Braque du Bourbonnais

The Braque du Bourbonnais is a French pointing dog in a ticked fawn or liver coat, traditionally born with a naturally short tail — a stocky, close-working gun dog.

History

It is described in French sources from the sixteenth century and comes from the Bourbonnais region. Twentieth-century breeders insisted on the short tail and particular coat colours to the point of shrinking the gene pool badly, and the breed was rebuilt from the 1970s with those requirements relaxed.

Temperament

The breed is known for being affectionate, willing and closely bonded to its household, working near the gun and adapting readily to family life.

Care and training

It needs substantial exercise and work that uses its nose. It trains readily and dislikes harsh handling. The short coat is easy.

Health

Generally robust; the breed's near-collapse from selecting on cosmetic traits is the cautionary part of its record rather than any current defect. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.