Briard vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison

Briard vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed ComparisonBoth Briard and Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) are originated from France. Both Briard and Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) are of same height. Briard may weigh 8 kg / 18 pounds more than Braque Francais (Gascogne Type). Briard may live 3 years less than Braque Francais (Gascogne Type). Both Briard and Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) has same litter size. Briard requires High maintenance. But Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) requires Low maintenance

History

briard - historyThrough myth and legend, the Briard is thought to be a very ancient dog. A French herding breed, a Briard type of dog appears in writings as early as the end of the 14th century. According to legends the Briard was owned by Napoleon, Charlemagne, Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. As a cross between the Barbet and the Beauceron, the Briard came into popularity following its appearance in a Paris dog show in 1863. Bred originally to guard and herd sheep, these intelligent, independent dogs were often left on their own. Because they both guarded and herded, their size and structure as well as their personalities were different from other dogs that worked sheep. Those that herded only were fast, agile and smaller. Those that only guarded were heavier, bigger and stronger. The Briard was in-between these two types of breeds. He was well suited to any kind of farm work and guarded the crops from the sheep’s desire to eat them. They moved the sheep from one grazing area to another and then to their holding area at night. No humans had to assist the Briard in this work once they were trained.

During World War 1, the Briards were drafted into service as messengers, sentries and search dogs for lost or injured soldiers. In that time frame the breed served almost to the point of extinction. Breeding programs following the war brought them back. Today the Briard is a home companion, a police dog, as well as both military and civilian search and rescue dogs.

braque francais gascogne type - historyThe Braques Français – Gascogne – is a hunting dog from southern France’s Gascony region. Known also as the French Gascony Pointer, this dog has descended from Spanish and Italian Pointers. The dog was saved from extinction at the turn of the 20th century.

There are actually two breeds of Braque français, with the other being somewhat smaller and known as Braque français, type Pyrénées. Whichever one you have, they are popular hunting dogs in France. The first breed club was established in 1850.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Gun dog
Origin:
France
France
Height Male:
61 - 69 cm
24 - 28 inches
58 - 69 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
58 - 65 cm
22 - 26 inches
56 - 67 cm
22 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
30 - 40 kg
66 - 89 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 35 kg
55 - 78 pounds
23 - 69 kg
50 - 153 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
8 - 10
6 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Berger de Brie Berger Briard
Braque Francais de Grand Taille, Large French Pointer
Colors Available:
Uniform black, fawn, grey or blue.
Chestnut brown with white markings - freckling
Coat:
Double, wavy, long, fine
Short and dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social
Grooming:
High maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

Description

briard puppy - descriptionThe Briard is a powerful, intelligent and independent working dog. They have a straight topline and their height is almost the same as their length. They have long, large, rectangular heads with wide muzzles. Their noses are also square and jet black while their side set, large eyes can be black-brown or black. Their ears have traditionally been cropped but with more countries outlawing it, they can now have natural ears set high on the head. They have a tail that is feathered and low-cut. The feet of a Briard are round, compact and large.

The Briard is a double coated breed with a long beard and mustache. Their hair completely covers the head and the eyes so that they are not seen. They have prominent eyebrows as well.

Looks:

braque francais gascogne type puppy - descriptionThe Braque Francais is a dog which looks much like the German Short-haired Pointer. The Braque Francais (Gascogne) is a large breed dog, standing roughly 56 – 69cm. Weight is most times dependent on height, but the average weighs between 35 and 55 pounds. The dog is attractively lean and muscular and the tails have always been docked, although rules and regulations see the breed with a long tail these days. The natural tail of the Braque Francais is medium length. The eyes of this breed are brown or yellow and the ears are medium in length and floppy. The coat of the Gascogne is short and dense and in two colors – white and chestnut patching and mottling.

Temperament:

The dog is a keen tracker and is an excellent game and gun dog with some of them requiring more training than others. Training and socialization makes the Braque Francais an excellent, obedient pet who is eager to please and he is considered to be easily trainable, learning quickly. He loves his human family and is noted for his gentle, friendly nature, and he therefore makes and excellent family pet where there are children and other pets.

Characteristics

briard dog - characteristicsAs mentioned previously the Briard is intelligent and independent. They are also loyal, rugged, protective and bond intensely with their humans. They are often aloof when it comes to strangers or even when new furniture is introduced into the household. They have to learn that anything new into the family environment is friendly and good. They are great with children and susceptible to separation anxiety because of their deep affection for their people. Socialization for puppies is a must. This will let them know that people and children, other dogs in general are not harmful to their families. They have great memories and once they learn something – right or wrong – it is almost impossible to change it. They were bred to be independent thinkers who acted on their own conclusions. This is still true of the breed today, making them appear to be stubborn.

