Schweizer Laufhund vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison

Schweizer Laufhund vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed ComparisonBraque d'Auvergne is originated from France but Schweizer Laufhund is originated from Switzerland. Braque d'Auvergne may grow 6 cm / 3 inches higher than Schweizer Laufhund. Braque d'Auvergne may weigh 42 kg / 93 pounds more than Schweizer Laufhund. Braque d'Auvergne may live 3 years more than Schweizer Laufhund. Braque d'Auvergne may have more litter size than Schweizer Laufhund. Both Braque d'Auvergne and Schweizer Laufhund requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Hound dog
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France
Switzerland
Height Male:
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
47 - 59 cm
18 - 24 inches
Height Female:
51 - 61 cm
20 - 25 inches
47 - 58 cm
18 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
48 - 62 kg
105 - 137 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
43 - 57 kg
94 - 126 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
3 - 7
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Bleu d'Auvergne Braque d’Auvergne Pointer, Auvergne Pointer, Braque du Auvergne, Auvergnese Pointer, Auvergne Pointing Dog, Auvergnian Pointer, Auvergnese Pointing Dog, Auvergnian Pointing Dog French Pointer (Auvergne), Bleu d’Auvergne, Bleu de 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:
balck with white markings or mottled
different for each line black with tan markings; tan with black mantle or saddle; white with black or tan or orange.
Coat:
short
coat type short, smooth, and somewhat harsh
Shedding:
Moderate, Constant
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Outgoing, Social
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 d auvergneSometime over 5 centuries ago, in the Cantal Region of France, was born a hunting breed, that might be the real ancestor of today’s pointing hunter dogs. Perhaps the oldest of all pointing gun dog is the Braque d’Auvergne. This breed comes from Central France in the region of Auvergne. This breed was developed prior to written dog breeding records in order to hunt in this region and find, point, flush out and retrieve fowl. This breed is clearly one of if not the oldest breeds in the French Braque. There is no agreement among historians on what breed is the oldest of the European pointing dogs and where they were developed – was it Spain or was it France? It is thought that the Braque Francais Gascogne is the original one of these in the early 1600’s while the Braque d’Auvergne came soon after. Due to the different hunting needs in the different parts of France, the Braque Francais Gascogne was crossed with a lot of other local scent hounds. The Braque d’Auvergne is one of the very oldest of all of these. There are records of the breeds existence in the 1700’s. It is probable that the Braque d’Auvergne was developed by crossing local dogs with Gascogne as well as with the Petit Bleu de Gascogne and the Grand Bleu de Gascogne.

In all of Western Europe, the region of Auvergne is not very populated and has unique geography in that is hilly and has many extinct and eroded volcanoes. A lot of the region is still unpopulated. In this environment, wildlife has flourished, and hunting is successful in providing food for the regions people. This circumstance with an abundance of birds, led to the breeding of the Braque Auvergne to specialize in hunting in this area. The breed is not very popular outside of Auvergne and probably never was. That fact allowed them to be devastated by the Second World War. The Reunion des Amateurs de Braque d’Auvergne (RABA) was started to promote the pure breeding and the protection of the d’Auvergnes. But when Auvergnes was occupied during the war, the slowed breeding of the Braque d ‘ Auvergne almost eliminated the breed. There might have only been about 25 dogs left following the end of the war. These remaining dogs were used to revive the breed, but it is still uncommon, but not rare. Individuals have been imported by other countries including North America. The United Kennel Club (UKC) accepted the breed in 2006 but is not accepted by the AKC (American Kennel Club). The breed is still a working breed and outside of France, very rare.

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 d auvergne puppy - descriptionThe Braque d’Auvergne is a well built, strong hunting dog with long ears, a large head and a docked tail. His coat is white with black markings and black ears and head. The breed looks a lot like all the other pointing dogs from France. They are medium in stature and has the appearance of a working gundog. He is athletic, muscular and fit. Docking the tail is outlawed in many countries and all of the United Kingdom. In that case the tail is high on the rump and always straight. Their face and head are big for the size of the body and shaped like an oval. With a long muzzle, deep set eyes and a gentle expression, they are kindly and handsome dogs. Their skin is loose but not droopy or wrinkled like hound dogs.

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 d auvergne dog - characteristicsThis is a gentle, adaptable and obedient breed. With their intelligence and affectionate nature, they make great family dogs and are eager to please their people. Living with other dogs is fine but not with small, prey size animals. The Braque d’Auvergne should never be left alone pets like gerbils and hamsters. They must be socialized to cats as pets and not prey before living with them successfully. They need to work closely with one human partner. They are first and foremost a hunting dog and need some sort of hunting simulation. They are devoted to their families and want to be constantly in their presence. This can lead to separation anxiety if they are left alone too much. They are great with children and need a family.

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 d auvergne puppies - health problemsThe Braque d’Auvergne is a healthy breed but can face some of the same health concerns as other pointers and hunting dogs. The long, droopy ears can get infected easily if wet and need to be cleaned regularly so that food or dirt are not trapped their either. Because of the small gene pool however they may be at risk for several issues. The breeders in France express concerns about possible hip dysplasia and testing is highly recommended. Because they are at risk for other conditions that might not show up until later in life, it is also recommended that they be tested by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) as well as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

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 d auvergne dogs - caringThe Braque d’Auvergne needs a high-quality diet fit for a working dog but not too much to make him obese. They are an active breed to choose a formula that is designed for working dogs.

Health issues

Although no studies have been conducted on the Braque d’Auvergne’s health issues there are many conditions that similar breeds are susceptible to and the d’Auvergne might be as well. This includes any of the following:

  • Dysplasia – elbow and hip
  • Cleft Palate or Cleft Lip.
  • Aortic Stenosis (Narrowing of the aorta)
  • Luxating Patella or moving kneecaps
  • PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Cataracts
  • Demodex/Demodicosis/Demodectic Mange

Exercise and games

This is an active, working dog who needs a lot of stimulation and exercise. The only real appropriate exercise for these dogs is hunting or outings in the woods. He not only needs the exercise, but he also needs to stimulate his sense of smell and his gundog intelligence. He might excel in lure chase or even a form or barn hunt. They certainly could excel at obedience trials and perhaps rally. If you are a weekend hunter then this is the ideal dog for you. They are so easy to train that they surpass other pointers for success with casual hunters. They hunt at a slower pace than many other gundogs. Their intelligence and athleticism lend itself well to agility and flyball also. They need a large (+acres)fenced in area to run and play.

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