Northern Inuit Dog vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison

Looking at the beautiful Northern Inuit Dog, you’ll think that this crossbred dog is a wolf.

As with many other dogs, there are sometimes different stories regarding their history. It was in the 1980's that founder of the breed, Eddie Harrison, bred a number of mixed-breed rescue dogs with Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds and Alaskan Malamutes to produce the early Northern Inuit dogs. This is a dog that closely resembled a wolf in looks but which has the more companionable characteristics of the domesticated dog.

The dog is only recognized by its own independent breed club, but by none of the other major kennel clubs.

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne from France was introduced to the UK in 1983, and this smallest of the French hounds is rarely seen outside France, and when you do it is in Britain. This French hunting breed belonging to the Hound group in all likelihood descends from the Grand Fauve de Bretagne which is now extinct.

Long ago the dog was used for hunting and there was even a time when it was on the brink of extinction.The breed became very rare but was later bred with the Basset Griffon Vendeen as well as the Wire Haired Dachshund which has resulted in the breed we have today. The first Basset Fauve was imported into the USA in November 2001.

Friendly, calm and gentle, the Northern Inuit Dog is a crossbreed, described as a medium to large sized dog that stands at roughly 58– 81cm in height, male and female, and weighs in the region of 25–48kg.

He has a double coat in typical wolf shades of grey, white, black and cream. He is regarded as a moderate shedder. The ears are erect, the face bright, intelligent and alert and the tail long, bushy and straight.

Temperament:

The Northern Inuit dog is independent, strong-willed and stubborn, and if you want to own one of these dogs, your dog will respond well if you are firm, fair, strong, kind and consistent. This is because the dog is stubborn, sharp, independent and intelligent.

The owner of such a dog must be a firm leader. Training and socialization should start when the dog is still young. He is good with kids, being playful and affectionate with them.

Wiry, Dense Coat

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne is a smallish hound, with a long body and deep chest. He is lively and friendly. He is a wire-coated dog, looking similar to a golden cocker spaniel, but his coat is coarse and quite springy and wiry to the touch. He is nimble, he has plenty of courage, he is lively, friendly and amenable. He has short legs, but unlike other Basset breeds, these don’t have that crooked, turned outwards appearance that the Basset Hound has.

The tail is fairly long and held upright when the dog is alert. He has long low-set ears which reach roughly to the end of the nose. The coat is always wheat- or fawn or red in color. The Basset Fauve de Bretagne, also referred to as the Fawn Brittany Basset isn’t quite as low to the ground as the Basset Hound, measuring 32 – 38 cm.

Friendly and Adaptable

Small, stocky and feisty, this rough-coated Basset is energetic, agile and quick and you’ll find that he gets on well with children as well as other pets in the house. Some training and socialization will go a far way to make him an even more super dog than what he is. He’ll make a wonderful family pet and will adapt well to country living as well as living in the city, if he can rely on you to take him for walks.

It’s not surprising that people who love wolves would want a similar looking pet. However, they also want this wolf-like dog to be a friend and companion. This is precisely what they get with the beautiful Northern Inuit dog.

With his bright, alert face, the Inuit is actually a calm, gentle dog, bonding closely with his human family and not showing any aggression.

Intelligent and social, and somewhat stubborn, when you provide him with the home he deserves, you’ll see that this beautiful creature can be relied on to be a wonderful family pet.

Smart and courageous, the Basset Fauve is such a wonderful pet to have in your home. He is gentle, loving and loyal and will adapt to living in the countryside or the city, so long as he is loved, fed well, exercised and given lots of attention.

He was once a serious hunter, but these days he is most content to be friend and protector for his human family.

There are some genetic problems with this dog breed, although with good care, you are highly unlikely to see your dog with them.

Some of these are hip dysplasia and epilepsy.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hips are always a worrisome aspect with dogs as it can bring on lameness. There are some things that can be done to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia.

Joint laxity in dogs occurs when the head of the femur doesn’t fit into the acetabulum properly. This could be the result of several things such as the dog being overweight, injury or something else.

Epilepsy:

Epilepsy in dogs is a chronic condition that results in seizures. This neurological disorder is actually a life-long disease, occurring when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain and which changes a dog’s behavior.

Some breeds are more predisposed to epilepsy than others but you will need to get your dog to the vet when you see your pet jerking uncontrollably. Most of these epileptic fits happen without warning, they last a few seconds to a minute or so and stop on their own.

The Basset Fauve is free from inherited health problems in the UK and is in fact one of the hardiest of the Basset group. Like all Basset type breeds, as a dog owner you’ll have to keep an eye on your Basset Fauve as he can develop back problems as he gets older.

When it comes to your Basset Fauve’s health, make sure he gets all his shots, starting from when he is a puppy. Many of the dangerous canine diseases can be prevented with vaccines.

It’s no longer cheap caring for a dog – just like with a child, by bringing a dog into your home, you have a responsibility to care for it.

If you bring a puppy into your home, you will need to feed him 4x a day. If you feed him commercially manufactured food it will need to be specially formulated for puppies. You will have to read on the packaging to make sure you get the right food.

Later on your pet can start having one or two meals a day. Two smaller meals is best as then he doesn’t gobble up his food too fast which can lead to a life-threatening condition known as bloat. Home-made food is always a welcome treat for your pet, but keep it simple and consistent. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach chopped up and added to his dry kibble can offer him some variety from time to time as well as also adding in some raw meat when you get the chance. He must always have access to fresh, cool water.

Your puppy will be due at the vet for his first vaccinations. Your puppy's first vaccination will usually be at about 8 weeks of age.

Your new pet will require a warm, dry, comfortable place to sleep and to retreat to.

You will need to provide him with chewy toys to stimulate him both mentally and physically.

You will need to exercise your pet – nice long walks, ball- and rope games etc.

Nearly every dog sheds, and the Northern Inuit will require you brushing him twice a week to remove all those loose hairs. During the brushing session, check him over for fleas and ticks and run your hands over him and make sure there are no unusual lumps on his body.

Grooming

The Basset Fauve is easy to maintain, and all that is required from you is to brush his wiry coat at least twice a week to remove all loose hairs. Look out for too much hair in the ear passage and remove it. The teeth should be brushed a couple of times a week with a dog toothpaste and brush to avoid plague build-up and the claws should also be trimmed.

Exercise

Daily walks will be imperative for your Basset Fauve as he is an energetic dog and will need regular exercise. Just ignoring his energetic side will make him frustrated, bored and even destructive.

Food

This breed of dog used to hunt small game and so he is lively and energetic. Because of this he will need a high-quality dog food. Always buy the best commercially manufactured dog foods and speak to your vet about the best one, and whether dry- or wet foods would best suit your canine friend. You want to provide your pet with variety, and it is imperative to include some raw- and cooked meat to his regular dog food to ensure he doesn’t battle with an itchy, dry skin.

Dog foods suited to age, activity levels and stage of life can ensure your dog is always energetic, full of life, healthy and happy and not prone to putting on weight. Always ensure that clean, cool water is constantly available to your pet.

If you get a puppy from a reputable breeder, they will tell you what the puppy’s feeding schedule has been. Make sure to stick to the same routine for a while so that your puppy doesn’t have any tummy upsets.