with smaller Bassett breeds to produce a dog ideal for working in dense hedges, bushes and heaths where they would hunt everything from rabbit to wild boar. Unusually they would run in a pack of four and being short-legged, they were easy for hunters to follow on foot rather than horseback. 

While still a rare breed, their affectionate nature has won them a much-loved place as a companion dog and they have been registered with the Kennel Club since 1991. 

If you enjoy long walks in almost any weather, don’t mind picking bits of the countryside out of your hound and really enjoy spending time training a recall, the Fauve de Bretagne makes a great companion. You’ll need a lot of patience and be skilled in the strategic arts of sausage-based bribery as unquestioning and instant obedience is not in this breed’s remit. Great for anyone who loves scent-based dog sports. 

For their size, Basset Fauve de Bretagne’s need a reasonable amount of exercise – about two hours a day or more. This should include a variety of routes where they can have a chance to use their incredible noses. Like most hounds, they can look on recall as a multiple-choice question and so unless you know you are in a secure area, a harness and a longline can help give them the freedom to explore while not being able to vanish off in to the undergrowth for hours after an interesting sniff!  

This isn’t a large dog and can live in a modest house - but they do need a very well fenced garden and access to all the scents and smells of the countryside. 

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food. 

Easy to maintain, Basset Fauve de Bretagne dogs just need their harsh, dense coats combed through once a week, and plucked twice a year (which is best done by a professional groomer). Given they enjoy running through the undergrowth however they should be checked over after every walk. 

This is an easy-going scent hound who is usually friendly to all but who might not take training entirely seriously! With consistent reward-based training, they can get to a decent standard of training - and owners should focus on lead walking and also recall, but no matter how good they get at coming back when you call them, never rely on it in the great outdoors as like most scent hounds, when the nose goes down, the ears turn off! 

This is a gentle hound who gets on with everyone - but they do need an active owner or family, and plenty of social contact, and so those with young children or busy lifestyles may struggle to give them the input and exercise they need.  

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.