Basset Fauve de Bretagne

Basset Bleu de GascogneBasset Hound

Basset Fauve de Bretagne – General Description

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne (En: fauve = tawny) is a short legged hunting breed of dog of the scent hound type, originally from Brittany, a historical kingdom of France.

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Classification and Standards

• FCI Group 6 Section 1
• ANKC Group 4 (Hounds)
• KC (UK) Hound
• UKC Scenthounds

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Character & Temperament

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. The Fauve de Bretagne was probably developed from crosses of the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne and Brittany Bassets. The Griffon was used to guard flocks and hunt down predators, whilst the Brittany hunted in small packs of four hounds. Where the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is still used for hunting it is either singly or in pairs. The Basset Fauve de Bretagne became established as a distinct breed early in the 19thC and were introduced to the UK in 1983, and their cheerful disposition has earned them a good many friends. 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. Most Basset Fauve de Bretagne’s can be understood because their eyes are very clear and their ears turn out when they’re nervous or unsure.

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History

The breed was developed in France as a hunting dog from the larger Grand Fauve de Bretagne, a breed that is now extinct. There was a rumour that the Basset Fauve de Bretagne was also close to extinction after the Second World War, and the breed was recreated using the remaining examples of the breed and crossing in Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen and standard wirehaired Dachshunds. However, the French club denies this, and says that Basset Fauve numbers were never so low. The middle breed, the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne, still exists but it is certainly rarer than the Basset. The breed in the UK is mainly seen as a show dog and family pet, finally coming off the Kennel Club’s rare breed register in 2007. It can also be found in other parts of Europe where it is used to scent trail and also as a family pet. 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. In the UK the breed has no hereditary faults; however, epilepsy has been identified in some breeding lines in France and other parts of Europe. Some Fauves are born with black in the coat; this may or may not go with maturity. It is less common to see them with white patches but when they do occur it is generally confined to the chest and top of the head. However, even though the black ticking and white patches are not accepted colours, of course it does not interfere with their hunting ability, which is their prime job, and so these colour Fauves are still seen and occur fairly often in litters. The correct colour for a Fauve is anything from fawn to red but it should be solid with darker shaded ears.

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Size & Appearance

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne is a smallish hound, built along the same lines as the Basset Hound, but lighter all through and longer in the leg. Wire-coated, the coat is very harsh to the touch, dense, red-wheaten or fawn. They measure between 12-15 in (32–38 cm) in height and weighs between 36-40 lbs (16-18 kg) but some become very tall like a Labrador. They have coarse, dense fur which may require stripping. The hair on the ears is shorter, finer and darker than that on the coat. The ears just reach the end of the nose rather than trailing on the ground and should be pleated. They should have dark eyes and nose and ideally no crook on the front legs. The French standard says these are the shortest backed of all the basset breeds so they generally do not appear as exaggerated as the British Basset.

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Health & Maintenance

There is apparently only one completed health survey of Basset Fauve de Bretagnes,[1] a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey with a small sample size.[2] The French Basset Fauve de Bretagne kennel club, Club du Fauve de Bretagne (http://fauvedebretagne.free.fr/ – in French), is currently (as of July 15, 2007) conducting a health survey, but the questionnaire asks owners about all of their dogs collectively (rather than each individual dog) and does not ask about longevity.

Mortality

Based on a small sample size of 15 deceased dogs, Basset Fauve de Bretagnes in the 2004 UK Kennel Club survey had a median longevity of 10.4 years (maximum 13.9 years),[2] which is a typical median longevity for purebred dogs, but a little low compared to other breeds of similar size.[3] Most common causes of death were road traffic accidents, cancer, heart failure, and kidney failure.[2] The high incidence of road traffic accidents may be perhaps blamed on this dog’s love of the scent. Many pet Fauves go AWOL when they find a scent and this character trait is something an owner must never forget. Fauves can be trained very well in a controlled environment but training is rapidly forgotten once a fresh rabbit trail is found.

Morbidity

Among 84 live dogs in the 2004 UKC survey, the most common health issues noted by owners were reproductive, aural (otitis media and otitis externa), and ocular (corneal ulcers and cataracts).[2]

References

1. http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/breeddata.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Breed Data page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy.
2. http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/570 Kennel Club/British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. 2004. Purebred Dog Health Survey.
3. http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/weight_and_lifespan.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Weight and Longevity page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy

Photo Credits

1. Sannse (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
2. Sannse (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
3. Baslerfauves (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
4. Sannse (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
5. pc.david (photo-0577.jpg) [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

This article is licensed (except where noted) under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia article Basset Fauve de Bretagne

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Breed Standard

Basset Fauve de Bretagne

FCI-Standard N° 36 / 05 .05. 2003/ GB

TRANSLATION: John Miller and Raymond Triquet.

ORIGIN: France.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD: 25.03.2003.

UTILIZATION:

Scent hound used for hunting rabbit, hare, fox, roe deer and wild boar.

F.C.I. CLASSIFICATION :

• Group 6 Scent hounds and related breeds.
• Section 1.3 Small-sized hounds.

With working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY:

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 XIX century, it earned a national reputation in the course of the last 30 years of the XX 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.

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.

BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT:

The Bassets Fauves 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.

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION :

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 Bretagne.

FACIAL REGION:

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.
Jaws/Teeth: The jaws and teeth are strong, meeting in a perfect and even scissors bite. The upper incisors cover the lower in close contact. The incisors are set square to the jaws. Absence of first premolars is not penalized.
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.

NECK :

Rather short and well muscled.

BODY

Back: Short for a basset and broad. Never swaybacked.
Loin: Broad and muscular.
Chest: Deep and broad.
Ribs: Rather rounded.
Abdomen: The underline rises only slightly towards the rear.

TAIL:

Carried slightly sickle-fashion, 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.

LIMBS

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).

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.

GAIT / MOVEMENT :

Lively.

Skin :

Rather thick, supple. Absence of dewlap.

Coat

HAIR :

Coat very rough, harsh, rather short, never woolly or curly. The face shouldn’t be too bushy.

COLOR:

Fawn colored, 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

Males and Females: 32 cm minimum (12.6”)
38 cm maximum (15.5”)
with a tolerance of 2 cm (0.8”) 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 FAULTS :

Behavior:

• Timid

Head:

• Wide, flat skull. Superciliary arches too prominent,
• Short or pointed muzzle. Heavy and pendulous upper lips.

Eyes:

• Light.

Ears :

• Flat and large

Body:

• 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 FAULTS

Temperament:

• Aggressive or overly shy.

Lack 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 light.

Pigmentation:

• Totally or partially unpigmented areas on the nose or the edges of eyelids or lips.

Tail:

• Kinked.

Forequarters:

• Excessive crook.

Dewclaws:

• 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 malformation

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

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

© Fédération Cynologique Internationale