Let’s get one thing out of the way : this French pointing dog’s name is pronounced brack-do-bor-bon-NAY. Originally bred in the historic French region from which the Bourbonnais takes his name (the first part, ‘Braque,’ means ‘pointer’), the brand was recreated from scratch in the 1970s using his finest descendents and a stable of comparable breeds.
He remains popular in France and figures strongly on the North American canine scene, but is not recognized by the UK Kennel Club. A sensible, upstanding dog, the Bourbonnais is well-suited to family life, particularly if the family are the sort of keen outdoors types you read about in books.
Key facts about the Bourbonnais Pointing Dog
Life expectancy :
Between 12 and 14 years
Temperament :
Calm, Intelligent, Hunter
Size :
Medium
Type of coat :
Short
FCI Group
FCI Group
Group 7 - Pointing Dogs
Section
Section 1 : Continental Pointing Dogs
Physical characteristics of the Bourbonnais Pointing Dog
Adult size
Female dog
Between 19 and 22 in
Male dog
Between 20 and 22 in
Weight
Female dog
Between 35 and 49 lb
Male dog
Between 40 and 55 lb
Coat colour
White, with fine brown ticking or fawn flecking. Matching brown- or fawn-coloured ears.
Type of coat
The Bourbonnais Pointing dog's hair length is short, fine and dense.
Eye colour
The Bourbonnais Pointing dog's eyes colours are hazel or amber.
Description
This mid-sized dog doesn’t go back as far as you might expect a dog of his height to reach ; but his build is robust and muscular, which strength does not preclude an elegant, even delicate gait. The female is more elegant still. The colour specks on the fur would previously have been referred to as wine dregs or peach blossom ; depending how distributed the coloured fur is among his white coat, and indeed the strength of the beholder’s vision, he may give the impression of being ‘roan’-coloured like a fine, conker-ish horse. At one end, his snout is strong and – due to its broad base – almost cone-shaped. At the other end, if you find a tail at all it is likely to be short. But often, these dogs are born without a tail at all.
Temperament
Affectionate
This kind and engaged dog is a consistent source of affection. He will be troubled if left alone too long without his family, and enjoys the camaraderie of an outdoors adventure.
Playful
He likes to play and requires plenty of exercise, but while a tussle on the carpet or in the garden will not go unappreciated his true playground is the open field or forest.
Calm
While calm and gentle around the home, the Bourbonnais is serious about his work and will apply himself feverishly to the job at hand when hunting truffles or tennis balls in the great outdoors.
Intelligent
Intelligent and intuitive, the Bourbonnais is the ideal wingman on purposeful excursions.
Hunter
Hunting is in this dog’s blood. He is intelligent, focussed, and adaptable in the field. But his instincts are worker-like rather than bloodthirsty : he’s in it for the sport, not the kill.
Fearful / wary of strangers
The Bourbonnais is a sensitive dog. He may be protective but will warm up to strangers in time – particularly if well-socialised from puppyhood.
Independent
He is intelligent, eager to please, and self-reliant in the field, but will not tolerate too much alone-time.
Behaviour of the Bourbonnais Pointing Dog
Tolerates solitude
Preferably not – and certainly not without adequate prior exercise to take the edge off his energies.
Easy to train / obedience
This dog is whip-smart, eager to learn, and resourceful. Just ensure he gets enough exercise, or he may tend towards the mischievous that so blights the understimulated in our schools and kennels in the UK today.
Barking
The B-de-B will bark to alert his pack to the intrusion of potential threats, but will reign it in quickly upon instruction.
Tendency to run away
He is not especially prone to stray as long as the standard precautions are put in place to keep him safe.
Destructive
Only if poorly-trained, or left to his own devices for unreasonable lengths of time will this dog err towards destructive behaviour.
Greedy / Gluttony
The Bourbonnais is no more gluttonous than the average dog.
Guard dog
Alert and wise to the usual conditions of his environment, the Bourbonnais will notice any unexpected changes in his surroundings and raise the alarm in the standard canine fashion.
First dog
If you are prepared to put in the training and commit to the exercise regime that the B-de-B requires, there’s no reason why you should not take your first tentative steps into dog-ownership with this sensible chap at your side.
Lifestyle
Bourbonnais Pointing Dog in a flat
The flat is not his ideal setting since this is a high-energy dog who will need to stretch his legs several times a day. If you have good local access to a park, it may just work out.
Need for exercise / Sporty
Absolutely. This dog is built for the chase and his instincts drive him to desire fresh air and outdoors stimulation.
Travelling / easy to transport
No problems to report. He should be a calm and adaptable passenger.
Compatibility
Bourbonnais Pointing Dog and cats
It is not recommended to provide this dog with the society of cats, since his hunting instincts and common sense will likely convene in the middle and suggest just one outcome : track and destroy.
Bourbonnais Pointing Dog and dogs
If well-socialised from a young age, the B-de-B will suit canine company well throughout his adult life since, as a hunter, his instinct is towards teamwork and camaraderie.
Bourbonnais Pointing Dog and children
The Bourbonnais should be calm and protective towards children, although his size and energy levels may be a risk for smaller or more fragile humans. All in all, he should pose no problems, although he may not be the first choice medium sized dog for family life.
Bourbonnais Pointing Dog and the elderly
An elderly person who is sturdy and energetic enough for long daily walks and games with a mid-sized dog should find the Bourbonnais to be a warm companion. However, the emphasis is on ‘energetic’ since this dog can become unruly if his owner is unable to fulfil his exercise needs.
Price
We do not have enough information to set an average price for a Bourbonnais Pointing dog.
The Braque du Bourbonnais can cost around £30 per month to feed and maintain.
Grooming
Regular brushing, bathing, and tooth-brushing are par for the course. More notably, his nails may require more frequent clipping than average, as this breed has a tendency towards fast claw growth.
Shedding
Shedding is moderate.
Nutrition of the Bourbonnais Pointing Dog
Nothing out of the ordinary – just good quality dog food. However, you might consider a vet-approved ‘high energy’ formula designed for active breeds.
Health of the Bourbonnais Pointing Dog
Life expectancy
12-14 years.
Strong / robust
This is a sturdy hound, built for life in the fields even if he looks somewhat elegant or fragile. He’s no fighter, but will not grumble at becoming the Passepartout to your Phileas Fogg.
Withstand heat
The Bourbonnais is not known to struggle in the heat, although he should be provided with a constant source of fresh water and shade as with any dog.
Withstand cold
He won’t grumble at winter weather, but might not tolerate a dive for cold-water ducks since his fur is short and not especially protective against the chill.
Tendency to put on weight
Only if he does not get the high levels of exercise he requires.
Common illnesses
Entropion and Ectropion (eyelid deformity/infections)
This breed is not yet recognised by the UK Kennel Club. But he is a terribly good swimmer.
Origins and history
We know the Braque du Bourbonnais, in his original form, from French paintings and literature stretching back to the 1500s. He is believed to be one of oldest pointing dog varieties to have served human hunters. There were various pointer breeds across France, hailing from the same ancestors; each offshoot breed took the name of the region in which he was developed. And so the Bourbonnais is from Bourbonnais, although neither the region nor the dog exists in its original form today.
The region is now made up of parts of the departments of Allier and Cher. And despite his proficiency at indicating the whereabouts of partridges to his human comrades, the original Braque du Bourbonnais nearly died out. Continued breeding of the original B-de-B dog began to focus on his looks (breeders had a more lilac colour in mind) to the detriment of his skills. Naturally, serious hunters lost interest, and so breeding waned, the creature became increasingly rare, and his good name was removed from the registry of the Societe Centrale Canine (SCC).
In 1925, a group of breeders decided to do something about the plight of the Bourbonnais, and formed the Club du Braque du Bourbonnais – but much of their good work was undone by the advent of World War II. It is also claimed that these breeders continued to emphasize looks over ability. So it is understandable that the Bourbonnais’ post-war fortunes were not good. By 1973, a ten-year gap had passed since the last Bourbonnais pup had been registered.
Up stepped a human, Michel Comte, who was determined to lead the Bourbonnais back to glory. Through dedicated interbreeding of surviving B-de-B’s and similar breeds, he was able to create a new standard, although the FCI wouldn’t stamp its approval until 1991. Meanwhile, several of the creatures had been relocated to the United States, where their continued breeding has received popular, if not official, acclaim. Today, he is both handsome and talented:
"I shot a woodcock, and he ran out pick it up," says of Connecticut hunter Dan Larose. "He picked it up and immediately dropped it. He seemed to say, 'You want these things?' … We didn't lose a woodcock on the whole trip, and we shot quite a few.”
You might not want to hit the killing trail with your Bourbonnais, but be assured he’ll look picturesque as you photograph him snuffling for truffles or casually pointing out the location of an errant golf ball.
Names
Good names for a Bourbonnais Pointing dog: Buzz, Jolie, Peanut, Venus