Braque Saint-Germain

In English, the Braque Saint-Germain is known as the St. Germain Pointing Dog. These dogs are medium to large sized. They are versatile hunting dogs used as gun dogs, pointers and to hunt small animals. The term ‘Braque’ means pointing dog. The breed came into existence when French and English pointer dogs were cross bred, in and around the 1830s. It is said that King Charles X of France was the person responsible for breeding an English Pointer that he received as a gift, with a Braque Francais. This laid the foundation for the breed. These dogs were concentrated for a long time around the area of St. Germain, which explains the name. In present times, these dogs are rarely seen even in France.

These dogs are typical examples of Pointers. They have elegant looking coats in combinations of white and fawn colors. They have drop ears and their tails are long. The tail is usually held level during times when the dog is working. These dogs can grow to about 56-62 cm (22-24 inches). Females are smaller in size. These dogs are leggier than typical English Pointers, although there are many similarities. Their noses are usually pink in color and eyes are yellow, matching the color of the coat. The coats of these dogs does not provide adequate insulation when wet, so it is not recommended that these dogs be used to retrieve game from water.

These dogs were first bred at the royal kennels in the city of Compiegne in about 1830. The ancestry, as mentioned above, is shared by a mixture of Continental and English pointer breeds. Originally conceived as a hunting breed, these dogs achieved most fame as show dogs. The first dog show in France took place in 1863 and the Braque Saint-Germaine was its undoubted champion. In 1913, the breed had a French club of its own. In 2006, it received recognition as a breed in the United States’ United Kennel Club. It is common for these dogs to be advertised as a rare breed.

There are no known health concerns that these dogs are particularly vulnerable to. Generally, these dogs are very healthy. Some of them might fall prey to hip dysplasia. These dogs have soft mouths which help them to fetch the prey without damaging its body.

Temperament-wise, these dogs are rather reserved with strangers. They are obedient and loyal to their owner and family. Also, these dogs make good pets because they are not noisy by nature. They are gentle and affectionate towards children. One other quality about these dogs that makes them good pets is that their coat requires minimal grooming. They also don’t shed a lot which means that they don’t dirty their surroundings. These dogs also make good companions because they are willing workers and adapt to training quite easily. These dogs can thrive well even in rough conditions. Their personality is that of a hunting dog that also enjoys human company as a pet.