The Basset Fauve de Bretagne is more commonly seen in France than elsewhere in the world. The breed is thought to have originated in Brittany, France’s north-westernmost region (hence its name). The breed was introduced into the UK in 1983 and was registered as a rare breed in 2007.
Key facts about the Basset Fauve de Bretagne
Life expectancy :
Between 13 and 15 years
Temperament :
Playful, Calm, Hunter
Size :
Small
Type of coat :
Short, Hard
Price :
Between £400 and £1
FCI Group
FCI Group
Group 6 - Scent hounds and related breeds
Section
Section 1 : Scent hounds
Physical characteristics of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne
Adult size
Female dog
Between 13 and 15 in
Male dog
Between 13 and 15 in
Weight
Female dog
Between 31 and 35 lb
Male dog
Between 31 and 35 lb
Coat colour
These dogs are usually seen of fawn or wheaten colours and sometimes of ‘red brick’.
Type of coat
Rough, short and wiry.
Eye colour
Dark brown
Description
A short-legged dog and long in the body; the head of the Bretagne is domed, longish and well-proportioned. The Bretagne’s ears are quite long, end in a point and turn inwards towards the cheek. When active the dog’s thick tail is carried up and over its top line.
Temperament
Affectionate
Cheerful and confident, the Bretagne is a loving and loyal companion of people of all ages.
Playful
Bretagnes are playful and like to be the centre of attention; they have a tendency to be mischievous and cheeky.
Calm
A stable and even-tempered dog, the Bretagne is not easily upset or made nervous.
Intelligent
The Basset Bretagne is reasonably intelligent.
Hunter
This dog was originally bred to hunt small game and its prey instinct is still piqued by the scents of rabbits, squirrels and foxes. It is a courageous and wily dog.
Fearful / wary of strangers
The Bretagne tends to be welcoming of new people.
Independent
This is an independent dog that has its own agenda and won’t be swayed by owners who lack confidence and firmness.
Behaviour of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne
Tolerates solitude
The Basset Fauve de Bretagne does not like to be left alone for long periods of time.
Easy to train / obedience
To train the Basset Bretagne requires the owner to deliver consistent and confident training. This is a dog that is easily distracted and quick to boredom.
Barking
This dog has a tendency to bark to excess. According to some owners its bark is ‘deep and musical’.
Tendency to run away
The Basset Bretagne is hard to recall. It may not hear your command if it is focused on a particularly interesting scent. Reinforcing the recall command is useful and may be an effective strategy with some dogs, but the words ‘come here’ are not normally found in a Bretagne’s vocabulary.
Destructive
The Bretagne can be destructive if left on its own for long periods of time.
Greedy / Gluttony
The juvenile Bretagne is a greedy dog but the older Bretagne can be a fussy eater. It may take a while for the owner to find a type of food that is to the dog’s liking.
Guard dog
The Bretagne is a watchful and alert dog but not overly aggressive. It will bark to make its pack aware of the approach of a stranger.
First dog
The Basset Bretagne is a suitable first dog; the inexperienced dog owner should still take their time to learn about the breed and its foibles.
Lifestyle
Basset Fauve de Bretagne in a flat
The Basset Bretagne will be happy to live in a flat as long as it is regularly exercised. Ideally, access to a fenced garden would suit this dog.
Need for exercise / Sporty
The Bretagne needs a good amount of exercise every day.
Travelling / easy to transport
Once trained, a Basset Bretagne is comfortable with travel. To house the dog in a crate is sensible; make sure the dog is properly crate trained first.
Compatibility
Basset Fauve de Bretagne and cats
The Basset Bretagne is reasonably tolerant of animals with which it has been brought up, but is still liable to bully a non-canine.
Basset Fauve de Bretagne and dogs
Generally speaking, the Basset Bretagne gets on with other dogs.
Basset Fauve de Bretagne and children
On the whole this breed is kind and placid with children and is tolerant of their boisterous play.
Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the elderly
The Bretagne is an excellent dog for people of senior years. The dog prefers to live in a household where at least one person is present for the majority of the time.
Price
A purebred puppy can cost you anywhere between £400 and £1,000 to buy. Cost of care will be £120 to £150 per month.
Grooming
Brush once or twice a week to prevent the coat from becoming tangled and matted. Hand-stripping of the coat at least twice a year is required of the Bretagne.
Shedding
The Bretagne sheds only a small amount of hair throughout the year.
Nutrition of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne
It is worthwhile to feed a Basset Bretagne a high-quality and specially formulated dog food.
Health of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne
Life expectancy
A healthy breed of dog with no known genetic abnormalities or proneness to disease, it's life expectancy is 11 to 14 years.
Strong / robust
This is an active and courageous dog that likes nothing better than a day of outdoor exploration.
Withstand heat
The Bretagne is not very tolerant of hot temperatures. Special care must be taken of the Basset Bretagne during the summer months.
Withstand cold
The Bretagne is tolerant of cold temperatures and wet weather.
Tendency to put on weight
The Basset Bretagne is prone to weight gain. If your dog is not exercised as regularly as it should be and is fed too much human or substandard food it will quickly become obese.
A hound such as the Bretagne is unlikely to be obedient all of the time. Bretagnes are independent dogs that require a firm (but fair) and consistent training regime. An owner that affords a dog of this breed too much behavioural leeway will eventually be challenged by the Bretagne for Top Dog position.
Origins and history
The breed is thought to have arisen from various crosses with the extinct Grand Fauve de Bretagne. Originally bred in Brittany, France, the dog’s skills of hunting were put to use first by the gentry of the Revolution and later by the commoners. The breed was brought to the UK in the 1980s. Its popularity, although risen since then, remains relatively unexceptional.
