Schweenie 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.

The Schweenie is a hybrid dog, with the parent breeds being the Shih Tzu and the Dachshund.

The Schweenie dog has been around for about 4 decades when breeders were looking for a dog that would be free of the health issues of the purebred parent breeds.

Because the Schweenie is a mix breed, it doesn’t qualify to be part of the American Kennel Club. He is however recognized by the Designer Breed Registry and some other clubs.

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.

The Schweenie will be a smallish dog standing at roughly 27cm to 50cm and weighing 4 – 9kg.

Because of the Dachshund parent, he will likely have a long body. The coat is shortish to medium length and can be a variety of colors – from a rusty color to brown, black, grey and even a cream shade. The ears are floppy and the tail medium length.

Temperament:

He is a small dog who is smart and bright and who wants to please his human owners. He loves people and wants to be around them and involved in their activities.

Small and cute though he is, he can be a stubborn dog and become a little big aggressive too if he is feeling a bit moody. He will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to obey your simple commands such as sit, stay, lie down and come.

He is intelligent enough to learn these simple commands with ease.He is both alert and vigilant, and this makes them good watchdogs.

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 Schweenie can be somewhat reserved and they need exercise regularly as well. If they don’t get enough exercise, they tend to become jittery and this can make them become a bit snappy. The are more prone to be snappy and aggressive with children who haven’t been taught how to treat animals gently and with respect.

They’re small enough to adjust to life in the city or countryside but will still need to be exercised.

The little Schweenie, with the right kind of owner can become a great little pet and companion.

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.

With good care, your Schweenie can live to be 12 to 15 years of age. Every dog, no matter how healthy, can get some of the health problems that plague many dogs.

Intervertebral Disk Disease:

This is where the cushions between each vertebra come into contact with the spinal cord. It can result in nerve damage and sometimes even paralysis. Because the Shih Tzu is one of the parent breeds, you will need to be aware of this ailment as these dogs are more susceptible to this disease.

Hypoglycemia:

Hypoglycemia is fairly common in small dogs and it is where there is a drop in blood sugar. It can be brought on by stress. It can also be referred to as low blood sugar and it can be deadly. If your pet is hypoglycemic, you will notice a loss in appetite, extreme lethargy, trembling and unusual behavior. You will need to get your Schweenie to the vet immediately for tests and treatment.

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.

Your Schweenie will need to be brushed at least twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Because of his floppy ears, you will need to clean them and check for redness. If you don’t like the idea of probing inside the ear, professional groomers or the vet will do it for you.

Trim his nails if they don’t wear down on their own.

Provide him with a nice dry, warm spot to sleep.

Provide him with nice chewy toys that will keep him occupied.

Exercise him every day. Taking him on walks and playing ball games with him will keep him fit and trim but also help with staving off boredom.

Ensure his vaccines against deadly diseases are up to date. See that he gets to the vet when he appears to be under the weather.

He is a small dog so you have to be careful about how you feed him. You need to feed him a nutrient-rich dry kibble. Read the packaging and buy dog food according to his size, age and activity levels.

Try and include some home-made food into your dogs diet. A little bit of boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach all chopped up will do him good and can be added into the dry kibble twice a week. Some raw meat should also occasionally be added in as this can help to prevent some skin problems. Be sure that cool, fresh water is available for your pet at all times.