Vikhan Sheepdog vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison

Vikhan Sheepdog is originated from Pakistan but Braque Saint-Germain is originated from France. Vikhan Sheepdog may grow 6 cm / 3 inches higher than Braque Saint-Germain. Vikhan Sheepdog may weigh 12 kg / 27 pounds more than Braque Saint-Germain. Vikhan Sheepdog may live 7 years less than Braque Saint-Germain. Both Vikhan Sheepdog and Braque Saint-Germain has almost same litter size. Vikhan Sheepdog requires High maintenance. But Braque Saint-Germain requires Low maintenance

History

The Vikhan Dog is a rare breed that very little is known about. It is not sanctioned by any breed club or kennel club. The breed originally came from Pakistan in the North-west Frontier Province near the Indian border, in the Chitral region and the state of Himacchal Pradesh. For the most part Pakistan is credited with the development of the breed. They originally guarded livestock and hunting leopard. He is fast and fierce. The breed is bonded to the livestock when they are very young and instinctually guard them for the rest of their life. They do not herd them, they blend into the flock and watch for outsiders.

They confront strangers and predators with aggressive displays and vocal intimidation. If this does not work, it will attack and drive them off. They are even known for luring coyotes into a trap with food so that they can hunt them.

braque saint germain - historyThe 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.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Pakistan
France
Height Male:
66 - 68 cm
25 - 27 inches
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
Height Female:
64 - 66 cm
25 - 26 inches
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 47 kg
99 - 104 pounds
20 - 35 kg
44 - 78 pounds
Weight Female:
42 - 46 kg
92 - 102 pounds
16 - 28 kg
35 - 62 pounds
Life Span:
6 - 8 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
4 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Vikhan Dog Vikhan Shepherd Vikhan Chitral Watchdog
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
Colors Available:
fawn, black , brown
Dull white with orange (fawn) markings
Coat:
long and shaggy
short not fine
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Aggressive, Courageous, Intelligent, Territorial
Affectionate, Cheerful, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Sweet
Grooming:
High maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Hard
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

Description

The Vikhan Sheepdog is a large working breed that is lean, muscular and aggressive. He is immensely intelligent and fearless. He has a thick coat in solid brown, red, fawn or black. There are also multi-colored and spotted versions as well. They are related to the other regional Molossers and are sometimes called the giant Rough Collie. They are faster than they are strong. All Molossers are solid, large and share the same ancestor.

They typically have short, muscular necks and broad but short muzzles. They have heavy bones, wrinkles and pendant ears. With well-muscled legs and wide chests, the Molossers include the mastiffs and bully breeds and all other breeds that come from those groups. Molossers are either flock guardians or home guardians. The Vikhan Sheepdog is a flock guardian

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

Characteristics

Characteristics

1Children friendliness No – a very aggressive protector.

2.Special talents agility and speed

3.Adaptability – needs space – not very adaptable to smaller spaces.

4.Learning ability intelligent, quick learner

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.

Health Problems

Because this is a rare breed having lived in isolation for centuries, little is known or documented about their health issues. However being a large Molosser, they face some of the same health challenges as all large dogs. These include

• Bloat – when the internal organs of the intestinal system are knotted or inverted. Without immediate attention it causes death under all circumstances. You need to get the dog to a vet as soon as possible.

• Hip Dysplasia – Can cause lameness in hind legs and/or arthritis. Can be treated.

• Elbow Dysplasia – Can cause lameness in the front legs and/or arthritis. Can be treated.

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

Caring The Pet

1Feeding the puppy – due to the risk of bloat, don’t overfeed and don’t feed large meals before or after exercise. Also don’t feed too high protein since the puppies grow so fast and it can cause bone injuries. Feed 3-4 x day.

2.Feeding the adult - due to the risk of bloat, don’t overfeed and don’t feed large meals before or after exercise. feed 2 X day

3.Points for Good Health seems to have stamina/speed.

4. Games and Exercises Although large dogs they are surprisingly good at agility, they need a lot of exercise and long walks.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  2. Vikhan Sheepdog vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  3. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  4. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  5. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Portuguese Pointer - Breed Comparison
  6. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Perdiguero de Burgos - Breed Comparison
  7. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Irish Red and White Setter - Breed Comparison
  8. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Pachon Navarro - Breed Comparison
  9. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  10. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  11. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac - Breed Comparison
  12. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  13. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Spanish Pointer - Breed Comparison
  14. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  15. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Talbot - Breed Comparison
  16. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Longhaired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  17. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  18. Weimaraner vs Vikhan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  19. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  20. Vikhan Sheepdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  21. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  22. Vikhan Sheepdog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  23. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  24. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  25. East Siberian Laika vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  26. French Spaniel vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  27. Flat-Coated Retriever vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  28. Finnish Spitz vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  29. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  30. English Water Spaniel vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  31. Field Spaniel vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  32. Curly Coated Retriever vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  33. Lagotto Romagnolo vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  34. Formosan Mountain Dog vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  35. Shikoku vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  36. Slovakian Hound vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  37. Small Munsterlander vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  38. Sussex Spaniel vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  39. Kooikerhondje vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  40. Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  41. West Siberian Laika vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  42. Wetterhoun vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  43. Braque Saint-Germain vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  44. Braque Saint-Germain vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  45. Braque Saint-Germain vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  46. Braque Saint-Germain vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  47. Braque Saint-Germain vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  48. Braque Saint-Germain vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  49. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds