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The Braque D’Auvergne is a substantial pointer type, strong with a large head and long ears, giving the impression of a dependable and workmanlike hunter. The smooth short coat is dense and provides good protection from thorny undergrowth.
The Braque D’Auvergne is generally a hardy breed with no widely recognised breed specific health problems
Sensitive and intelligent, the Braque D’Auvergne is slow to mature and needs patient owners who understand a gundog’s desire to follow scent, carry things in their mouth and be with their owners. The D’Auvergne will work hard for an owner who motivates and engages with their dog, but it takes some time to build that relationship. The puppies are giddy and bouncy for quite some time, despite their size!
| Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 5/5 |
| Easy to train: | 4/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 2/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 4/5 |
| Energy level: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 2/5 |
| Shedding: | 2/5 |
From the Auvergne region of France, the Braque D’Auvergne or ‘Auvergne Pointer’ in some countries, was developed in the second half of the 16th Century, possibly descending from the Spanish pointers and hunting hounds of the time. Other breed fanciers suggest that this breed owes its ancestry to crossbreeding between the Gascony pointer and the Pyrenean Braque (‘Braque’ means ‘to aim or point’). There are several French ‘Braque’ breeds and the D’Auvergne is probably the oldest of them all.
As throughout history, from medieval to modern times, wealthy landed gentry have been fond of creating their own personal breed of hunting hounds, terriers and gundogs, it can be hard to pinpoint the exact ancestry of some of these breeds.
What is notable is that this rare French gundog does bear a striking resemblance to the modern German Shorthaired Pointer and the English Pointer, and it is quite likely these breeds share the same origins as the Braque D’Auvergne, both in bloodline and in function.
Experienced with gundogs and/or hounds, the ideal Braque owner lives rurally, enjoys training and dog sports and has a large and very secure garden. Owners will need to spend a lot of time training and exercising, so should be fit and active, child-free or have older children who can take part.
The adult Braque D’Auvergne will need two hours or more of exercise each day, and this should incorporate free running, lead walking and some sort of mental stimulation as well. On top of that, make time for training and competition or dog sports – this is very much a working breed, and a bored or under-entertained D’Auvergne will be loud and destructive!
Big, clumsy and slobbery as puppies and, whilst more sensible as adults, this is a large breed needing a sizeable home and garden. Secure fencing is a must and access to a variety of rural walks is necessary, so a rural, or rural suburbs home is ideal. Not a dog suited to the city without extreme compromise on the part of the owner!
Large breed dogs, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins compared to smaller-breed dogs.
The coat is easily maintained with a good brush through with a stiff bristle brush once a week. Check ears, lips and paws daily for detritus, grass seeds and other foreign bodies.
Slow to mature, and sensitive despite their large size, the Braque D’Auvergne requires careful and thoughtful handling and training. Responding well to positive reinforcement, the use of food and of course the opportunity to scent out and retrieve toys will get the best out of your dog. Braque D’Auvergne are a versatile and intelligent breed, so with the right approach can be taught to fulfil a number of tasks beyond gundog work. They will excel at scent-based sports such as man-trailing and scent discrimination and the more traditional gundog competitions and working trials.
Great for families who already know gundogs and enjoy gundog sports and activities. Better with older children or teens as this is a large breed that takes a good three years to mature.
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.
