Schweizer Laufhund vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison

Schweizer Laufhund vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed ComparisonBraque Saint-Germain is originated from France but Schweizer Laufhund is originated from Switzerland. Both Braque Saint-Germain and Schweizer Laufhund are having almost same height. Braque Saint-Germain may weigh 15 kg / 34 pounds more than Schweizer Laufhund. Braque Saint-Germain may live 3 years more than Schweizer Laufhund. Both Braque Saint-Germain and Schweizer Laufhund has almost same litter size. Both Braque Saint-Germain and Schweizer Laufhund requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Hound dog
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France
Switzerland
Height Male:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
47 - 59 cm
18 - 24 inches
Height Female:
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
47 - 58 cm
18 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 35 kg
44 - 78 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 28 kg
35 - 62 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
3 - 7
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
Bruno Laufhund, Bruno Jura Laufhund, the Jura Type Saint Hubert Hound French Type, Bruno Hound, Lucerne Hound, the Jura Type French Saint Hubert Hound, and the Schwyz Laufhund., Lucerner Laufhund, Chien Courant Suisse Berner Laufhund, the French Jura Type Saint Hubert Hound, The Saint Hubert Hound Jura Type, Jura Hound, Jura Laufhund, Bern Hound
Colors Available:
Dull white with orange (fawn) markings
different for each line black with tan markings; tan with black mantle or saddle; white with black or tan or orange.
Coat:
short not fine
coat type short, smooth, and somewhat harsh
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Cheerful, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
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.

schweizer laufhundThe Schweizer Laufhund is a breed born in Switzerland and sought after by the French and the Italians for their skill at hunting small mammals, especially hare. Mercenaries brought scent hounds from France to Switzerland and cross bred them with the Schweizer Laufhund, thereby influencing and changing the native breed.

In 1882 it was established that within the breed of “Swiss Hound” (Schweizer Laufhund) there were five different varieties. At this time a standard was written for each of these five different types. By 1909 the standards were revisited and revised, eliminating the hound of Thurgovie. Then in 1933 it was decided that one standard would cover all the varieties of the Schweizer Laufhund.

The Schweizer Laufhund was a line used to develop many different scent hounds. They are used almost exclusively as hunting dogs and not as family companion dogs. St. Hubert Jura Hound, the rare ancient variety, is still in the hunting parties of Canada and France. The breed existed before any dog breeding written records were kept. In Switzerland from the middle ages on, the Schweizer Laufhund was the only hunting dog in the country until recent times.

Even though they didn’t have any popularity until the European nobility became enamored of them in the middle ages, it is thought by some that they date back to the Roman Empire. In actuality most of their pre- Swiss history has been lost. We do know that through the years the breed has been influenced by cross breeding with Austrian, German and French scent hounds.

He is not recognized by the larger kennel clubs such as AKC or UKC, but by some rare breed associations. The dogs that remain today in the United States, Canada and Europe are still mainly owned by either active or retired hunters. Despite their great personalities, they are still not numerous among family pets.

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

schweizer laufhund puppy - descriptionA medium sized dog with good endurance and strength. Its head is lean, and its muzzle is long making this a very noble looking breed. Each of the 5 varieties has some of its own characteristics. They all have short, fine hairs on their ears and heads and longer hairs on their legs and back.

Each variety can be identified by its colors as they are unique.

• Bernese – White with a black saddle or black patches and tan on the ears and face.

  • Schwyz – A white dog with marking of orange.
  • Bruno Jura – Black with tan markings and Tan with black saddle marks.

• Lucernese – Because they have white and black hair mixed across their bodies, they appear to be “blue”.

  • St. Hubert Jura – Tan with a black saddle.

The Schweizer Laufhund come in miniature and standard sizes fitting into the same standard. Weight has a lot to do with the gender and height of the individual dog, they are longer than they are tall. As a scent hound, the breed is muscular and sturdy. They carry their long tails in a slight curve with a taper at the end.

Despite the different colors in the different varieties all of the breed have black noses, long droopy ears, and oval, brown eyes. They have a soft, calm and gentle facial expression.

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.

schweizer laufhund dog - characteristics1Children friendliness - they can be very gentle and loving with children. Toddlers might remind them of prey, however.

2.Special talents – they have great stamina.

3.Adaptability – adapts well if he gets enough exercise.

4.Learning ability -their learning ability is high, but they can be very stubborn.

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

schweizer laufhund puppies - health problemsThere are a few health issues that the Schweizer Laufhund is prone to. As an ancient breed there is not a lot of genetic evidence of breed health issues but there is more recent reporting.

  • Hip Dysplasia – can result in lameness, arthritis and inability to hunt.
  • Cataracts – can result in blindness.
  • Elbow Dysplasia – can result in lameness, arthritis and inability to hunt.

• PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) – hereditary – can result in blindness.

  • Ear Infections – due to long droopy ears. Keep them clean.

• Ectropion and Entropion – eyelid misalignments either inward or outward. Can be corrected with surgery.

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.

schweizer laufhund dogs - caring. Feeding the puppy – as an active working breed they should be fed a high quality active or working breed kibble formula.

2.Feeding the adult - the adult should be fed the same active or working breed formula, only in an adult formulation.

3.Points for Good Health – stamina

4. Games and Exercises – this active breed does require a lot of daily exercise. Take them on at least one good, quick walk per day and give them a fenced yard to play in. They love hunting training and field trials along with activities like barn hunt. They love to run alongside as you bike or jog.

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
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  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
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  26. Schweizer Laufhund vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Schweizer Laufhund vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Schweizer Laufhund vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Schweizer Laufhund vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Schweizer Laufhund vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Schweizer Laufhund vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Schweizer Laufhund vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Schweizer Laufhund vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Schweizer Laufhund vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Schweizer Laufhund vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Schweizer Laufhund vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Schweizer Laufhund vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Schweizer Laufhund vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Schweizer Laufhund vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Schweizer Laufhund vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Schweizer Laufhund vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Schweizer Laufhund vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Schweizer Laufhund vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Schweizer Laufhund vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Schweizer Laufhund vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Schweizer Laufhund vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Schweizer Laufhund vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Schweizer Laufhund vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Schweizer Laufhund vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Schweizer Laufhund vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison