Basset Fauve de Bretagne, by its English name Fawn Brittany Basset or the Fawn Hound of Brittany, is a French dog breed with a well developed sense of smell. This remarkable hound has been a great companion for French huntsmen for many centuries due to its fine nose, resistance to cold and wet, and fearlessness.
The English mainly see it as a show dog or family pet, and the European use it to trail scents but perceive him as a family pet as well.
Its height is between 12 and 13 inches (30 and 32 cm), it weighs around 36 - 40 lbs (16 18 kg), it has short legs and rough, dense, flat fur. Even though it has such a harsh coat, it is quite easy to care for. Aside from regular brushing, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne needs stripping two or three times a year. Its ears are covered in softer, darker hair than the coat. It is strong and muscular and has a prominent sternum. The tail is set on high and, when in movement, the dog carries it as a sickle. It has dark eyes and nose and the fur color varies from fawn to red-wheaten and golden-wheaten.
It is not the most active dog in the world and its size is ideal for being a housedog, but it enjoys getting out into the fields and will keep going for as long as you want to.
Although the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is a very friendly, amenable and lovable family pet, you must keep in mind that the instinct of hunting is strongly imprinted in its genetic code.
Being a scent hound means that sometimes it might pick up an interesting smell and try to track down the source, which means he will be distracted from its current activity. These dogs have an enthusiastic urge to hunt, which is a character trait the owner should never forget about. Since they are hound dogs, they tend to be very independent and have their own agenda.
The owners of Basset Fauve de Bretagne dogs should start training them in early puppyhood. It does not guarantee complete obedience, but will make them more cooperative. Nevertheless, they might forget about any training if they find a fresh rabbit trail.
It is not hard to understand them in term of emotions, judging by their clear eyes and turned out ears when unsure or nervous.
As for their health issues, the most common are: reproductive, aural (otitis) and ocular (cataracts). The breed was said to have no hereditary faults, but there have been cases of epilepsy in France and some other parts of Europe.
It has a typical longevity for purebred dogs (10 to 14 years), but it is still quite low compared to other similar size breeds. The most common cause of death for this breed is cancer, heart or kidney failure and road traffic accidents.
When deciding to get a Basset Fauve de Bretagne, a future owner should respect the fact that this is a courageous hound with an enthusiastic urge to hunt.
