IN THE DAYS BEFORE FRANCE BECAME KNOWN AS THE CRADLE OF ARTISTS AND THE CENTER OF THE FASHION WORLD, IT WAS A SUPERB UPLAND HUNTING DESTINATION. THE HILLS OF THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE WERE PLANTED WITH A VARIETY OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS AND THE FORESTS AND MOUNTAINS WERE TEEMING WITH WILDLIFE. GROUSE, PHEASANT, AND PARTRIDGE WERE COMMON IN THE FARMLANDS AND WILD BIRDS WERE A STAPLE FOOD FOR MANY RURAL FAMILIES.
AT THE SAME TIME, POINTING DOGS WERE BECOMING MORE POPULAR IN EUROPE AND A SELECT GROUP OF FRENCH BREEDERS SET OUT TO DEVELOP A BREED THAT HAD THE ATHLETICISM NECESSARY TO HUNT HARD ALL DAY AND THE INSTINCT TO POINT AND RETRIEVE BIRDS. USING SPANISH POINTERS AND VARIOUS EUROPEAN HOUNDS AS THEIR ROOT STOCK, THESE BREEDERS BEGAN TO DEVELOP DOGS THAT EMBODIED ALL OF THE QUALITIES THEY DESIRED.
THE RESULT OF THEIR EFFORTS WAS THE BRAQUE FRANCAIS. THE BRAQUE BECAME KNOWN FOR ITS KEEN DETERMINATION AND OVERWHELMING DESIRE TO PLEASE ITS MASTER. CAREFUL BREEDING RESULTED IN A DOG THAT COULD BE RELIED UPON TO OBEY COMMANDS IN THE FIELD AND HUNT HARD ALL DAY LONG, A DOG THAT HAD INTENSE PREY DRIVE AND COULD ALSO SERVE AS A FAMILY COMPANION, PLAYING WITH THE CHILDREN, YET ACTING AS A WATCHDOG IN THE DARK OF NIGHT.
AMONG THE MANY SPORTING DOGS TO COME OUT OF EUROPE, THE BRAQUE FRANCAIS HAS REMAINED A RELATIVELY OBSCURE BREED. EVEN THOUGH THE BREED IS STILL COMMON IN FRANCE, THE BRAQUE HAS NEVER GAINED THE WORLDWIDE POPULARITY THAT MANY OTHER BREEDS FROM THAT ERA AND REGION HAVE EXPERIENCED. HOWEVER, THE BRAQUE CONTINUES TO HAVE A LOYAL FOLLOWING OF BREEDERS AND HUNTERS THAT APPRECIATE THIS DOG’S INTELLIGENCE, ATHLETICISM, DRIVE AND NATURAL ABILITY.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY SUPERFICIALLY RESEMBLE SMALL GERMAN SHORTHAIRS, BRAQUES ARE VERY DIFFERENT THAN THEIR LARGER COUSINS (THE GERMAN SHORTHAIR WAS ALSO DERIVED IN PART FROM SPANISH POINTERS AND VARIOUS EUROPEAN HOUNDS) AND A NEW OWNER WHO EXPECTS A BRAQUE TO BEHAVE EXACTLY LIKE A SMALL GERMAN SHORTHAIR IS LIKELY TO BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RESULTS.
DESPITE REMAINING RELATIVELY UNKNOWN AND UNCOMMON, THERE ARE BREEDERS THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA WHO HAVE TURNED TO THE BRAQUE AND WOULD NOT CONSIDER HUNTING WITH ANYTHING ELSE. THIS CHARMING LITTLE UPLAND DOG HAS A PERSONALITY AND INTELLIGENCE ALL ITS OWN, AND THAT IS WHAT KEEPS LOYAL OWNERS ATTACHED TO THEIR BRAQUES.
READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.GUNDOGMAG.COM/BREEDS/BREED-PROFILE-THE-BRAQUE-FRANCAIS/#IXZZ59BXZQJKK
AT THE SAME TIME, POINTING DOGS WERE BECOMING MORE POPULAR IN EUROPE AND A SELECT GROUP OF FRENCH BREEDERS SET OUT TO DEVELOP A BREED THAT HAD THE ATHLETICISM NECESSARY TO HUNT HARD ALL DAY AND THE INSTINCT TO POINT AND RETRIEVE BIRDS. USING SPANISH POINTERS AND VARIOUS EUROPEAN HOUNDS AS THEIR ROOT STOCK, THESE BREEDERS BEGAN TO DEVELOP DOGS THAT EMBODIED ALL OF THE QUALITIES THEY DESIRED.
THE RESULT OF THEIR EFFORTS WAS THE BRAQUE FRANCAIS. THE BRAQUE BECAME KNOWN FOR ITS KEEN DETERMINATION AND OVERWHELMING DESIRE TO PLEASE ITS MASTER. CAREFUL BREEDING RESULTED IN A DOG THAT COULD BE RELIED UPON TO OBEY COMMANDS IN THE FIELD AND HUNT HARD ALL DAY LONG, A DOG THAT HAD INTENSE PREY DRIVE AND COULD ALSO SERVE AS A FAMILY COMPANION, PLAYING WITH THE CHILDREN, YET ACTING AS A WATCHDOG IN THE DARK OF NIGHT.
AMONG THE MANY SPORTING DOGS TO COME OUT OF EUROPE, THE BRAQUE FRANCAIS HAS REMAINED A RELATIVELY OBSCURE BREED. EVEN THOUGH THE BREED IS STILL COMMON IN FRANCE, THE BRAQUE HAS NEVER GAINED THE WORLDWIDE POPULARITY THAT MANY OTHER BREEDS FROM THAT ERA AND REGION HAVE EXPERIENCED. HOWEVER, THE BRAQUE CONTINUES TO HAVE A LOYAL FOLLOWING OF BREEDERS AND HUNTERS THAT APPRECIATE THIS DOG’S INTELLIGENCE, ATHLETICISM, DRIVE AND NATURAL ABILITY.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY SUPERFICIALLY RESEMBLE SMALL GERMAN SHORTHAIRS, BRAQUES ARE VERY DIFFERENT THAN THEIR LARGER COUSINS (THE GERMAN SHORTHAIR WAS ALSO DERIVED IN PART FROM SPANISH POINTERS AND VARIOUS EUROPEAN HOUNDS) AND A NEW OWNER WHO EXPECTS A BRAQUE TO BEHAVE EXACTLY LIKE A SMALL GERMAN SHORTHAIR IS LIKELY TO BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RESULTS.
DESPITE REMAINING RELATIVELY UNKNOWN AND UNCOMMON, THERE ARE BREEDERS THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA WHO HAVE TURNED TO THE BRAQUE AND WOULD NOT CONSIDER HUNTING WITH ANYTHING ELSE. THIS CHARMING LITTLE UPLAND DOG HAS A PERSONALITY AND INTELLIGENCE ALL ITS OWN, AND THAT IS WHAT KEEPS LOYAL OWNERS ATTACHED TO THEIR BRAQUES.
READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.GUNDOGMAG.COM/BREEDS/BREED-PROFILE-THE-BRAQUE-FRANCAIS/#IXZZ59BXZQJKK
