Additonal Breeds Starting
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COUNTRY:
France
WEIGHT:
44 pounds
HEIGHT:
20-22 inches
COAT:
Rough, hard hair of medium to short length
COLOR:
Solid, in various shades of wheaten to
red; small
white spot on chest allowed; black hairs
highly objectionable
OTHER
NAMES: Tawny Brittany Griffon
REGISTRY:
FCI
GROUP:
Hound
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The soil in Brittany
is poor, and much of the agriculture is devoted to grazing, especially
sheep. Brittany is a peninsula in the northwestern corner of France, reaching
out into the Atlantic toward Britain. In times past, wolves posed a constant
threat to the flocks. Dogs that could track down this predator were an
economic necessity. An extra bonus was the diversion from the everyday
farm routine provided by the wolf hunts.
The fawn-colored
Griffons of Brittany were well chronicled as far back as the Middle Ages.
Whether or not these dogs predate the Griffons of Vendee, which is the
neighboring province to the south, is debatable. They go back to the same
era, and facts of whether one contributed to the other or they came from
some of the same stem breeds have been lost in the mists of time.
By 1885, the
wolves were gone from Brittany and this breed fell into oblivion or was
crossed carelessly with other hounds. Breeders of the present century
have worked hard to save the tawny hound. This griffon was easily adapted
to other game such as fox and wild boar and, although rarely seen outside
of its native area, is still used by modern hunters. Because the breed
was becoming bastardized, fanciers have applied a strict standard to eliminate
animals that are not of correct type. They are about the same size as
the Briquet Vendeen and are always of the solid fawn, tawny or wheaten
color.
The Basset
version was probably created from crosses of the large Griffon with
bassets from Vendee or elsewhere. The smaller version is quite swift
for his size and has a lively and enterprising personality. Brittany
Bassets are generally hunted in packs of four, going after smaller prey
such as rabbit, hare and wild boar. Along with many other bassets, this
variety has achieved some standing in modern society as a companion.
He makes a fine pet as long as his need for exercise and his passion
for hunting are fulfilled. BFB s are bred and shown in England as well
as in their homeland.
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