Braque d'Auvergne

49-62 lbs
20-24"
France
Auvergne Pointer, Bleu d’ Auvergne, French Pointer

The Braque d’Auvergne is an affectionate and intelligent pointer and overall versatile gun dog. This breed, despite their working history, does make a great family companion and is relatively easy to train. They are gentle and affectionate when home but when out in the field hunting they are fierce and all business. The Braque d’Auvergne is not suited for apartment living and does require a large fenced yard as well as a lot of daily interaction with their family. Be prepared to spend one to two hours each day with your Braque d’Auvergne to keep them happy and from becoming destructive in the home. 

purpose Purpose
Gun Dog, Pointer
history Date of Origin
1700s
ancestry Ancestry
Braque Francais, Gascony Pointer and Pyrenean Braque

Braque d'Auvergne Health

Average Size
Male Braque d'Auvergne size stats
Height: 22-26 inches Weight: 49-62 lbs
Female Braque d'Auvergne size stats
Height: 20-24 inches Weight: 49-62 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Minor Concerns
  • Ear Infections
  • Cataracts
  • Aortic Stenosis
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Elbow Dysplasia
Occasional Tests
  • Cardiac
  • CERF
  • Yearly Physical Examination
  • OFA on hips and elbows

Braque d'Auvergne Breed History

The history of the Braque d’Auvergne (pronounced Brock Dohvern) is muddied and his exact origins are unknown. Many historians believe the Braque d’Auvergne is an old breed, dating back to the 1700s. There are several smooth coated French pointers, all thought to have descended from the Braque Francais, the original French Braque breed. Braque comes from the French word braquer which means to point or aim. Auvernge comes from the region in France where the breed is most prevalent. The Braque Francais was extremely popular during the 1600s and was used as the base breed for several newer breeds. The Braque Francais was bred to several breeds of unknown pedigree throughout various regions of France to develop breeds that could be used for a specific purpose. The Braque d’Auvergne is associated with the Cantal and Auvergne regions of France. Many believe the Braque d’Auvergne is older than all the other pointing breeds aside from the Braque Francais. There is another theory as to how the Braque d’Auvergne came to be from Jean Servier, the former president of the French Pointer Club, and Colonel David Hancock, a famous historian of dog breeds. Servier wrote The World Encyclopedia of Dogs in 1971 and Hancock wrote The Heritage of the Dog in 1990. Both Servier and Hancock believed the oldest pointing breed in the world was the Braque Francais. Servier claims the Braque d’Auvergne comes from a cross of the Braque Francais, Gascony Pointer and Pyrenean Braque. According to Servier, the Braque d’Auvergne is possibly the oldest of the Braque breeds. Hancock also studied the Braque d’Auvergne and claimed the breed developed when the Knights of Malta imported dogs into the Auvernge region in the 1500s. The knights developed a pointing breed that is very similar to the Braque d’Auvergne. The first known dogs to be imported into the United States belonged to Nelson Hooe, Jr. of Dedham, Massachusetts and Dr. Jack Fannary of Reno, Nevada, although the exact dates of import are not known. The United Kennel Club accepted the Braque d’Auvergne in 2006. 

Braque d'Auvergne Breed Appearance

The Braque d’Auvergne is an athletic gun dog with a well proportioned body and a short, smooth coat. Their head is domed with a long, blunt muzzle. The males are taller and more muscled than the females. They have broad noses with open nostrils and are always black in color. Their eyes are oval and large; the eyes look brown but are really a dark hazel. They have an intelligent and kind expression. The Braque d’Auvergne has ears that hang and turn slightly inwards with rounded tips. Their ears are velvety to the touch. They have a shiny coat that is straight and is always black and white in color. The Braque d’Auvergne does not have a thick undercoat. They generally will have a black head with a small white blaze on the face or head. There will be black patches, mottling or ticking through the predominantly white body. Some Braque d’Auvergnes will have crisper coloring while others will have a more muddied appearance. 

