Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison

Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed ComparisonBraque Saint-Germain is originated from France but Karelo-Finnish Laika is originated from Russia. Braque Saint-Germain may grow 14 cm / 6 inches higher than Karelo-Finnish Laika. Braque Saint-Germain may weigh 21 kg / 47 pounds more than Karelo-Finnish Laika. Both Braque Saint-Germain and Karelo-Finnish Laika has same life span. Both Braque Saint-Germain and Karelo-Finnish Laika has almost same litter size. Both Braque Saint-Germain and Karelo-Finnish Laika requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Working dog
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France
Russia
Height Male:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
38 - 48 cm
14 - 19 inches
Height Female:
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
38 - 48 cm
14 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 35 kg
44 - 78 pounds
11 - 14 kg
24 - 31 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 28 kg
35 - 62 pounds
11 - 14 kg
24 - 31 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
6 - 10
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
Laika
Colors Available:
Dull white with orange (fawn) markings
Reddish
Coat:
short not fine
Longish and coarse
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Cheerful, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Sweet
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low 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.

karelo finnish laikaThe Karelo Finnish Laika is a Spitz type hunting dog from the Karelia area of Russia.Some people say the dog developed in Sweden. The dog is from a group of ‘Laika’ breeds and has that typical Spitz-type look – the sharpish face, the erect ears and the tail which curls over the back.

This attractive dog was developed as a hunting dog, and has a thick, weatherproof coat.The Karelo-Finnish Laika breed developed because people wanted a smaller sized hunting dog that could cope well with the weather, and these Laika dogs matched well.

The breed is ancient – centuries old, and after dying out in numbers during the second world war, the breed was revived when Russians imported Finnish Spitzes from Finland and bred them. The dog is similar to the Finnish Spitz, and in 2006 the Finnish Kennel Club and Russian Kennel Federation included the Karelo-Finnish Laika as a Finnish Spitz breed.

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

karelo finnish laika puppy - descriptionWith his wolf-like appearance, the Karelo Finnish Laika is a sharp, intelligent dog and is the smallest Laika in Russia used for hunting. He stands at about 38–48 cm in height and weighs about 11 - 14 kg.

His coat is a reddish color and the fur is fairly long and coarse with a dense, soft undercoat. He looks like a red fox with his sharp, bright face, his erect ears, black nose and bushy tail which curls over the back.

Temperament:

The Karelo-Finnish Laika is a sweet dog with a quiet character. Whenever you suggest a game for him, he throws his docile side to the wind and becomes highly energetic and animated. He is an active dog and loves nothing more than a game with his human family members.

He is mistrustful of strangers, he tends to bark easily and he is territorial and all these characteristic go towards making him a good watchdog. He is quite prepared to live peacefully alongside other dogs in the home, more so when he has been trained and socialized.

He makes a great friend and pet for families and is more than ready to be loving and loyal to his human family.

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.

karelo finnish laika dog - characteristicsThe Karelo Finnish Laika is such an energetic dog, full of life and he promises to make an affectionate family dog.

He is a fairly low maintenance dog too and not prone to getting sick easily. Treat this attractive Laika dog like he deserves and you’ll find that he makes a splendid pet.

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

karelo finnish laika puppies - health problemsApart from his good looks, the Karelo-Finnish Laika happens to be a pretty healthy breed and there are no known hereditary health problems with him. Diseases which can affect any dog -

Hip Dysplasia:

Many large breeds are prone to hip dysplasia. In hip dysplasia, joint problems cause arthritis and pain and eventually lameness. These days, when buying a puppy, people ask breeders about whether the parents were screened for hip dysplasia.

Obesity:

Any dog fed the wrong diet and who isn’t exercised can become overweight. Obesity in dogs is linked to many health problems in dogs. If you’re in doubt about your pet, consult with your vet on the best food for him.

Cancer:

Many dogs are at risk for certain types of cancer, including lymphoma which is cancer of the lymph nodes. When you are brushing your pet, check him for any unusual lumps so that you can catch cancer early.

Heart Conditions:

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is where the chambers of the heart are stretched out and don't pump blood properly. Sometimes it can go undetected for a while until the dog becomes seriously ill, requiring emergency medical attention. Medications can regulate heart rhythm but there is no cure.

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.

karelo finnish laika dogs - caringThe Karelo-Finnish Laika is a most attractive looking dog and his thick, double coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it free from dust, grass and burrs. He sheds throughout the year so this brushing will keep the loose dog hair under control.

Diet:

Watch your Karelo-Finnish Laika’s diet as a lean, mean dog can live longer than one who is overfed. Dogs which are overweight are likely to develop joint problems and heart disease.

The quality of food you feed your pet is hugely important. Popping chocolates and peanuts into his mouth because you love him so much will be toxic for him. Apart from his top quality dry kibble, add in some cooked chicken, rice and vegetables as a tasty treat and mix in a little bit of raw meat also when you can.

Exercise:

Exercise for your Karelo Finnish Laika is a key component to prolonging his life, and he absolutely loves games, walks and action all the way. It will keep him in shape, keep him happy and prolong his life.

Comparison with other breeds

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