Braque Francais 333

The Braque Francais, also called the French Pointing Dog, originated in France in the 15th century. They are descendants of two old gun dog breeds - the Southern Hound, which is now extinct, and the Old Spanish Pointer. They were rustic hunting dogs that were prized for their skill in identifying the location of game birds.

Over time, the Braque Francais made it to various countries where it was crossed with other breeds. Towards the end of the 19th century, interest in the breed was piqued and there was a search for the original dogs. One of the facts about the Braque Francais is that two distinct types of Braque Francais were discovered - the Pyrenean type and the Gascogne type.

The Pyrenean type was bred to be a smaller, faster, and leaner version while the Gascogne type was bred to be larger and heavier to stay truer to their classic gun dog ancestors. The first Braque Francais breed club was formed in the early 20th century. Although the Braque Francais Pyrenean is the more popular of the two French Pointing Dogs, the breed club supports both types of Braque Francais and each has its own separate standards.

Both types are recognized by the French Kennel Club, the World Canine Organization, and the United Kennel Club. The Canadian Kennel Club only recognizes the Braque Francais Gascogne and the American Kennel Club includes the Pyrenean type in their Foundation Stock Service and has assigned them to the Sporting Group.