Braque d'Auvergne vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison

Braque d'Auvergne vs American Bulldog - Breed ComparisonBraque d'Auvergne is originated from France but American Bulldog is originated from United States. Both Braque d'Auvergne and American Bulldog are having almost same height. Braque d'Auvergne may weigh 8 kg / 18 pounds more than American Bulldog. Both Braque d'Auvergne and American Bulldog has almost same life span. Both Braque d'Auvergne and American Bulldog has almost same litter size. Both Braque d'Auvergne and American Bulldog requires Low maintenance.

History

braque d auvergne - historySometime over 5 centuries ago, in the Cantal Region of France, was born a hunting breed, that might be the real ancestor of today’s pointing hunter dogs. Perhaps the oldest of all pointing gun dog is the Braque d’Auvergne. This breed comes from Central France in the region of Auvergne. This breed was developed prior to written dog breeding records in order to hunt in this region and find, point, flush out and retrieve fowl. This breed is clearly one of if not the oldest breeds in the French Braque. There is no agreement among historians on what breed is the oldest of the European pointing dogs and where they were developed – was it Spain or was it France? It is thought that the Braque Francais Gascogne is the original one of these in the early 1600’s while the Braque d’Auvergne came soon after. Due to the different hunting needs in the different parts of France, the Braque Francais Gascogne was crossed with a lot of other local scent hounds. The Braque d’Auvergne is one of the very oldest of all of these. There are records of the breeds existence in the 1700’s. It is probable that the Braque d’Auvergne was developed by crossing local dogs with Gascogne as well as with the Petit Bleu de Gascogne and the Grand Bleu de Gascogne.

In all of Western Europe, the region of Auvergne is not very populated and has unique geography in that is hilly and has many extinct and eroded volcanoes. A lot of the region is still unpopulated. In this environment, wildlife has flourished, and hunting is successful in providing food for the regions people. This circumstance with an abundance of birds, led to the breeding of the Braque Auvergne to specialize in hunting in this area. The breed is not very popular outside of Auvergne and probably never was. That fact allowed them to be devastated by the Second World War. The Reunion des Amateurs de Braque d’Auvergne (RABA) was started to promote the pure breeding and the protection of the d’Auvergnes. But when Auvergnes was occupied during the war, the slowed breeding of the Braque d ‘ Auvergne almost eliminated the breed. There might have only been about 25 dogs left following the end of the war. These remaining dogs were used to revive the breed, but it is still uncommon, but not rare. Individuals have been imported by other countries including North America. The United Kennel Club (UKC) accepted the breed in 2006 but is not accepted by the AKC (American Kennel Club). The breed is still a working breed and outside of France, very rare.

american bulldog - historyFollowing World War II, the American Bulldog was almost extinct.

Thanks to John D. Johnson from Summerville, Georgia the breed is still with us today. He gathered the best dogs he could find throughout the rural South and bred them back into popularity among his family and other rural families. His father bred the American Bulldog before John did and they have bred them longer than any other in any part of the world. His dogs were regularly used for tracking, hunting, guarding, watchdog and weight pulling. At some point Alan Scott joined Johnson breeding other bulldogs to Johnson's and forming the Standard American Bulldog.

The American Bulldog/ is popular today as a family pet and companion as well as a working dog.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Working dog
Origin:
France
United States
Height Male:
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
55 - 70 cm
21 - 28 inches
Height Female:
51 - 61 cm
20 - 25 inches
52 - 65 cm
20 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
48 - 62 kg
105 - 137 pounds
32 - 54 kg
70 - 120 pounds
Weight Female:
43 - 57 kg
94 - 126 pounds
27 - 45 kg
59 - 100 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
14 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
10 - 12
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Bleu d'Auvergne Braque d’Auvergne Pointer, Auvergne Pointer, Braque du Auvergne, Auvergnese Pointer, Auvergne Pointing Dog, Auvergnian Pointer, Auvergnese Pointing Dog, Auvergnian Pointing Dog French Pointer (Auvergne), Bleu d’Auvergne, Bleu de Auvergne
shades of brindle including red brindle, varying degrees of white, red, brown, tan, fawn and piebald.
Colors Available:
balck with white markings or mottled
Brindle, mostly white, white with brown or red and piebald.
Coat:
short
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate, Constant
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Outgoing, Social
Affectionate, Courageous, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

braque d auvergne puppy - descriptionThe Braque d’Auvergne is a well built, strong hunting dog with long ears, a large head and a docked tail. His coat is white with black markings and black ears and head. The breed looks a lot like all the other pointing dogs from France. They are medium in stature and has the appearance of a working gundog. He is athletic, muscular and fit. Docking the tail is outlawed in many countries and all of the United Kingdom. In that case the tail is high on the rump and always straight. Their face and head are big for the size of the body and shaped like an oval. With a long muzzle, deep set eyes and a gentle expression, they are kindly and handsome dogs. Their skin is loose but not droopy or wrinkled like hound dogs.

american bulldog puppy - descriptionThe American Bulldog is a powerful and muscular dog in a sturdy and compact frame. The female is more refined than the heavy boned and stocky male, but both genders are athletic, agile and quick. The have large heads, strong jaws, a muscular neck and with a moderately deep and wide chest.

They have a square head, with muscular cheeks and a clearly defined furrow between his eyes. With broad, square and strong muzzles, they have a reverse scissors, scissors, moderate underbite and an even bite. Ears come in a variety of shapes and sizes and eyes can be any color as well. The nose however should be black and lips black as well. Their legs are strong, heavy boned and straight with well-defined muscles in the hindquarters. Finally ,they have a thick, low set tail that comes to a point at the end.

