Basset Fauve de Bretagne

This medium-sized, rough-coated dog is a typical basset shape, though not as low to the ground as the Basset Hound, standing at 32-38cm when fully grown. He weighs about 16-18kg as an adult. The coat comes in fawn, gold-wheaten or red-wheaten. Some may have a little white on the chest.

The need-to-know

Dog suitable for owners with some experience
Extra training required
Enjoys active walks
Enjoys walking one to two hours a day
Medium dog
Minimum drool
Requires grooming once a week
Non hypoallergenic breed
Chatty and vocal dog
Not a guard dog
May require training to live with other pets
Great family dog

Personality

These are cheerful little dogs, intelligent, friendly, brave and very active. The Basset Fauve de Bretagne breed gets along well with children and other household pets. Not really guard dogs, they will however announce strangers at the door. They are unhappy if kept confined for too long and love to have busy, full lives and to be involved with all family matters.

History and Origins

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne dog breed is the smaller of the two hounds that come from the Brittany area of France in the 1800s. They were achieved by crossing the larger version, the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne, and Brittany Bassets and were originally used for hunting everything from rabbit to wild boar. The earlier versions of the breed probably looked more like the terriers than they do today. In addition to their homeland, these dogs are now becoming popular in Britain where they have been registered with the Kennel Club since 1991.

Nutrition and Feeding

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food.

Exercise

For their size, Basset Fauve de Bretagnes need a reasonable amount of exercise – about two hours a day or more. These nimble dogs love to play and have a passion for hunting, so care must be taken when they are off the lead and they must be trained to recall as puppies or they will turn a 'deaf ear' on you and come back when it suits them!

Other Information

Health and common issues

This is a hardy breed with no specific breed related problems reported to date.

Best family dog breeds

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children , all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.