Eurohound vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison

Sled dog racers wanted something unique and hardy in their dogs and the Eurohound seemed to be the dog that fitted the bill.

It was in the 1980s that both Norway and Sweden started crossing the Husky and the Pointer for the first time.

The Eurohound, known also as the Scandinavian hound, is a cross between a German Shorthaired Pointer and an Alaskan Husky as well as other Pointer dogs.

Hailing from Norway, Scandinavia, it isn’t a purebred dog but a cross-breed, and the term ‘Eurohound’ comes from a certain Ivana Nolke so as to distinguish the European racing dogs imported into Alaska.

The 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.

The Eurohound is a carefully bred dog considered to be a large dog standing up to 72 cm in height and weighting in the region of 18-24 kg.

With its mission being to be a sled dog, it is constantly being crossbred with other cross- breeds to produce dogs to suit the pulling of sleds. Because both the Husky and Pointers have been used in its breeding, who knows really how its appearance will be as it can vary quite a bit.

There are however, some common features in the dogs such as the half dropped ears. More Eurohounds have black ears with white markings. The dog is a slender breed with a longish face and a long muzzle. Certainly it is known for being a powerful sled dog. The short, shiny dog can be in a number of colors such as cream, beige white, red, black, spotted or patched.

Temperament:

Social, extrovert and energetic, the Eurohound also loves to be busy. Its a dog who forms a strong relationship with its owners, being affectionate and loyal. While he is quite able to live in the city or the country, he essentially needs large premises as he loves to run and be free.

He most certainly isn’t a working dog breed who can be left on his own in the backyard until you need him to pull a sled as he craves your companionship. He is an independent and stubborn dog and therefore training and socialization will b excellent for him as it makes him understand who is boss in the home.

He is a dog who gets on well with other pets in the home as well as children.

Looks:

The 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.

Full of bounce, social and extroverted, while also being independent and stubborn, the Eurohound just loves being around his human family, bonding strongly with them, whether they are adults, children or even other pets in the home.

You’ll find that your Eurohound is an intelligent dog too and that he can be easily trained. He loves to be active, so to put him in your backyard and all but forget about him would be cruel. They are loyal, loving dogs who want to be part of all your activities, being ready to walk and run with you whenever the opportunity arises.

The 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.

Considered as a healthy dog breed and able to live up to 10 – 15 years of age, just some of the most common reported health problems you might find with your Eurohound are hip and elbow dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia is where the joint – the ball and socket – is malformed so that instead of working smoothly it grinds. It is one of the most common skeletal diseases in dogs and large breeds are mostly affected. Hip dysplasia can lead to osteoarthritis, pain and lameness.

You 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.

The Eurohound is an energetic dog who will require a high-quality nutritious food. Home made dog foods are wonderful but in the event that it isn’t always possible, make sure you buy top quality commercially manufactured food.

Your vet can advise you on the type of food to use for your pet if you are unsure. Certainly, if you feed your dog kibble, take a good look at the ingredient label on the pet food packaging. If you are interested in your dog’s health in terms of food, you will learn about protein/fat ratio and how much moisture is in the food and what vitamins are included.

Remember to occasionally include cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken as well as some raw meat from time to time.

Grooming:

The Eurohound isn’t a big shedder but you will still need to ensure that you brush his short coat twice a week to keep it in tip top condition.

These are dogs which bond closely with their human family so this grooming period will be therapeutic to him.

Check his ears inside and out for the development of ear infections and brush his teeth twice a week with a special dog toothbrush and tooth paste. Dental disease can cause a host of serious illnesses and you want to avoid this with your dog,

Grooming:

Brushing 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.