Braque Français, Gascony type

The Gascony type Braque Français is one of the oldest pointing dog lines in Europe, with ancestors that hunted the hills of southwestern France well before the Renaissance. It stands larger and heavier than the smaller Pyrenean type, with males reaching up to 32 kilograms. The short, dense coat lets it work through thick cover without snagging and needs little grooming. The breed was developed to point game rather than chase it down, giving it a calmer temperament than a scenthound. Today it is rare even in France, kept mostly by working hunters rather than the show ring. The long, drooping ears need regular checking for moisture and infection. Temperament is affectionate and handler-focused, but it needs serious daily exercise. Life expectancy runs 12 to 14 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Braque Français, Gascony type: how old in human years?

56–69 cmHeight
25–32 kgWeight
12–14 yrsLife expectancy

French Spaniel

FCI group: Pointing Dogs
FCI section: Section 1.1: Continental Pointing Dogs, Type Braque
FCI: 133
Country of origin: France

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

2/5

At a glance

Height

Males 60–69 cm

Females 56–65 cm

Weight

Males 25–32 kg

Females not specified

Life expectancy

12–14 yrs

Coat

short, dense (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Braque Français, Gascony type'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 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Braque Français, Gascony type'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 Français, Gascony type's guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 2/5
Watchfulness 3/5
Barking level 2/5

Grooming & Care

Braque Français, Gascony type's grooming needs are low.

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

Living with the Braque Français, Gascony type

On a stubble field in the early morning it moves in long, easy strides, nose into the wind, until it suddenly freezes like a cut-out figure and you know the bird is right there. The Braque Français, Gascony type is the larger of the two Braque Français types, part of an old French family of pointing dogs, built to search and to point game birds. Its prey drive and hunting instinct are very strong, so recall takes patient practice, and cats and small animals need careful introductions.

It needs a lot of exercise: every day it wants more than a walk, with off-lead running somewhere safe, search games, retrieving or hunting. It learns quickly and willingly, especially when training feels like work, and gentle, consistent teaching gets more from it than harshness. Shut in a flat alone for long hours, it will get bored and find its own projects.

Indoors, once it has had a good run, it is calm and affectionate, likes to be near its people, gets on well with children and usually with other dogs. It is polite to strangers and will tell you someone has arrived, but guarding is not its calling. It does best with an active family or a hunter, in a home with a garden and weekends spent in the fields.

Grooming and coat

The short, dense coat of the Braque Français, Gascony type looks as though someone polishes it every morning, but in truth it needs very little. Once a week, go over it with a rubber mitt or a short-bristled brush, and after a wet walk give it a rub with a towel. It sheds moderately, so there will still be short hairs on the rug, especially at the turn of the seasons. Bath it only when it is properly dirty.

For this hunter, what it brings home from the field matters more than the coat. After a run through stubble and scrub, check the paws, pads and thinly covered skin for scratches, thorns 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 (32 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.

≈ 365 g of dry food a day, from €19,95 a month For a neutered, normally active 28,5 kg dog. Calculate for your dog