Characteristics

braque d auvergne dog - characteristicsThis is a gentle, adaptable and obedient breed. With their intelligence and affectionate nature, they make great family dogs and are eager to please their people. Living with other dogs is fine but not with small, prey size animals. The Braque d’Auvergne should never be left alone pets like gerbils and hamsters. They must be socialized to cats as pets and not prey before living with them successfully. They need to work closely with one human partner. They are first and foremost a hunting dog and need some sort of hunting simulation. They are devoted to their families and want to be constantly in their presence. This can lead to separation anxiety if they are left alone too much. They are great with children and need a family.

american bulldog dog - characteristicsThe American Bulldog is characteristically loyal, brave and reliable. It is a friendly, gentle dog that truly loves children. There is not a hostile bone in his body despite his history and reputation for bull baiting. Though he is protective of its family and affectionate with most, he still needs a human companion who is strong willed and a genuine pack leader. Without this he might become aggressive around other dogs and pets. They are immensely self-confident and they do slobber and drool and will become excited and hard to handle without daily exercise of both their body and their minds.

Health Problems

braque d auvergne puppies - health problemsThe Braque d’Auvergne is a healthy breed but can face some of the same health concerns as other pointers and hunting dogs. The long, droopy ears can get infected easily if wet and need to be cleaned regularly so that food or dirt are not trapped their either. Because of the small gene pool however they may be at risk for several issues. The breeders in France express concerns about possible hip dysplasia and testing is highly recommended. Because they are at risk for other conditions that might not show up until later in life, it is also recommended that they be tested by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) as well as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

american bulldog puppies - health problemsThough generally healthy, the American Bulldog is prone to a few problems.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a serious issue in many breeds of dogs and is especially prevalent with the American Bull Dog. This may seem ironic in such a short legged dog but it is unfortunately very common. It is a genetic disorder that causes the bones in the joint to separate and causes the dog much pain and lameness.

Skin and Ear Issues

Due to skin folds you need to be care and watch for irritation and infection in the folds. They are also prone to ear infections.

Obesity

The American Bulldog is prone to overeating and all the health issues that presents. With short legs and a genetic predisposition to arthritis and hip dysplasia, obesity is a real health risk for your bulldog.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

braque d auvergne dogs - caringThe Braque d’Auvergne needs a high-quality diet fit for a working dog but not too much to make him obese. They are an active breed to choose a formula that is designed for working dogs.

Health issues

Although no studies have been conducted on the Braque d’Auvergne’s health issues there are many conditions that similar breeds are susceptible to and the d’Auvergne might be as well. This includes any of the following:

  • Dysplasia – elbow and hip
  • Cleft Palate or Cleft Lip.
  • Aortic Stenosis (Narrowing of the aorta)
  • Luxating Patella or moving kneecaps
  • PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Cataracts
  • Demodex/Demodicosis/Demodectic Mange

Exercise and games

This is an active, working dog who needs a lot of stimulation and exercise. The only real appropriate exercise for these dogs is hunting or outings in the woods. He not only needs the exercise, but he also needs to stimulate his sense of smell and his gundog intelligence. He might excel in lure chase or even a form or barn hunt. They certainly could excel at obedience trials and perhaps rally. If you are a weekend hunter then this is the ideal dog for you. They are so easy to train that they surpass other pointers for success with casual hunters. They hunt at a slower pace than many other gundogs. Their intelligence and athleticism lend itself well to agility and flyball also. They need a large (+acres)fenced in area to run and play.

Feeding Puppies

american bulldog dogs - caringThree times a day from 12 weeks to a year for a total of 3 cups per day.

Feeding Adults

After 6 months cut back to one cup twice a day of high quality dry dog food.

Bulldogs will eat anything at anytime and are prone to obesity. Don't overfeed them.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. English Springer Spaniel vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  2. Brittany vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  3. English Setter vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  4. French Brittany vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  5. Pudelpointer vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  6. Picardy Spaniel vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  7. Braque d'Auvergne vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  8. Braque d'Auvergne vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  9. Braque d'Auvergne vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  10. Braque d'Auvergne vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  11. Braque d'Auvergne vs Blue Picardy Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  12. Ariege Pointer vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  13. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  14. Irish Water Spaniel vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  15. Canadian Pointer vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  16. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  17. Clumber Spaniel vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  18. Stabyhoun vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  19. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  20. Vizsla vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  21. Large Munsterlander vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  22. Tyrolean Hound vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  23. Cockalier vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  24. Braque du Bourbonnais vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  25. Cesky Fousek vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  26. American Bulldog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  27. American Bulldog vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  28. Border Collie vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  29. Sakhalin Husky vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  30. Alaskan Husky vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  31. Catahoula Leopard vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. German Pinscher vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  33. Portuguese Water Dog vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  34. Puli vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  35. Griffon Bleu de Gascogne vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  36. Borador vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  37. German Spaniel vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  38. Canadian Eskimo Dog vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  39. McNab vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  40. Porcelaine vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  41. Finnish Lapphund vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  42. Berger Blanc Suisse vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  43. Griffon Nivernais vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  44. Hokkaido vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  45. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  46. Pumi vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  47. Griffon Fauve de Bretagne vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  48. Basque Shepherd vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  49. Istrian Sheepdog vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  50. Jamthund vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds