The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne was created in the 13th century. As might be surmised from his name, he is related to the Basset Fauve although is a bigger dog with longer legs. He is one of the oldest French scenthound breeds, and was originally used to hunt wolves. As the numbers of wolves steadily declined in the 19th century, the Griffon Fauve become more scare in France as well. While still rare in the United States today, his popularity is again gaining in his home country where he is lauded for his impeccable temperament and ability to get along well with both other dogs and people.
The Griffon Fauve is an immensely loyal breed who wants to be close to his owners as much as possible. Despite being courageous when hunting, he is affectionate and loving at home and makes a great dog for families. He is gentle and patient with children, although a young excitable dog may accidentally knock over a small toddler. He loves to play with older kids (and of course adults) and can do so for hours if given the chance! Although not normally a big barker, this breed can also make a good watchdog as he will alert to people coming to the door… although at the same time will welcome all strangers into the home so is probably not the best guard dog.
The GFB is a medium sized breed but he needs plenty of exercise. At least an hour a day of walking or jogging should be considered bare minimum, while 2 hours would be ideal. In addition, a yard to run around in would complete the perfect setup for this breed (fully fenced, and escape-proof). As might be expected, apartments aren’t a good living situation for these high-stamina hunting dogs! Without enough exercise he can quickly become destructive and frustrating to live with, so should only be owned by those who are willing and able to put in the work. On the other hand, individuals who have been given enough exercise will be calm and collected in the home – and will even curl up on the sofa to watch tv with their owners!
The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne can be identified by his long, hanging ears and coarse shaggy coat which is always fawn in color (fauve means fawn). Take note that although he has a rough, wiry coat it does still shed unlike some other wirehaired breeds, although shedding is on the light side. His coat is medium maintenance and will need to be brushed about once a week. In addition to being brushed – without being stripped at least twice a year, the coat will turn soft so this is an additional grooming step that should be taken. Trim nails weekly, regularly check and clean ears, and keep an eye on his teeth and he should be all set!
The GFB lives an average of 12-13 years and doesn’t have too many health problems although hip dysplasia is occasionally seen. This is a robust breed that doesn’t normally require a lot of vet care as long as he is provided proper attention and maintenance. He can get ear infections if his ears aren’t checked and cleaned regularly, but this is easy to prevent for diligent owners.
Like all scenthounds, the Griffon Fauve has a great sense of smell and can get so caught up in following an interesting scent that he can temporarily “forget” obedience commands. In addition to his high prey drive, he can also be stubborn and slow to learn commands in the first place. Owners will need to have a lot of patience when training a member of this breed. In addition, training sessions should be broken up into lots of short shifts throughout the day rather than one long session. Keep things fun for the dog, but don’t be afraid to be firm either – just don’t resort to unfair harsh corrections or he will shut down. Finally, start early in puppyhood with both training and socialization for the best outcome.
Photo by Alephalpha