They are great watchdogs, fearless and brave; willing to learn, eager to make you happy. They are basically gentle but that always runs up against their protective nature. A strong alpha leader is needed to handle this hard-working dog.

braque francais gascogne type dog - characteristicsThe attractive Braque Francais is a calm, contented dog who is also affectionate, social and intelligent. He is already a well mannered dog but will do even better with training and socialization. However, Braque Francais don’t take well to aggressive training and done the wrong way, the dog can end up being timid and confused.

Wanting to please and being an intelligent dog, training should be fun, lighthearted but firm. In exchange you’re going to have an awesome friend from this wonderful, loving dog breed.

Health Problems

briard puppies - health problemsBeing a large breed, the Briard shares many of the same health concerns as other large breeds. They have a few of their own as well. Typical issues for a Briard might include:

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – bones don’t fit into joints.

Stationary Night Blindness – Congenital limited vision in the dark.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration –degeneration of the photoreceptors and retina.

Hypothyroidism – disorder of the thyroid.

Bloat (Gastric Torsion) – Stomach is distended and twists.

Cancer – Number 1 killer of all dogs.

Von Willebrand’s Disease – Blood clotting disorder.

braque francais gascogne type puppies - health problemsYou won’t find many health issues with this active breed but nonetheless hip and joint issues will need to be watched. If you are considering a Braque Français puppy, you’ll want to be selective in choosing a responsible breeder. A healthy puppy with the right environment, can get to up to 15 years of age.

Ectropion and entropion in dogs affect their eyelids. Ectropion is where the eyelids roll outward, whereas entropion is where the eyelids curve inward, irritating the eye. Because visual and skeletal problems occur in this breed, it can be recommended that owners have their pets tested by both the Canine Eye Registration Foundation as well as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

briard dogs - caringIt is best to feed the Briard smaller meals 2-3 times a day to prevent bloat. Feed 3-4 cups total for the day of a dry dog food that is high quality and made for large breeds.

Health issues

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – Can cause painful arthritis and lameness

Stationary Night Blindness – Congenital limited vision in the dark can vary from slight difficulty moving to complete inability to see in the dark.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration – Can lead to night blindness, limited or total blindness. Puppies with the disease can be blind before their first birthday.

Hypothyroidism – disorder of the thyroid.

Bloat (Gastric Torsion) – Stomach is distended and twists. Fatal if not treated quickly. Caused by eating a large meal quickly and either exercise immediately or drink a large amount of water right after eating.

Cancer – Number 1 killer of all dogs. Various types.

Von Willebrand’s Disease – Blood clotting disorder leads to excessive bleeding. There is no cure, but it is manageable.

Exercise and games

The Briard is a working dog and as such needs a job. They excel at agility, flyball, herding, obedience, confirmation and tracking. They need exercise and make excellent service dogs for people with disabilities and therapy dogs for those in emotional need.

Grooming:

braque francais gascogne type dogs - caringBrushing the coat twice a week will get rid of loose hairs and maintain the sheen of the coat. Also, as a floppy eared breed, attention should be given to the ears to prevent infections. He will also need to have his teeth brushed with dog toothpaste and brush to prevent the build-up of damaging plaque and his nails will also require a clipping if they don’t manage to wear down naturally.

Exercise:

Daily activity will be needed for this dog and he will want a walk every day. He certainly isn’t a dog you can leave indoors or outside in your backyard day after day. Any activities that require physical exertion will be good because they are exceptional athletes. If you are a cyclist or a runner, take him with you – he’ll love it.

Diet:

Your Braque Francais loves energetic activities and for this he will require an excellent nutrient-rich diet. Nutrient-rich dog foods are higher in protein and fat and lower in carbohydrates. It’s important to check out the carbohydrate content in commercial dog foods to avoid those one high in carbohydrates.

Your vet can always advise you on a good quality food and you can always give him your own home-prepared foods which include rice, vegetables and meat. Certainly include some raw meat into his diet every now and then to avoid skin problems. Fresh, cool water must be available to him night and day.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Old English Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  2. Briard vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Briard vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Briard vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  5. Briard vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  6. Rough Collie vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  7. East German Shepherd vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  8. Saarlooswolfhond vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  9. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  10. Huntaway vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  11. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  12. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  13. South Russian Ovcharka vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  14. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  15. Samoyed vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  16. Labradoodle vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  17. Mixed vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  18. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  19. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  20. Great Pyrenees vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  21. Presa Canario vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  22. Labrador Husky vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  23. Perro de Presa Canario vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  24. Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  25. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  26. Irish Setter vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  27. Portuguese Pointer vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  28. Perdiguero de Burgos vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  29. Irish Red and White Setter vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  30. Pachon Navarro vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  31. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  32. Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  33. Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  34. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  35. Spanish Pointer vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  36. Spinone Italiano vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  37. Talbot vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  38. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  39. Weimaraner vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  40. Longhaired Weimaraner vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  41. Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  42. Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  43. Samoyed vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  44. Labradoodle vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  45. Cane Corso vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  46. Mixed vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  47. Bullmastiff vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  48. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds