Bourbonnais Pointing Dog

White, with fine brown ticking or fawn flecking. Matching brown- or fawn-coloured ears.

The Bourbonnais Pointing dog's hair length is short, fine and dense.

The Bourbonnais Pointing dog's eyes colours are hazel or amber.

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.

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.

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.

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 and intuitive, the Bourbonnais is the ideal wingman on purposeful excursions.

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.

The Bourbonnais is a sensitive dog. He may be protective but will warm up to strangers in time – particularly if well-socialised from puppyhood.

He is intelligent, eager to please, and self-reliant in the field, but will not tolerate too much alone-time.

Preferably not – and certainly not without adequate prior exercise to take the edge off his energies.

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.

The B-de-B will bark to alert his pack to the intrusion of potential threats, but will reign it in quickly upon instruction.

He is not especially prone to stray as long as the standard precautions are put in place to keep him safe.

Only if poorly-trained, or left to his own devices for unreasonable lengths of time will this dog err towards destructive behaviour.

The Bourbonnais is no more gluttonous than the average 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.

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.

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.

Absolutely. This dog is built for the chase and his instincts drive him to desire fresh air and outdoors stimulation.

No problems to report. He should be a calm and adaptable passenger.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Shedding is moderate.

12-14 years.

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.

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.

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.

Only if he does not get the high levels of exercise he requires.

• Entropion and Ectropion (eyelid deformity/infections)
• Hip Dysplasia
• Pulmonic Stenosis
• Bloating

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.