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17 Things To Know About The Braque Francais Gascogne Temperament

If you’re looking for a good-natured best friend to share adventures with, the Braque Francais Gascogne temperament may be just what you’re looking for.

This breed is an excellent hunter who flushes, tracks, and retrieves game. She also enjoys outdoor sports and loves to play.

Her gentle, loving temperament is also ideally suited for life as a family dog.

She is a rare example of a working dog who is high-energy in the field but calm and content in the home. The Gascony is a great all-around dog.

The Braque Francais Gascogne Temperament and Personality

Intelligent

The Braque Francais Gascogne is a smart dog who learns quickly. She is easy to train.

Unlike most intelligent dogs, she doesn’t have an independent streak. She is happy to let you make the decisions.

Affectionate

The Braque Francais Gascogne temperament is very affectionate with her family members. She loves to be with her people.

Docile

She is even-tempered and “goes with the flow.” She may appear lazy around the house but works hard in the field.

Playful

The Braque Francais Gascogne temperament is playful. She enjoys playing dog games and running around with the kids.

Outgoing

This breed is not shy, even to strangers. She enjoys people and gets along with everyone.

Sensitive

She is considered a “soft breed.” She needs gentle training methods. If mishandled, her sensitivity could become anxiety.

Devoted

The Braque Francais Gascogne temperament is loving to her human family.

Active

She is a hunting dog, after all. Her exercise needs are fairly high. She is not suitable for apartment living.

Athletic

This breed is agile and quick on all types of terrain. She also does well at organized canine sports.

Submissive

The Braque Francais Gascogne temperament is obedient and eager to please. She’s happy to let you be the boss.

Friendly

The Braque Francais Gascogne loves people. Strangers are not a problem for her. She is also friendly with other dogs.

Because of her friendliness to all, she is not a good watchdog.

Great with Children

The Braque Francais Gascogne temperament and enjoyment of children make her a wonderful family dog.

Social

She is happy to “hang out” with people, other dogs, even cats if she’s raised with them.

Prone to Anxiety

The Braque Francais Gascogne temperament is prone to nervousness and separation anxiety. The Gascony does not do well in homes where no one is home during the day.

High Prey Drive

As a hunting dog, she has a high prey drive in the field. However, she is equally content to lie around the house with the family after a busy day.

Because she is a hunter by nature, you will want to socialize her with smaller pets.

Responsive

The Braque Francais Gascogne traits of intelligence, trainability, and eagerness to please make her a great hunting partner.

Braque Francais Gascogne History

The Braque Francais Gascogne is a very old breed that originated in the South of France. The Braque Francais has been in existence at least since the fifteenth century.

Dog experts think they may have descended from the Old Spanish Pointer and the Southern Hound, a breed that is now extinct.

There were actually several strains of Braque named after the areas of France they came from: Braque d'Auvergne, Braque du Puy, Braque Francais Gascogne, etc.

These dogs over time crossbred with other breeds. Over time, two clear types emerged. These were the Braque Francais Gascogne and Braque Francais Pyrenean (or Pyrenees).

In 1880, separate breed standards were developed for the two types of Braque Francais.

Braque Francais Gascogne Training

This breed does not need a lot of obedience or behavioral training. The Gascony is eager to please. She is a good choice for inexperienced dog owners.

She is a “soft breed,” meaning that she responds best to gentle yet firm training methods and positive reinforcement.

One Gascony breeder says, “These dogs will shut down if you’re mean to them. They don’t like that. They want to be your friend.”

Harsh training methods will likely cause a Braque Francais Gascogne to have anxiety issues.

Because of her high prey drive, you should socialize her early to small pets. She should also have a fenced-in yard.

If you plan to hunt your Gascony, of course she will need specialized training. If you’re looking for training help, a good place to start is the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA).

Another possible resource is the Club du Braque Francais North America (CBFNA).

Helpful Dog Training Resource:

For help with training your Gascony dog you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.

Braque Francais Gascogne Appearance

General Appearance

The Braque Francais Gascogne is a medium-sized, long-legged breed with a short, dense coat.

She has long, high-set drop ears.; black nose and brown or amber eyes, and she has a scissor bite.

Her tail can be long or short and is sometimes docked.

Braque Francais Gascogne Colors

The Gascony can be chestnut brown or white mixed with chestnut brown. She can have one or more large brown spots, or she could have ticking or roaning (flecks).

Her head is usually brown.

Braque Francais Gascogne Size

Braque Francais Gascogne weight is 45-80 lbs. And her height is 23-27 inches.

Braque Francais Gascogne Must-Knows

Other Names

  • Braque Francais Gascogne, de Grande Taille.
  • French Pointing Dog, Gascogne type.
  • Gascony Pointer.
  • French Pointer.

Braque Francais Gascogne Lifespan

The Gascony’s life expectancy is 12-15 years.

Braque Francais Gascogne Hunting

The Gascony is versatile hunting dog, meaning she is skilled in several hunting behaviors. The Braque Francais Gascogne is a pointer, a tracker, and a retriever. She also hunts both on land and in water.

Some feel the Gascony is the ideal hunting dog because she has natural hunting abilities and requires very little training. She is also a good scent dog that's agile and fast.

