Basset Fauve de Bretagne

Size
Small (under 11kg)
Exercise
20 min/day
Training
Puppy school only
Size of home
Some outdoor space
Time at home
Alone with support
Grooming
Weekly
Barking preference
Low
Personality
Independent + affectionate

History

This little basset has the same qualities as the breed from which it is derived, the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne. Very popular in its region of origin in the nineteenth century, it earned a national reputation in the course of the last 30 years of the twentieth century.

Its exceptional aptitude for hunting has allowed it to win the French Cup hunting trophy on rabbit a number of times and it has become very popular. (1)

Appearance

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne, is a small, stocky hound, lively, rapid for its size. It benefits from enormous energy coupled with excellent hardiness.

He is a scent hound used for hunting rabbit, hare, fox, roe deer and wild boar. (1)

Temperament

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne are impassioned hunters but are also excellent companions of man, sociable, affectionate and equable. They adapt themselves easily to all terrains, even the most difficult, and to all quarry. When hunting they reveal themselves to be courageous, wily, and obstinate, which makes them very successful. (1)

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne is a neat looking hound, free from exaggeration and lively and friendly; as a scenthound, though, he has the usual failing of becoming absorbed with what he's scenting. He is agile enough to trouble any rabbit he scents. Where the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is still used for hunting it is either singly or in pairs. (2)

Overall a very sound dog they do not appear to suffer from any particular hereditary defects. However, like all hounds they are of an independent turn of mind, and early training in puppyhood will reap dividends later. It is never realistic to expect a hound to be obedient, as they have their own agenda much of the time, but they should become fairly co-operative. The coat is easy to care for; a regular brush will keep it smart, but, like a terrier he will need stripping two or three times a year. This is not a difficult task though you may prefer to leave it to a grooming parlour. A cheerful and equable breed, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is of a size to make a handy housedog, though he has a great taste for exercise and thoroughly enjoys getting out into the fields. (2)

They are loving, happy, outgoing dogs and are good with children, but it must be remembered that they are scent hounds and do retain their love of the hunt so may not suit every family. (2)

Sizes

Height: 32cm (12.6 ins) minimum to 38cm (15.5 ins) maximum with a tolerance of 2cm (0.8 ins) for exceptional specimens. (1)

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Basset Fauve de Bretagne you may have think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and its needs and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

References

DOGS AUSTRALIA.org.au
Wikipedia.org

Image: selectadogbreed

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 01 May 2009)

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Breed Standard - Basset Fauve de Bretagne

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne, is a small, stocky hound, lively, rapid for its size. It benefits from enormous energy coupled with excellent hardiness.

Characteristics

He is a scent hound used for hunting rabbit, hare, fox, roe deer and wild boar.

Temperament

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	Skull: Rather long with marked occipital protuberance. Seen from the front, the cranium has the form of a flattened arch and diminishes in width from the rear to the superciliary arches, which are not very prominent.Stop: A little more marked than with the Griffon Fauve de Bretange.Nose: Black or dark brown. Well open nostrils.Muzzle: Slightly tapering rather than being perfectly rectangular.Lips: Covering well the lower jaw but without excess. Moustaches only slightly furnished.
Eyes	Neither bulging nor set too deeply in the orbits. Dark brown in colour. The conjunctiva is not apparent. The expression is lively.
Ears	Finely attached, in line with the eye, just reaching the end of the nose when drawn forward, ending in a point, turned inwards and covered by finer and shorter hair than on the rest of the body.
Mouth	The jaws and teeth are strong, meeting in a perfect even scissor bite. The upper incisors cover the lower in close contact. The incisors are set square to the jaws. Absence of first premolars is not penalised.
Neck	Rather short and wellmusculed. Absence of dewlap.
Forequarters	Overview: The limbs have good bone.Shoulder: Oblique and well set on the thorax.Elbow: In the line with the body.Forearm: Vertical or curving slightly in (which is not to be sought after).Metacarpus (Pastern): Seen in profile, somewhat oblique. Seen from the front, in the axis of the body or slanting slightly out (which is not to be sought after).
Body	Back: Short for a basset and broad. Never swaybacked.Loin: Broad and muscularChest: Deep and broad.Ribs: Rather roundedAbdomen: The underline rises only slightly towards the rear.
Hindquarters	Overview: Well muscled. The limbs are well poised. Seen from behind, the rear limbs are parallel, neither close nor wide.Thigh: Long and well muscled.Hock: Well let down and moderately bent.Metatarsus (rear pastern): Vertical.
Feet	Compact with the toes tight together, arched and with solid nails. The pads are hard.
Tail	Carried slightly sickle-fashioned, of medium length, large at the base, often bristly and well tapered at the end. In action, the tail is carried above the top line and makes regular movements from side to side.
Gait/Movement	Lively.
Coat	Skin: Rather thick, supple.Coat: Very rough, harsh, rather short, never woolly or curly. The face shouldn't be too bushy.
Colour	Fawn coloured, from golden wheaten to red brick in hue. A few black hairs dispersed on the back and ears are tolerated. Occasionally the presence of a small white star on the chest, something not sought after.
Size	Height: 32cm (12.6 ins) minimum to 38cm (15.5 ins) maximum with a tolerance of 2cm (0.8 ins) for exceptional specimens.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.SEVERE FAULTSBehaviour:- TimidHead:- Wide, flat skull. Superciliary arches too prominent.- Short or pointed muzzle. Heavy and pendulous upper lips.Eyes- LightEars- Flat and largeBody- Frail in appearance. Top line not level enough. Too tucked up.Tail- Out of line.Limbs- Poor bone. Splayed feet.Coat- Sparse, smooth, fine, soft.ELIMINATING FAULTSTemperament- Aggressive or overly shyLack of type- Insufficient breed characteristics, which means the animal on the whole doesn’t resemble other samples of the breed.Jaws/Teeth.- Overshot or undershot.Eyes- Overly lightPigmentation- Totally or partially unpigmented areas on the nose or the edges of eyelids or lips.Tail- KinkedForequarters- Excessive crookDewclaws- Presence of dewclaws (This breed is always free from dewclaws)Coat- Long woolly coat. Any coat other than that defined by the standard.Height- Outside the limits defined by the standard.Defects- Noticeable invalidating defect. Anatomical malformationAny dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

History

This little basset has the same qualities as the breed from which it is derived, the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne. Very popular in its region of origin in the nineteenth century, it earned a national reputation in the course of the last 30 years of the twentieth century.Its exceptional aptitude for hunting has allowed it to win the French Cup hunting trophy on rabbit a number of times and it has become very popular.