The Bracco d'Ariége is a multipurpose breed, very physically resistant, both to the most common diseases that affect dogs, and to fatigue and work in the hunting field. Very balanced, the Bracco d'Ariége is a dog that needs intense and balanced training in order to get the most out of its excellent qualities.
The Bracco d'Ariége is a breed originating in France and belongs to group 7 - pointing dogs, according to the classification of the FCI.
The Braque de l'Ariége derives from the strain of the “Braque Francais type Gascogne”, the latter common to all of France. Its origins are very ancient and the information is jagged. Some experts see in this breed some somatic traits of the "Chiens blancs du Roi".
The Bracco d'Ariége was formerly called "Bracco di Tolosa", but was later renamed with its current name, to emphasize the region of origin of the Ariége. In past centuries, the standard of this breed was different, to the point that the specimens were heavier and more robust than the current ones. In order to make the Bracco d'Ariége lighter and leaner, various pairings were made with the “Bacchi di San Germano”, thus obtaining the current standard. This breed appears in many famous works of the nineteenth and eighteenth centuries. Used both today and in past centuries for hunting, searching and stopping it.
It is a medium-sized dog, dolichocephalic dolichomorph and morphologically classified as a Braccoid type. It is considered by many professionals as a noble dog with a great "cachet", as it is distinguished by its remarkable elegance and bearing. It has a solid physical construction, well proportioned on the whole and of right relationships. The musculature is dry, but hard and compact, with a correct bone structure in relation to the size of the trunk.
The Bracco d'Ariége is considered by many to be one of the best hunting breeds. Very faithful and obedient to man, he establishes a real symbiosis with his master, which allows him to fulfill his duty in an exemplary way during a hunting trip. It is a very resistant breed physically and is able to adapt without particular difficulties to different climatic conditions, terrains or wild places.
Its main feature is the sense of smell, sometimes surprising: it is able to find a trace even after many hours from the passage of the wild. It also possesses all the essential properties to be considered an excellent pointing breed. At home and in the family, he is affectionate and protective.
This breed has proven to be very resistant to the classic diseases that affect dogs. The Bracco d'Ariege is an independent dog, for which a steady-wrist trainer is needed who knows how to dominate it with firmness and balance. If you apply all this, you will surely get a very gifted pointing and retriever dog, with the ability to hunt many types of feathered and hare even on all rough and mountain terrain.
The height, both for male and female specimens, is between 60 cm and 67 cm.
Let's see the physical characteristics of the Bracco d'Ariége. The chest is broad and deep, descending to the level of the elbow, while the back is somewhat long and slightly convex. The loin follows the same line as the back, arched, well muscled and fairly broad. The croup is slightly depressed and the flanks are flat and fairly sloping.
The skull is somewhat narrow, but rather broad and convex; the occipital protuberance is well pronounced. The lips are thin and descending in the right measure, such as to give the muzzle a square aspect. The bridge of the nose is long and straight and reconnects to the skull with a slightly inclined nose-frontal fall. The nose is pink or light brown in color and must be well opened.
The white dentition is complete in development and number.
The neck is long, graceful and strong enough, with the presence of a slight dewlap.
The ears are very fine, long, curled up and set above the eye line and back, detached from the head.
They express to him all the intelligence of this breed, since they are sweet, open and sincere. Importantly, the eyes must not show red conjunctiva and must not have a drooping lower eyelid.
The forelegs are straight, with strong bone, the elbows upright, the pasterns a little long and a little oblique. Observing them closely you can find a good musculature of the same. The hind legs have straight thighs, well let down, well muscled, excellent aplomb and sinewy hocks. The feet are sharp, nicknamed hare.
The gait of the Bracco d'Ariége is casual and free.
The tail has a slightly low, long and strong hairline. The skin is quite fine and never thick, as well as the hair.
The colors allowed for this breed are spotted, never symmetrically, of orange, sometimes brown and some light speckles on the undercoat. Some specimens have only these spots, which must not exceed in number.
The Bracco d'Ariége is a breed that lends itself perfectly to carrying out the tasks to be carried out in the hunting field, subject to serious and constant training. If you follow a constant and precise training program, the Bracco d'Ariége will give you a lot of satisfaction during a hunting trip. Given its physical resistance and rapidity of movements, this breed is versatile in hunting, as it is able to adapt to both hunting, stationary and retrieval.