Kromfohrlander vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison

The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne is one of the oldest scenthounds in France and has always been part of a pack when hunting wolves and wild boar.

Once wolves started dying out in the 19th century and the dogs were no longer needed, they nearly became extinct. Luckily in 1949, Marcel Pambrun founded the Club de Fauve de Bretagne to bring the breed back from extinction.

Hailing from France, the dog is still used as a hunting dog in the country but is considered rare outside of Europe.

Many troops of World War 1 and World War II would have some or other mascot that they would keep close to them as a reminder of home. The mascot would also inspire them, giving them hope to endure.

A Kromfohrlander dog, ‘Original Peter’ was one such mascot – a scruffy Terrier-type dog that army troops from the USA found in France.

This particular dog was accidentally mated with a Fox Terrier, with the breed essentially developing from the military dog from the 1940s. After 10 years of development, the Federation Cynologique Internationale accepted the breed in August, 1955.

It is still a rare breed, being found mainly in Germany.

Griffon Fauve de Bretagne are medium-sized muscular dogs standing at between 48 to 56cm and weighing in the region of 17 to 21 kg.

The fur of this dog is a tawny, golden, orange shade and is shaggy and coarse, being longer around the face. Known also as the Fawn Brittany Griffon, this scenthound has floppy ears and a long tail carried somewhat up and in a slight curve.

Temperament:

The GFB as he is also sometimes known by, is an affectionate and loyal dog that loves spending time with his human family.

He is a social, friendly dog, and when he is socialized and trained, he becomes even more amicable. He has been bred as a working dog and while he loves to spend relaxing hours indoors, he is essentially a dog that loves to be out and about chasing after prey.

He is alert and intelligent and therefore makes a good watchdog. Your Griffon is energetic and active and will require lots of exercise. He will love coming on walks with you, but this won't be enough and he will require ball- and rope games as well as the chance to join you on your jogging or cycling outings.

Fondly referred to as the Kromi or the Lander, the purebred Kromfohrlander, known as a companion dog, is medium sized.

Both males and females stand at roughly 38 – 46cm in height and they weigh about 9 – 16kg.

They have two different coat types – the smooth haired one and the rough haired one, both coming with a soft undercoat. The dog is a moderate shedder. If you really want to be smart then the smooth coat is referred to as Glatthaar and the wire-haired Rauhaar. The color of the coat is white with brown, orange tan markings with the ears and part of the face mostly covered in the brown/tan markings.

The head of the dog is fairly round shaped and he has half-erect, half floppy ears. His legs are straight and firm and the medium length isn’t docked.

Temperament:

The Kromfohrlander is known for being a loving family pet that loves nothing more than staying within reach of one of his human family members. This closeness with his people means that he can adapt to life in the city or the countryside, so long as he is with his humans.

Wherever he lives though, because he is such an active dog he will require a good dose of mental- and physical stimulation. He is a docile dog, but not timid and not aggressive either, being friendly and amicable by nature. He makes a great playmate for children and is willing to get along with other pets in the home too.

You won't find a better canine friend than the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne, once known as the Grand Fauve de Bretagne.

They have always loved their role as working- and hunting dog but when they're in the company of their human owners, they are loyal and loving, wanting to please.

This good nature of theirs sees them getting on well with other pets in the home as well as with children.Your golden Griffon Fauve De Bretagne is such a friendly, sociable dog and this is what makes him such a popular and sought after family pet.

The Kromfohrländer is one of those dogs that has been bred specifically to be man’s best friend.

When you delve into his history you see that he has never had any particular role as a working- or hunting dog but that he has been bred to be a companion animal.

He can’t be left alone for too many hours as his very nature makes it that he longs to be around his human family constantly. He is therefore not a dependant dog, relying totally on his human family for his sense of well-being.

Low maintenance, easy-going, loving, devoted, lively and social, when you bring the medium-sized Kromfohrlander into your home, it won’t be long before he will have crept into your heart as well.

Capable of reaching 10 to 13 years of age with good care, the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne isn't likely to cause you too much concern with dog illnesses, but there are those common dog illnesses that are worth knowing about because they affect so many dogs.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is such a common dog ailment that it requires mentioning every time. It's a condition where the hip joint bones don't fit properly, resulting in unnatural wear and tear which ultimately leads to pain and arthritis.

Sometimes it takes a while for the illness to become evident and you'll notice your pet being loathe to take part in the games he loves so much or battling to get up after lying down. It can start in a young dog and will require vet intervention.

Keep an eye on your dog for other common illnesses such as eye diseases, skin allergies and bloat, a disease which can be life-threatening and where the stomach of your dog swells up.

Feisty, energetic, full of life, entertaining and comical, your Kromfohrlander is intelligent too and with good care, exercise and lots of love your dog will maintain all these good characteristics and reach anything from 12 to 16 years of age.

However, there are some dog illnesses that could affect your dog such as hip dysplasia, ear- and eye infections such as lens luxation which can actually cause loss of vision, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, bloat and others.

Dogs that are ignored in terms of getting enough exercise are prone to weight gain and this in itself can lead to joint disease and other illnesses.

Grooming:

Your GFB, with his shaggy coat, will need a brush a couple of times a week and nothing much more, being looked upon as a fairly low maintenance breed.

He will require you checking inside his ears to ensure he is free of infection. You will need to have his nails trimmed if he doesn't wear them down himself and he will need to have his teeth brushed at least 2 or 3 times a week with special dog toothpaste- and toothbrush.

General Care:

As a medium sized dog, the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne will need a high-quality dog food full of all the right vitamins and minerals to ensure health and a long life.

He is a hunting dog so you want to make sure that protein is listed high on the ingredients list of his food packaging. You can vary his diet by adding in homemade fare such as cooked chicken, rice and vegetables and you can also try to include some raw meat into his diet too. This raw meat plays an important role in preventing skin allergies.

Never leave him without a bowl of fresh, cool water.

Ensure your 4-legged friend has a nice dry, warm spot with clean blankets to sleep on.

Grooming:

Your Kromfohrlander has two coat types - wirehaired or smooth. Don’t be overwhelmed by the brush and comb selections there are to keep his coat shiny ad healthy.

The idea is to simply choose a brush such as a bristle brush that can be used on all coat types. A brush like this will allow you to gently brush your pet’s coat to remove grass, dust and burrs and to make it a pleasant experience for your pet.

You want your Kromfohrlander to look forward to his brushing session. You can check him over for lumps, fleas and ticks at the same time.

Other grooming routines that your Kromfohrlander will need is nail clipping, checking inside and outside the ears for fleas and ticks as well as wax- and dirt build-up as well as teeth brushing. If teeth brushing for dogs is new to you there are pet groomers and even your vet who will offer this important service for you.