Fawn Brittany Griffon
Other names: Griffon fauve de Bretagne
This rather scruffy-looking lady has a good excuse for her appearance: her mind and energy are focused on other business. A hunting dog with a heritage in the tracking of wolves, bears, and boar, her brain is equal to her exquisite nose. She loves to solve problems, and to spend quality time with her human peers, with whom she will hardly tolerate lazy hours in front of the TV set unless play and fusses are also on the cards. Sandy-coloured and rough to the touch, her unkempt appearance doesn’t preclude her aesthetic desirability, and having been near-extinct in the mid-twentieth century the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne has enjoyed a stunning renaissance. A smaller edition, the Basset Fauve De Bretagne, is more popular still.
Key facts about the Fawn Brittany Griffon
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Origins and history
This happy hunter can be traced back at least as far as the 14th century, when a chap with the wonderful name of Huet des Ventes is on record as having a pack of the things. The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne was largely employed as a hunter of wolves until the latter approached extinction in the 19th century; thereafter it fell to a rare man, Marcel Pambrun, to preserve this rare dog, a vocation at which he succeeded chiefly as a result of establishing the Club de Fauve de Bretagne in 1949.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 6 - Scent hounds and related breeds
Section
Section 1 : Scent hounds
Physical characteristics of the Fawn Brittany Griffon
Adult size
Female : Between 19 and 21 in
Male : Between 20 and 22 in
Weight
Female : Between 40 and 49 lb
Male : Between 40 and 49 lb
Coat colour
All shades of fawn, from golden wheat to brick red.
Type of coat
Rough and short.
Eye colour
Dark brown.
Description
Lean, muscular, her harsh fur suggesting her indifference towards tough environments, the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne is a cute medium-sized hunter with a long face and pleasantly flappy ears, which are an oasis of smoothness on that bristled body. Her fur, although short, is sprouty rather than woolly or curly, and tends towards the shade of 1980s casualwear or garden-room sofas. Her moustache, although modest, sets the tone with its quietly workmanlike seriousness.
Good to know
The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne remains common in France and reasonably well-known across the rest of Europe, but you may struggle to find a breeder beyond European shores.
Temperament
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66%
Affectionate
She is quite loyal and affectionate.
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66%
Playful
Being intelligent and full of energy, the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne is ready for stimulating games.
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66%
Calm
With the right training and exercise, she’s calm at home, and exhibits an energetic discipline outdoors.
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66%
Intelligent
Her intelligence is characterised by her ability to adapt to different working situations and games.
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100%
Hunter
This dog was built for hunting fox and wild boar.
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100%
Independent
She is resourceful, and must be well led if you want her to be receptive and obedient.
Behaviour of the Fawn Brittany Griffon
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66%
Tolerates solitude
She likes to live in a group, and although the absence of a master is fine if she is in kennels, she could get depressed if she is left entirely alone.
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66%
Easy to train / obedience
She needs to be taken in hand early and by an experienced trainer if she is to fulfil her sweet potential.
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100%
Barking
Her ‘choppy’ (short and sharp) bark is used liberally in her professional role.
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100%
Tendency to run away
Being a problem solver, she loves to hatch escape plans.
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33%
Destructive
She is rather calm as long as her needs are met, and doesn’t get bored if she lives in a pack.
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66%
Greedy / Gluttony
The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne’s appetite is healthy but not excessive. Treats are a good way to motivate this sometimes stubborn and obstinate dog.
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33%
Guard dog
She doesn’t have a strong sense of territory, so isn’t a great guard.
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100%
First dog
Potential owners with the time and energy to answer to this dog’s needs should thrive with a Griffon Fauve de Bretagne.
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Is the Fawn Brittany Griffon right for you?
take the testLifestyle
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33%
Fawn Brittany Griffon in a flat
She is better off living in the country than in town, and would not enjoy living in an apartment.
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100%
Need for exercise / Sporty
This working dog needs a good two hours of serious exercise and stimulation a day once fully-grown.
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66%
Travelling / easy to transport
Her average size means that she can follow her masters as long as they are well organised and if she is accustomed to various modes of transport in her youth.
Compatibility
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66%
Fawn Brittany Griffon and cats
Unless they have grown up together, her high prey drive makes the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne rather keen on chasing cats for sport.
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100%
Fawn Brittany Griffon and dogs
She will love to hang out with other dogs especially if she’s used to such company from a young age.
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66%
Fawn Brittany Griffon and the elderly
This dog can be docile, gentle and affectionate, but still requires a lot of exercise. An active older person will require the energy to meet her needs.
Price
We do not have enough data to set an average price, but you can expect to pay upwards of £750 for a well-bred puppy. Looking after a dog of this size typically costs between £70 to £100 a month, including food, medical/insurance, and incidental expenses.
Grooming
This dog’s coat rather conveniently looks after itself for the most part. A weekly comb and brush plus the standard nail clipping should keep her in good nick. Some special attention to avoid infections in her drooping ears is also recommended.
Shedding
Moderate, seasonally.
Nutrition of the Fawn Brittany Griffon
She is not difficult to feed, although rations should be adjusted depending on her routine. She must never go to work on a full belly, so calm evening meals are best.
Health of the Fawn Brittany Griffon
Life expectancy
The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne is generally known to keep good health, and has an average life expectancy of 13 years.
Strong / robust
This is a sturdy outdoors-style dog.
Withstand heat
The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne doesn’t do well in extreme heat.
Withstand cold
The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne usually lives outside and doesn’t fear the cold as long as she has shelter.
Tendency to put on weight
As long as she gets the exercise she needs, she is not likely to put on weight.
Common illnesses
- Hip or elbow dysplasia
- Eye problems
- Allergies