Chow Chow vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Chow Chow vs Braque Francais - Breed ComparisonBraque Francais is originated from France but Chow Chow is originated from China. Braque Francais may grow 18 cm / 8 inches higher than Chow Chow. Braque Francais may weigh 23 kg / 51 pounds more than Chow Chow. Both Braque Francais and Chow Chow has almost same life span. Both Braque Francais and Chow Chow has almost same litter size. Braque Francais requires Low Maintenance. But Chow Chow requires High Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Non sporting dog
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France
China
Height Male:
47 - 69 cm
18 - 28 inches
43 - 51 cm
16 - 21 inches
Height Female:
45 - 65 cm
17 - 26 inches
41 - 60 cm
16 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 55 kg
44 - 122 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
19 - 52 kg
41 - 115 pounds
20 - 27 kg
44 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
11 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 10
4 - 8
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
French Pointing Dog -; Braque Francais, de Grande Taille
chowhound, chow, chowdren
Colors Available:
brown, Chestnut brown, either solid or mixed with white. With or without ticking or roaning or tan marking
cream and blue, Red (light gold to deep red-brown) • Cinnamon (light tan to brown) • Black
Coat:
thick
double thick and coarse
Shedding:
Moderate
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Sweet
Affectionate, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
High Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

braque francaisBraque Francais was at first one general breed of hounds in the Gascognes and Pyrenees Mountains areas of France. The one breed became two. Known as the Braque Francais Gascognes and the Braque Francais Pyrenees - two separate breeds of very alike dogs. The Gascognes is a lot less common than his smaller brother. Not very much is known about the beginnings of these two strains of Braque Francais as the breed has been around since at least the 15th century. Because the Braque Francais was exported or taken to so many different countries in the 15th-18th centuries, a lot of the origins of the breeds were lost. A major bloodline search was The conducted in the 19th century and found that these were two very distinct breeds of dog.

It is known that France was the birthplace of this breed and it was developed because of a need for a tracker that could point, flush and retrieve. The Braque Francais Gascogne probably came from the south of France. It is related to the German Shorthair Pointer and the English Pointer as well. Having existed since the 15th century, he was the father of all pointing dogs in France. By the 17th century the breed had grown enough to be called the “old style Braque Francais”,

Though the origin of the breed is not known there are of course several theories about it. The most prevalent belief is that the Braque Francais Gascogne is a descendent of the Chien d’Oysel, a spaniel breed of medium size and white or brown with brown markings. The Chien d’Oysel is an ancient breed used for hunting prior to the 13th century. Hunters crossed the Chien with local dogs on a routine basis.

Braque Francais came out of these breedings. It was probably French Scent hounds that created the larger size of the Gascogne. This also increased the stamina and strength of the Gascogne as opposed to the Pyrenees. There was also a mixing in of the Grand Bleu De Gasgogne and the Petit Bleu De Gasgogne.

The other prominent theory is that this breed the Gasgogne was actually developed from the Portugese, Spanish and Italian pointers rather than the French dogs. These dogs originated not with the Chien d’Oysel but with the scent hounds. From these dogs came the Spanish and English Pointers. All that is truly known is that all of these types of dogs were present in Europe by the fifteenth century and were moved among countries and cross bred regularly. However in the part of France called the Central Pyrenees region and in a small southern part of France the original, old style Braque Francais was pure bred. This aspect of the breed contributed to the development of all of the French pointers and European shorthaired dogs. By the end of the 1800’s today’s breed was developed.

In 1850 the first Braque Francais breed club was established and in the breed standards for both dogs followed in 1880. They were then registered in the French Kennel Club and the International Kennel Club (FCI). The French Kennel Club does not allow dogs with any common ancestors in Generations 1-3 into the Club in order to keep out the practice of inbreeding. In Canada only the Gascogne is recognized and the United States’ United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes both. The American Kennel Club (AKC) does not recognize either.

With most local regions and countries choosing their local dogs over other breeds, the Braque Francais Gascogne has become fairly rare outside of France where the breed was the most popular gun dog throughout the 1700’s. The Gascogne was mostly a dog of the hunting nobility because of its size and food needs. Following the French Revolution, the breed fell off dramatically, while the smaller Pyrenees continued to thrive. This was because in the Pyrenees Mountains and the Southwestern region of Gascony, the English Pointer never supplanted the Braque Francais.

The Second World War was brutal to the Braque Francais Gascognes and as it recovered it became much less common than its sister breed. Today it is found almost exclusively in France.

chow chowNorthern China is the original home of the Chow Chow. In that region of China, the breed was known as the Songshi Quan – “the puffy-lion” dog. They have also been known in China as the “Dog of the Tang Empire” or the Tang Quan. The Chow is believed to be an ancient breed that the Foo Dog, or stone dog guardians of Buddhist palaces and temples, is modeled after. It is one of the most ancient of dog breeds that are still around today.

It is believed that they have existed for around 2000 years or perhaps even as far back as 3000 years, starting out in Mongolia and migrating to China. The ancientness of the Chow Chow has been validated through DNA testing. In China all those centuries ago, the Chow Chow was born to be a working dog. They hunted, herded, guarded and pulled carts. They went on quests with the Mongolian armies when China was invaded, as well as when the Mongolians invaded the Middle East and Europe later on.

Today’s Canadian Kennel Club has about 350 Chows registered while the AKC gets 10,000 new registrations every year.

