Dutch Smoushond vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison

Dutch Smoushond vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed ComparisonBraque Saint-Germain is originated from France but Dutch Smoushond is originated from Netherlands. Braque Saint-Germain may grow 19 cm / 8 inches higher than Dutch Smoushond. Braque Saint-Germain may weigh 24 kg / 53 pounds more than Dutch Smoushond. Both Braque Saint-Germain and Dutch Smoushond has same life span. Both Braque Saint-Germain and Dutch Smoushond has almost same litter size. Braque Saint-Germain requires Low Maintenance. But Dutch Smoushond requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Companion dog
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France
Netherlands
Height Male:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
35 - 43 cm
13 - 17 inches
Height Female:
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
35 - 43 cm
13 - 17 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 35 kg
44 - 78 pounds
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 28 kg
35 - 62 pounds
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
2 - 6
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Saint-Germain Pointer, French Pointer (Saint-Germain), Saint-Germain Pointing Dog, French Pointing Dog (Saint-Germain) Braque d’Auvergne Pointer, Auvergne Pointer, Braque du Auvergne, Auvergnese Pointer, Auvergne Pointing Dog, Auvergnian Pointer, Auvergnese Pointing Dog, Auvergnian Pointing Dog Bleu de Auvergne, Bleu d’Auvergne
Dutch Terrier, Dutch Ratter
Colors Available:
Dull white with orange (fawn) markings
Yellowish, straw color
Coat:
short not fine
Rough, shaggy, wiry medium length
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Cheerful, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

braque saint germainThe Braque Saint-Germain, also known as the St. Germain Pointing Dog, is a French creation. The French pointing dogs and the English pointing dogs were mixed to develop the Braque Saint-Germain. He is a versatile hunting dog that was both a pointer and a gun dog. They are medium to large in size and went from being bred by royalty in the 1830’s to a popular everyday hunting dog. The ancestry of the breed can be traced back many additional centuries.

As popular as the Braque Saint-Germain was as a hunter, he gained his notoriety in the show ring. The first time a Braque Saint-Germain entered the ring in 1863 it was an acclaimed breed and upstaged all other pointing breeds. The French Braque Saint-Germain club was opened in 1913 and recognized by the Federation Cynoloqique International (FCI) and in 2006 was recognized by the North American United Kennel Club. Their popularity has risen and fallen since World War II. It has flirted with extinction more than once. Today’s Braque Saint-Germain is a highly talented hunting dog with a standard appearance that still does well in the ring.

The English Pointer was a cross between the hound dogs, British gundog, Spanish Pointer and herding breeds. This made the English Pointer a very versatile breed before it was crossed with the Braque Francais Gascogne. The Braque Francais Gascogne itself is believed to have developed from the Chien d-Oysel and Italian and Spanish pointing dogs. The English Pointer was specialized in pointing and the French Braque Francais Gascogne was a very versatile dog. In the Braque Saint-Germain the dog world has a versatile, excellent pointing dog.

In the 1800’s the French Crown was gifted with two English Pointers that were great at hunting. Some considered the English Pointers to be better than any of their Braque Francais. The female of these two pointers was bred many times but the male died without breeding. The female’s first litter was with a brown German Spaniel and were of low quality. Her second litter however was with an outstanding bird dog and produced 7 excellent puppies. Because of this these two dogs were bred several more times. The owner of the adult dogs moved to Saint-Germain, where their appearance attracted many hunters. The breed flourished here and was named the Braque Saint-Germain.

Soon corrupt individuals sold non-purebreds as Braque Saint-Germains and handlers showed these dogs under the Saint-Germain name. There are always dangers when a popular breed’s beginnings comes from only two dogs. In 1913 the new breed club fought over the standard and ended up producing two types. The first type was a sturdy dog with long ears and a round chest. He was larger and slower than his cousin. The second type was a smaller dog with a finer skeleton and short, high set ears. He was a galloper to his cousin’s trot.

The breed found itself facing near extinction in 1914 and during all of World War I. Dogs were not bred and many were not properly cared for. The breed became quite rare. Then as it began to recover, the Second World War intervened and devasted the breed again. By the end of the war, they were once again very rare and on the edge of extinction. It took a dedicated effort from local breeders to bring the breed back. By the 1950’s the two types of Braque Saint-Germain dogs were molded into only one breed. There remained a conflict between those that bred show dogs and those that bred hunting dogs.

Slowly the breed grew in number and in the late 1990’s there were over 100 puppies registered into the club every year. More than 100 were entered into the clubs in 2009. There have also been a few English Pointer crosses allowed to breed with the Braque Saint-Germains in order to grow and improve the gene pool. Still the breed is exceedingly rare outside of France. Through it all the breed has been able to maintain its place in confirmation and still be a versatile hunting dog.

dutch smoushondThe Dutch Smoushond, known also as the Hollandse Smoushond ,Hollandse Herdershond

or Dutch Ratter is a small to medium sized dog. The Smoushondenclub was formed in 1905 as it was thought that the breed was dying out and they wanted to register the dog as a purebred breed.

It is believed that the dog’s origins may have to do with the Schnauzer breed. It was in 1973 that a number of breeders looked to reconstruct the breed, using Border Terrier crosses.

Today this rare breed is popular in the Netherlands, but not particularly well known anywhere else. In 2001 it was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale as well as by the United Kennel Club in the United States.

Although the dog was once a skilled ratter, most Dutch Smoushond are kept as companion dogs.

Description

braque saint germain puppy - descriptionThe Braque Saint-Germain is very much a pointer and yet is a very attractive dog. They have a medium build, drop ears and a long, level tail tapered at the end. They are really distinctive looking with an athletic, lean, muscled look. The skull is round and the muzzle is the same length as the skull. Their nose is pink , their lips cover their lower jaw and their eyes are golden, round and large. The ears are set high on the head and look like they are slightly detached. The neck is long, muscular and arched, while they have deep chest. They are well proportioned, good looking dogs with a friendly facial expression. Their coat is true to the pointing dog group as it is short, smooth and white with orange markings. Dogs of any other color might be great hunting dogs but are not show dogs and should not be bred

dutch smoushond puppy - descriptionThe Dutch Smoushond is a small to medium sized dog breed related to the Schnauzer- and Pinscher breed. He stands at about 35 to 43cm at the withers and weighs about 10kg.

He has a rough, shaggy, wiry coat which is waterproof and which is a yellowish or straw color. You’ll notice that the hair around the face is long and fairly straight and forms a beard, eyebrows, and moustache, giving him wise, know-it-all look.

The forelegs are also feathered. He may well give the impression of being ungroomed and untidy with his different length hair. He has floppy ears, the eyes are small and dark, the nose black and the tail is long and feathery, hanging limply when the dog is relaxed.

Temperament:

Easy going, friendly and social, the Dutch Smoushond is a fairly quiet dog, but because he is intelligent and alert, he makes a good watchdog.

When not guarding you, he is cheerful and entertaining. He is an adaptable dog, being able to settle down to life in the city or in the countryside, getting on well with other pets in the home as well as with children.

He is a dog who wants to please, so training him isn’t going to prove difficult. He’ll do well with this training as well as socialization as he becomes obedient, easy-going and relaxed around strangers.

Characteristics

braque saint germain dog - characteristicsThe Braque Saint-Germain is a working dog and a show dog. They are energetic, competitive and driven. They are generally affectionate, loyal and love to cuddle with their people. They need human companionship companionship and can have severe separation anxiety when left by themselves. They love being a member of the family with children, but they are likely to knock very young children down unintentionally.

The Braque Saint-Germain is a loyal, gentle breed and some might even be shy. They are not guard dogs. They are much too friendly toward strangers. Even though they were bred to point and track small game, they can be socialized to be safe living with smaller pets such as cats. They are intelligent, fast learners who love to learn. They also love to work and work long hours without fatigue. They will love to be a jogging or cycling partner.

They do best with large yards, rural areas or in hunting packs. They are not small apartment, city dwellers. They do get along with strangers and other animals. They will warn of strangers, but they are not aggressive.

dutch smoushond dog - characteristicsThe Dutch Smoushond, also known as the Dutchie, Dutch Ratter or Dutch Terrier may once have been used as a vermin hunter, but today this terrier dog shares some of the characteristics of the more popular terriers. He may have been a hunter in his day, but more recently he is used as a reliable companion dog.

He tends to be a bit of a barker, particularly when he isn’t getting attention.

He gets on well with other animals in the home as well as with children, but he will need to be trained and socialized. He is lively, friendly and social and is a dog who becomes devoted to his human family.

Health Problems

braque saint germain puppies - health problemsThe breed has very few health issues even with all the cross breeding followed by inbreeding. Due to the small gene pool there might be some genetically inherited problems. Due to the size of the gene pool, they might suffer from “founder’s effect” where if one dog has a certain condition, their descendants could also. Not enough research has been done to know if this is the case with the Braque Saint-Germain of not.

Some of the potential health issues that the3 Braque Saint-Germain might face include:

  • Dysplasia of the hip and elbow.
  • Cleft Palate or Lip.
  • Ear Infections.
  • PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Demodex Mange/Demodectic mange
  • Epilepsy
  • Deafness
  • Aortic Stenosis
  • Acral Mutilation Syndrome

dutch smoushond puppies - health problemsThese dogs are a healthy breed, but nonetheless there are are some health problems that can crop up occasionally.

Ear- and eye infections and joint problems are always a major concern, even in young dogs. Bad diet, old age and being overweight can all contribute to your dog developing joint pain. Joint pain symptoms can include -

difficulty with sitting or lying down

limping or even holding a leg up off the ground

lethargic to take part in any activities

Take your pet to the vet who will examine your pet and perhaps request x-rays.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

braque saint germain dogs - caringThis is a working dog that can run and track for miles. She needs good nutrition. Feed about 3 cups per day in one or two meals. Two meals are preferred.

Health issues

As previously mentioned this breed might be susceptible to many genetic diseases or disorders but there have not been any studies to show this.

Exercise and games

The Braque Saint Germain does not need a high amount of exercise as their energy level is medium. They still need daily exercise. They do best with a fenced off leash area to run. They love frisbee and chasing balls.

dutch smoushond dogs - caringThe Dutch Smoushond is basically an easy care breed, and it won’t do to try and tame the coat as the dog has a naturally unkempt look.

You can brush him twice a week to keep the coat free of matting and to remove loose hairs. The Dutch Smoushond may require the hair being plucked and a professional groomer can do this.

At the same time, the groomer can remove excess hair from the ears and also clean your dog’s teeth. This is of critical importance as bad teeth can lead to a host of health problems.

Get into the habit of brushing your pet’s teeth 2 or 3 times a week, making use of special pet approved toothbrush and toothpaste.

Comparison with other breeds

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