This French breed, very popular in its country of origin, but little known outside the national borders, is excellent for hunting small game, such as hares and rabbits. Tough and very resistant to fatigue and prohibitive weather conditions, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne has found considerable success in hunting in France.
Il Basset Fauve de Bretagne belongs to Group 6 of bloodhounds and dogs for trail of blood, according to the FCI Classification :.
Its country of origin is France, but it is not known for sure when the first selections of the breed began.
For sure we know its ancestor, the "Grand Fauve de Bretagne", now completely disappeared and replaced by the "Griffon Fauve". Over the centuries, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne has known numerous crosses, in particular with the "Bassetto Vendeano": proof of this thesis is the fact that in France, even today, you can find Vendeans with the head of fawns. Bretons. This breed, however, in its fundamental characteristics resembles the breed from which it comes. Its selection was focused on creating a breed particularly suitable for hunting small game, becoming very popular in France for its qualities in the hunting field. Very popular in your country, the region with the highest number of specimens is Brittany. Its use is essentially aimed at hare and rabbits. It is a tenacious, vigorous and resistant hound, mainly suitable for hunting in the highlands between moors and brambles. The Basset Fauve de Bretagne has also earned a good place as a companion dog, although outside of France it has not found the sympathy it deserves.
It is a small and bulky dog, an aberrant dachshund anacolymorph, dolichocephalic. Considered a braccoid in its morphological classification, for many somatic and morphological aspects of the body it recalls the breed from which it derives, the Bassetto Vendeano. This breed gives its best in areas where the vegetation is mainly made up of gorges and brambles. Despite its small size, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is a very fast dog and very resistant to fatigue.
Endowed with great temperament and great vivacity, it is a fairly obedient breed and very attached to the master and his family. Outside the hunting field, this Basset appears to have character aspects that are very reminiscent of the behavior of companion dogs. Being very cheerful and jovial, he is very satisfied if he can carry out the commands given by his master. As with all hunting dogs, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne È expresses all its joy if it is taken to new areas and if it is taken for long walks, during which it sniffs every trace of its interest with method and accuracy. This breed does not present particular physical problems or predisposition to diseases, being very resistant and rustic.
The height, for both males and females, is between 32 cm and 36 cm, for a weight that is between 16 and 18 kg. The thorax is broad and at the same time quite deep, with the ribs slightly circled throughout their length. The back is long, without excesses, and is less long than in other similar breeds. The loin is broad, supported and well muscled, while the hips are full. The skull has an average length, tapering and decreasing to the level of the superciliary arches. The black nose is very dark, presenting well opened nostrils.
the dentition is complete in development and number. The neck is somewhat short and muscular. The ears are fine to their attack and are located at the level of the line of the eyes, the latter not too low, of an average length, and barely reach the tip of the muzzle. They end in the shape of a tip and are covered with a finer hair than that present on the body. The eyes are dark and denote sweetness and vivacity. The limbs are straight and strong, with dry, closed and hard feet. The posterior ones have well muscled thighs, while the hips are well evident. The hocks are strong, broad and moderately angled. The gait of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is quite lively and rapid, thanks to its well-developed musculature throughout the body, especially in the hind limbs. The tail, large at the base, is carried slightly "sickle", not very long and sharp at the tip. The hair is very hard, dense, not long, almost short, flat, never woolly, guaranteeing this breed all the resistance to the most difficult atmospheric agents.
The standard coloring of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne it is the golden or fawn wheat, and in some specimens a white spot may be found on the chest or neck. This breed, outside of France, is not well known and used in hunting, but in its country it is considered as one of the best for hunting small game.