The Gascony is a reliable hunting partner who is eager to work closely with you. She is content to rely on you to be the decision maker.

The Gascony is also a great swimmer who loves the water.

Braque Francais Gascogne versus Pyrenees

The Braque Francais Gascogne and Braque Francais Pyrenees are very similar dogs. They have similar temperaments and hunting abilities.

The French call the Gascogne the Braque Francais, De Grande Taille. They call the Pyrenees the Braque Francais, De Petite Taille.

As the names suggest, the major difference between them is size. There are also slight variations in appearance.

The Gascogne is about 4 inches taller than the Pyrenees and weighs 25-30 pounds more. The Pyrenees is thinner and more streamlined and is a faster runner.

The Gascony has a thicker, slightly longer coat. His ears are longer than the Pyrenees’. His lips droop a bit, so the Pyrenees’ muzzle appears narrower.

Braque Francais Gascogne Health Issues

There are no specific health conditions that affect the Gascony. But she is prone to some general health conditions that affect many breeds:

If you purchase your puppy from a responsible breeder, your chances are excellent of getting a healthy pup. Good breeders screen for these conditions. They don’t breed dogs that fail the screening.

Note: if you agree that your health and your dog's health should be a top priority then get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.  Your Gascony friend will love you for it. This guide will help save you money, time and most of all help you keep your dog healthy.

Caring for the Braque Francais Gascogne

Braque Francais Gascogne Grooming

The Gascony has a short to medium-length coat that is easy to take care of. They need brushing once or twice a week. Other than that, they don’t need more than standard care.

You will want to brush her teeth and clip her nails on a regular basis. And you will also need to check and clean her ears regularly.

You won’t need to bathe her often. But when you do, you should use a gentle shampoo that will protect the natural oils in her coat and skin. Ask your vet for a recommendation.

The Braque Francais Gascogne will likely love the attention she gets with grooming. It can be a great way to develop a strong bond with your Gascony.

Braque Francais Gascogne Diet

The Braque Francais Gascogne should do well on a high-quality kibble. If you hunt your Gascony, though, you may want a food formulated for working dogs.

Braque Francais Gascogne Exercise

The Braque Francais is a hunting breed, so she is energetic. She is also a smart dog, so she needs mental stimulation as well as physical exercise.

The Gascony needs a high amount of exercise each day to be sure that she gets plenty of both.

She likes long walks, but an hour-long walk a day will not be enough. Jogging, hiking, and cycling with her are great ways to exercise her, but she especially likes to have a job to do.

Structured play is also great for that purpose. This breed loves to learn, and they are agile athletes.

Because of these Braque Francais Gascogne temperament traits, they are great candidates for canine sports. Good examples are rally, agility, nose work, dock dive, etc.

They should also have a good-sized yard for free play.

Finding a Braque Francais Gascogne

Buying a Braque Francais Gascogne Puppy from a Breeder

Finding a Braque Francais Gascogne for sale could be challenging. This is a rare breed outside of France.

There are several Braque Francais breeders in North America, but most of them breed the Pyrenees type. In the US and Canada, the Pyrenees is far more common than the Gascogne.

The Gascogne will be harder to find. You may have to do some digging online or make some phone calls to find Braque Francais Gascogne breeders.

The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) maintains a Puppy List for many breeds, including the Gascony. As of this writing, there were no Braque Francais Gascogne puppies or breeders available, but that can change at any time so do check.

If you choose to go this route, find out why the seller is not keeping the dog. Often it’s because the seller finds the dog does not have the hunting skills he is looking for.

If you’re looking for a pet and not a hunting dog, this could be a great way to find a wonderful family dog. Be sure to ask for health reassurances.

Finished dogs are dogs who have already been trained as hunting dogs. This is a good option if you plan to hunt your dog but would rather not train her yourself.

Of course, a trained Braque Francais Gascogne will be more expensive.

Braque Francais Gascogne Adoption – Shelter or Rescue

Finding a Braque Francais Gascogne for adoption may be even more challenging. Your best bet is to do an online search for pointing breed rescues.

You could also put the word out at local shelters that you’re looking for a Gascony. Again, they are rare, but it wouldn’t hurt. You could also let the shelters know if you are willing to consider a mixed breed.

It’s possible to get a mixed breed with the Braque Francais Gascogne behaviors and traits you’re looking for. This option might make your wait for a dog a little shorter.

Another option is to consider the Braque Francais Pyrenees. In nearly all ways except size, these two dogs are very similar.

The Pyrenees is not as rare, so it would be much easier to find than a Braque Francais Gascogne rescue or puppy. There are a good number of breeders in the US and Canada.

Both types have the delightful personality traits that make them good field dogs and great family pets.

Braque Francais Gascogne price from a reputable breeder is difficult to verify at the time of this writing, but expect to pay at least $1600.

Is the Braque Francais Gascogne the Right Breed for You?

There is so much to love about the Braque Francais Gascogne (and Pyrenees). This is such a wonderful all-around breed that there is really only one potential drawback to adopting one.

Is your family active enough to give this high-energy working dog a great quality of life?

If so, this gentle, loving, and adaptable dog could be just the companion you’re looking for. The Braque Francais Gascogne temperament will make her the perfect partner for all your adventures and a loving family companion at home.