Braque d'Auvergne

Also known as: Auvergne Pointer

The Braque d'Auvergne comes from the mountainous Auvergne region of central France, where local hunters shaped a dog able to work rough terrain and cold weather. The short, dense coat with its distinctive black patches on white made the dog easy to spot at a distance against brush and hedgerow. A male reaches up to 28 kilograms, with a build balanced between speed and stamina for a full day's work in the field. The breed is known for a steady, calm temperament and a strong bond with a single handler, which sometimes earns it a reputation as a one-person dog. It remains popular among hunters in France but stays fairly rare outside the country. Life expectancy runs 12 to 14 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Braque d'Auvergne: how old in human years?

53–63 cmHeight
22–28 kgWeight
12–14 yrsLife expectancy

Picardy Spaniel

FCI group: Pointing Dogs
FCI section: Section 1.1: Continental Pointing Dogs, Type Braque
FCI: 180
Country of origin: France

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

2/5

At a glance

Height

Males 56–63 cm

Females 53–61 cm

Weight

Males 22–28 kg

Females not specified

Life expectancy

12–14 yrs

Coat

short, dense (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Braque d'Auvergne's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 3/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Braque d'Auvergne's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 4/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Braque d'Auvergne's guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 2/5
Watchfulness 2/5
Barking level 2/5

Grooming & Care

Braque d'Auvergne's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 2/5
Grooming need 2/5

Living with the Braque d'Auvergne

If you are after a dog that will happily sleep till noon on a Sunday, the Braque d'Auvergne will ask you to reconsider. This French pointing dog comes from the mountainous Auvergne and was bred to search for and point game birds, so its ideal day is fields, wind and work. Its prey drive and hunting instinct are very strong: practise recall long and patiently, and introduce cats and small animals with care.

It needs a lot of exercise every day: long walks, off-lead running somewhere safe, searching, retrieving or hunting. It learns willingly and quickly grasps what you want, but it responds best to calm, friendly teaching; harshness only unsettles it. A flat and long hours alone are not enough for it, and a bored braque will gladly find its own entertainment.

Indoors, once it has had a proper run, it is calm, gentle and attached to its people, good with children and usually with other dogs. It is friendly to strangers, if a little reserved, and will announce a visitor, but it is no guard. It is happiest with an active family or a hunter who has a garden and time for the outdoors.

Grooming and coat

The Braque d'Auvergne's black-and-white coat, looking as if it had been dusted with charcoal, is short and dense, so it has almost no use for combs or groomers. Once a week, go over it with a rubber mitt or a short-bristled brush, and after a muddy walk let the mud dry: most of it will fall off on its own. It sheds moderately, more as the seasons change, and needs a bath only when there is really no other way.

What is worth a few minutes after every trip to the fields is a quick check: a short coat does little against thorns and branches, so look over the skin, paws and pads for scratches and ticks. Lift the hanging ears and look inside every week; redness, discharge or a bad smell is a reason to see a vet. Trim the nails if they don't wear down on their own.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (28 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 330 g of dry food a day, from €18,08 a month For a neutered, normally active 25 kg dog. Calculate for your dog