Description

braque francais puppy - descriptionThe Braque Francais Gascogne is a larger dog than the Pyrenees breed and is a very handsome dog. Both have a deep chest, a solid bodies, strong and slender legs and are well-proportioned. They have padded, round paws and a large brown head with floppy ears. The muzzle is a pointed block and he has a scissors bite, with a black nose and dark or amber eyes. The eyes are very expressive and round. The tail can be straight and long, or it can be docked. They are tall and athletic.

chow chow puppy - descriptionThe Chow really does look like a small lion with a black tongue. The dog is sturdy and square with erect, small ears on a broad skull. They have a very dense double coat. Their eyes are deep set and look like almonds, while they all have that very distinctive purple or black tongue. Their lips are also distinctive with their blue color. The nose is black, but some Chows might have a blue nose. The tail is curly.

These are medium size dogs when it comes to height and weight, but they are powerfully built for their size. Their power is in their compact body holding the energy and strength of a much larger dog. Its hind legs are almost entirely straight, unusual for any dog. They get their lion appearance from the huge ruff that stands behind their heads. Their chest is broad and deep.

Characteristics

braque francais dog - characteristicsThis is a working breed, but they are nevertheless friendly and loyal to their families. They want to please their people and are usually docile. They love kids and are good as a first ever dog. They are friendly and even-tempered. They tolerate people they do not know but can be shy and are not guard dogs. instead they are loving, affectionate and people oriented. They need to be with their families and never left outside alone. They can develop separation anxiety.

chow chow dog - characteristicsLoyal and true to their family and those they know; the Chow Chow is a little standoffish with strangers. They are very protective and usually attach themselves to one or two people. They are intelligent but stubborn, which can affect your training with them. They need to respect their people and Chows respect hose who take care of them. They can be aggressive toward dogs of their same sex especially if those dogs are the same breed as well.

They are known to be very clean and many have compared them to cats in that regard. They appear to be dignified and refined. They are usually very quiet but very adaptable dogs.

Health Problems

braque francais puppies - health problemsThe Braque Francais is a fairly healthy breed. They are susceptible to certain health conditions that most dogs of their size and working history are susceptible to. These include Patellar luxation which seems to be one of the most common problems for them. They also can have hip and/or elbow dysplasia, aortic stenosis which is a narrowing of the aorta, and some eye issues such as ectropion, entropion, and PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy as well as cataracts.

chow chow puppies - health problemsAlthough an ancient breed that obviously has survived many centuries of trials, the Cho Chow of today is prone to several different health conditions. These include:

Eyelid Entropion

This condition can require surgery to keep the turning eyelid from injuring the eye ball.

Hip Dysplasia

This can cause lameness and arthritis.

Elbow Dysplasia

This can cause lameness and arthritis.

Stomach Cancer

Ear Infections

Make sure you keep the ears clean and keep an eye on them.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

braque francais dogs - caringThis is a high energy, working dog with a need for a high-quality energy food or raw food that you make up yourself. Be sure to include chicken, beef and fish. Feed him about 3 cups once a day or 1.5 cups twice a day.

Health issues

In addition to the conditions listed above, his long floppy ears can lead to ear infections if not cared for. Wash them out daily. He is also susceptible to bloat so don’t feed him large meals and don’t let him exercise or work right before or right after exercise.

Exercise and games

These dogs have a variety of hunting skills. They are not only pointers but can flush, trail and retrieve. The Gascogne is not as quick as the Pyrenees. They need a lot of exercise daily or they need a hunting job. They would do well with barn hunt, lure coursing and free play in an off leash fenced in area. If they don’t get rid of their energy, they can be destructive. They were bred to hunt and cannot resist the chase,

chow chow dogs - caringDon’t overfeed a Chow Chow as they are hard workers and big eaters. Feed them at least twice a day.

Health issues

Additional health issues include:

Glaucoma

This eye disease can lead to blindness if not checked and treated.

Juvenile Cataracts

These can be removed from an adolescent puppy.

Lymphoma

Again, the Chow is susceptible to cancer.

Diabetes

Can lead to heart or kidney problems if left untreated.

Hot Spots/Allergies/Melanoma

Keep a close eye on your Chow Chow skin.

Exercise and games

The Chow Chow was developed as working dog, but today’s version is more laid back and doesn’t need excessive exercise. Daily walks will suffice. They live very happily in the city if walked regularly. They are not really a competitive breed outside of obedience and confirmation. They are seldom seen in sports like agility or frisbee.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Chow Chow vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  6. Chow Chow vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Chow Chow vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Chow Chow vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Chow Chow vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Chow Chow vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Chow Chow vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Chow Chow vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
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  14. Chow Chow vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Chow Chow vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
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  18. Chow Chow vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Chow Chow vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Chow Chow vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
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  25. Chow Chow vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Braque Francais vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Braque Francais vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Braque Francais vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Braque Francais vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Braque Francais vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Braque Francais vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Braque Francais vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Braque Francais vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Braque Francais vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Braque Francais vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Braque Francais vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Braque Francais vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Braque Francais vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Braque Francais vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Braque Francais vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Braque Francais vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Braque Francais vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Braque Francais vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Braque Francais vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Braque Francais vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Braque Francais vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Braque Francais vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Braque Francais vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Braque Francais vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Braque Francais vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison