Great Dane vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison

Great Dane vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed ComparisonBraque d'Auvergne is originated from France but Great Dane is originated from Germany. Braque d'Auvergne may grow 21 cm / 8 inches shorter than Great Dane. Braque d'Auvergne may weigh 28 kg / 61 pounds lesser than Great Dane. Braque d'Auvergne may live 3 years more than Great Dane. Braque d'Auvergne may have less litter size than Great Dane. Both Braque d'Auvergne and Great Dane requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Companion dog
undefined
France
Germany
Height Male:
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
76 - 86 cm
29 - 34 inches
Height Female:
51 - 61 cm
20 - 25 inches
76 - 86 cm
29 - 34 inches
Weight Male:
48 - 62 kg
105 - 137 pounds
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
Weight Female:
43 - 57 kg
94 - 126 pounds
54 - 90 kg
119 - 199 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
9 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
4 - 15
Size:
Medium
Giant
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
Apollo of Dogs, Dane, Deutsche Dogge
Colors Available:
balck with white markings or mottled
black or brindle - bi-color, Fawn
Coat:
short
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate, Constant
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Outgoing, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

braque d auvergneSometime 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.

great daneKnown as the Deutsche Dogge or Apollo of dogs, the giant-breed Great Dane hails from Germany and not Denmark as many people believe.

The large Great Dane has been around for about 400 years already. They descend from mastiff-like dogs, being needed to protect country estates.

In the 18th century, apart from watching over estates, they were also popular with the upper class for sport.

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.

great dane puppy - descriptionThe Great Dame is a tall, lean, athletic, muscular, elegant looking dog. He can stand anything between 76–86cm in height and weigh around 54–90kg. The large head is long and narrow, and the medium sized floppy ears can be left or they can be cropped.

The tail is long and held low. The coat is short and smooth and can be in several colors such as fawn, black or brindle.

Temperament:

Any kind of aggressiveness was bred out of the Great Dane and today he is a gentle giant of a dog, getting on well with other dogs, children and everyone in his human family.

Even though he is a gentle giant, he will still require training and socialization just because of his size. Then they become the devoted pet that they are so well known to be. You'll want to know that when he comes indoors, he will obey you when you tell him to lie-down, sit or come, otherwise his sheer size will see him knocking things accidentally off table-tops.

He is an intelligent dog and is eager to please so he'll learn easily. He craves human companionship, so make sure that your social Dane has plenty of interaction with you.

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.

great dane dog - characteristicsThe Great Dane is a large breed, bred to hunt wild boar. The intelligence, bravery and fearless nature of the dog meant that he was sought after for this task.

Known as the Apollo of Dogs, you won’t find the Great Dane being used for hunting purposes anymore, being more suited as a companion dog.

While developed as a working breed, today he is a well balanced, intelligent, calm, loving, social, dependable dog that just wants to be loved by his human family and to provide love, loyalty and companionship back in return.

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).

great dane puppies - health problemsTypically of giant dogs, the Great Dane doesn't have a particularly long life-span and will live to be about 8 to 10 years of age. Also, giant-breed dogs like this are susceptible to what is known as bloat.

You'll notice it because there is swelling of the stomach with gas buildup and also twisting of the stomach. It's a life-threatening condition and you'll need to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. You can combat it by feeding him smaller, more frequent meals and perhaps buying a slow-feeder dish, forcing your hungry pet to eat slower and not gulp his food down.

Also, large dogs like this can develop hip dysplasia and with a dog like the Great Dane, it takes a while for the bones and joints to grow and then become stable. That is why it is important not to make him do any vigorous exercise till he is at least 18 months of age, as these exercises can put a lot of stress on the joints and bones which can lead to hip dysplasia later on.

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.

Diet:

great dane dogs - caringThis is a large dog so you’ll notice that with commercially manufactured dog foods, there are those made specially for large- or giant breeds. It is important to choose the right dog food for his large size so that you can be sure he gets the right amount of nutrients in for him to grow strong and healthy.

If you aren't sure about what food would most benefit your Great Dane, ask your vet. While it is important to also feed him quality home-made food and raw meat, when buying kibble for him,check the label of the food you buy him and make sure that the concentration of protein isn’t more than 23 to 25%.

Remember to provide him with a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

Brush your Great Dane’s coat at least twice a week. He has a short, smooth coat so it will be easy, and the brushing will keep his coat soft and shiny. Use this time to also check for fleas and ticks or lumps. You will also need to check his nails and trim them if they don’t trim down on their own.

Exercise:

Your Great Dane will need to be exercised every day if you want him to maintain his lean, muscular shape. It keeps him happy too. He isn’t the kind of dog though that you want to turn into your running partner when you go jogging or cycling. He can go on a walk and play in the garden, but the exercising shouldn’t be for long periods of time.

His first checkup:

Every puppy needs to get to the vet for his first check-up when he is 6 weeks of age, and your Dane will also have to. As a puppy he will need to be de-wormed which will happen with this 6 week check up. He will also be vaccinated for distemper.

Comparison with other breeds

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