Eye Color Possibilities
hazel Braque d'Auvergne eyes
Hazel
Nose Color Possibilities
black Braque d'Auvergne nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
pied Braque d'Auvergne coat
Pied
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Braque d'Auvergne straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Braque d'Auvergne Breed Maintenance

Since the Braque d’Auvergne does not have a thick undercoat they are very low maintenance. Their coat is tight fitting to the body and smooth to the touch. A weekly brushing using a natural bristle brush or a soft slicker brush will keep their coat shiny and any loose or dead hairs are removed. After brushing, their coat should be wiped down with using a soft cloth which gives the coat an extra shine. You will notice you Braque d’Auvergne shedding more in the spring and fall and more frequent brushing is necessary. They do have ears that hang and can become infected if not kept dry or clean. Check their ears each week to ensure they are clean and dry. Wipe the ears out with a cotton ball and hydrogen peroxide. When brushing each week, pick up his feet and check his toenails and pads for any problems that need addressed. Trim their nails when needed to keep them from developing problems with lameness. 

Brushes for Braque d'Auvergne
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Braque d'Auvergne requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Braque d'Auvergne Temperament

The Braque d’Auvergne is an affectionate and active dog. They are becoming more popular as a family companions because of their loving nature and trainability. Owners must remember that the Braque d’Auvergne is still a hunting breed with a high prey drive and does need to be closely watched around any small pets in the home. Cats that they are raised with may be able to coexist without constant monitoring. They are also a high energy breed and do require a significant amount of time walking or running. The Braque d’Auvergne is usually friendly with other dogs and does well in a multi-dog household. They will not do well living in an apartment or a home with a small yard. When left alone for too long the Braque d’Auvergne can easily become destructive or very vocal, causing problems with your neighbors. They are generally easy to train and will bond closely with all members of the family. The Braque d’Auvergne loves children but is not fond of children that do not respect their space. 

Braque d'Auvergne Activity Requirements

The Braque d’Auvergne does require a significant amount of exercise each day since they are a hunting dog that was required to run for miles after their prey. Expect to take them on long walks or runs at least once a day and then giving them plenty of opportunity to run and play in a fenced backyard should be sufficient to keep them healthy and content. Spending time with them training for hunting or even other dog sports is also a good way to alleviate their need to run and stretch their legs. Pointing breeds are excellent at lure coursing and even obedience. 

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Braque d'Auvergne Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $1.90
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$39.00 - $52.00
food bag monthly cost

Braque d'Auvergne Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Braque d'Auvergne size stats at six months
Height: 19.0 inches Weight: 27.5 lbs
Female Braque d'Auvergne size stats at six months
Height: 17.0 inches Weight: 27.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Braque d'Auvergne size stats at 12 months
Height: 22.0 inches Weight: 42.0 lbs
Female Braque d'Auvergne size stats at 12 months
Height: 20.0 inches Weight: 42.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Braque d'Auvergne size stats at 18 months
Height: 24.0 inches Weight: 55.5 lbs
Female Braque d'Auvergne size stats at 18 months
Height: 22.0 inches Weight: 55.5 lbs

Braque d'Auvergne Owner Experiences

Buck
7 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
fantastic dog. very loving. needs attention. likes to be petted and told that he is a good dog. wants to sleep right next to me. loves to play fetch. loves going to the dog park and meeting other dogs.
2 months, 4 weeks ago
Jerzee
8 Years
4 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Tug-of-war
Walk
Hunting
We rescued him not knowing what breed. We are now the luckiest family to have him. I love him to death and everyone stops and stares(even the dog catcher) when he goes for walks. Everybody says he’s the best dog even within minutes of meeting him.
4 years, 10 months ago
Marta
3 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
have had over a dozen of these dogs Best are the rare "Charbonne" phenotype that many don't recognize as Braques. However the Charbonnes are true Braques, just the colors for the body, not head, are reversed.
4 years, 1 month ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
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