The Basset Fauve de Bretagne has a happy-go-lucky personality but can be strong-willed when he wants to be. This small French scenthound has a determined mindset and courageous attitude when it comes to hunting, and will choose to hunt above any other option. This means that although he can be clever, training might take a backseat when a rabbit or squirrel pops up in the yard! When not distracted by the smell or sight of game, he is willing to please and quite a cheerful companion. Fauves are gentle and loyal toward their owners, possessing a soft temperament without being shy. They can be very affectionate. Aggression is not seen in the breed.
Take note – The Basset Fauve is an energetic fellow who can be surprisingly strong and quick for his size! Although he tends to be calm in the house (he’ll lay down and watch tv with the family for hours), he has much more energy outside. Some require only a medium amount of physical exhertion while others need a much higher level of exercise. Exercise can come in many different forms, including a game of fetch in the backyard as this breed loves to play and romp, or even a hike through the woods! It is necessary that, when off-leash, the dog be kept in a fenced yard because of his high prey drive and tendency to wander.
The Fauve needs early training and socialization which should be continued throughout his life. Without this stimulation he may find other ways to occupy his time which are… less likely to please his owner. It should be noted that the breed is not easy to train, so patience and calm persistence is necessary. Many are very food-motivated which can help entice the dog to learn – just make sure that you are using the food as a reward for a job well done rather than a bribe! As mentioned above, they will follow their noses when training outside and can be easily distracted by the presence of animals. This is not to say the dogs cannot be trained around animal distractions, but an owner or trainer must put in the work to get them to this point. 
The BFDB is friendly both with other dogs as well as children and therefore makes for a good companion in many types of homes – even being amiable to apartment-living. He is also extremely outgoing and friendly even to guests and strangers. He tends to be quiet – at least as long as there aren’t any woodland creatures for him to chase and bark at. He is also easy to groom and care for as his wiry coat doesn’t tend to tangle or even collect dirt (although longer-haired individuals may need semi-regular coat stripping). The breed sheds only seasonally, and not too excessively.
The downsides to this breed? Besides their training difficulties, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne might have problems living with cats or other small “pocket pets”, depending upon the prey drive of the individual dog. They are also not hypo-allergenic like some other wirehaired breeds. Finally, they may be slower to housebreak than other dogs. These factors combined with their higher energy levels mean they may not make the best pets for novice dog owners.
The Basset Fauve tends to be fairly healthy although responsible breeders should screen for PRA (an eye disorder), heart issues, epilepsy and other potential issues. The breed is fairly rare here in the United States but more common overseas. For the most part, breeders both local and foreign are doing health tests and working towards keeping the BFDB as healthy as possible, but it is still up to the puppy buyer to ask questions and verify the health of the lines. Luckily, not only are most Fauves healthy but also quite long-lived, sometimes living up to (or beyond) 16 years of age!
