Dutch Shepherd vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison

Dutch Shepherd vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed ComparisonBraque d'Auvergne is originated from France but Dutch Shepherd is originated from Netherlands. Both Braque d'Auvergne and Dutch Shepherd are having almost same height. Braque d'Auvergne may weigh 30 kg / 67 pounds more than Dutch Shepherd. Both Braque d'Auvergne and Dutch Shepherd has same life span. Both Braque d'Auvergne and Dutch Shepherd has same litter size. Braque d'Auvergne requires Low Maintenance. But Dutch Shepherd requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Herding dogs
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France
Netherlands
Height Male:
55 - 65 cm
21 - 26 inches
55 - 62 cm
21 - 25 inches
Height Female:
51 - 61 cm
20 - 25 inches
55 - 62 cm
21 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
48 - 62 kg
105 - 137 pounds
20 - 32 kg
44 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
43 - 57 kg
94 - 126 pounds
20 - 32 kg
44 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
6 - 10
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
Hollandse Herder
Colors Available:
balck with white markings or mottled
brindle, red, Gold or silver
Coat:
short
Short and dense but also long or wiry
Shedding:
Moderate, Constant
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Outgoing, Social
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
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.

dutch shepherdThe Dutch Shepherd is of Dutch origin, hailing from the Netherlands. They were originally used as herding dogs on the farms, where they became a jack-of-all-trades type of dog.

The Dutch Shepherd in those days, 100 odd years ago, were also known as Hollandse Herders.

These dogs are more rare in modern days, but when you do find them, they are being used as police or security dogs, as guides for the blind, or simply as family friends.

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.

dutch shepherd puppy - descriptionThe Dutch Shepherd dog is very similar in appearance to the popular German Shepherds, being a medium to large sized dog.

The males are slightly heavier than females, but both males and females can stand between 55 and 62cm and weigh between 20 and 32kg.

There are actually 3 varieties found in the Dutch Shepherd dogs - short-haired, long-haired, and wiry or rough-haired. The dog has a double coat, consisting of a woolly undercoat and a top coat. The basic color of the coat is gold or silver through to red, giving rise to the brindle variations. Too much black or white seen in the fur is considered a fault.

In 1914 it was decided that brindle coats would distinguish them from the others.

The eyes of the Dutch Shepherd are dark, almond shaped and slightly slanting, while the medium sized ears are erect and high on the head and the thick tail is slightly curved. The dog has an unusually long tongue which is often found hanging out.

Temperament:

Early training and socializing for this dog is important so that he can learn to stay calm around new people, or visitors to the property.

The beautiful Dutch Shepherd doesn’t like being left alone for too long, loving rather to be involved with all that the family is involved in. They get on well with other pets in the home as well as being child-friendly.

They are happy dogs, who can also be smart and cunning, therefore highly trainable. They soak up new commands easily. Dutch Shepherds are also good watchdogs as they are fiercely loyal, and do not take kindly to strangers.

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.

dutch shepherd dog - characteristicsYour alert, intelligent and somewhat rare Dutch Shepherd is a loyal, protective dog, and while he can be aggressive around intruders and be a great guard dog, he can also be a gentle, loving animal around his human family members.

Though his tongue is long and often hangs out, you won’t have to contend with drooling. He is a wonderfully active dog and doesn’t easily gain weight. He isn’t a barker or howler, and his exceptional intelligence makes him highly trainable.

Whether there are children or other animals in the house, you can rely on your Dutch Shepherd to get on well with them, making him a wonderful family pet and canine friend.

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).

dutch shepherd puppies - health problemsThe Dutch Shepherd dogs are the healthiest of the Shepherd breeds. They have relatively few health problems.

However, like the German Shepherds they may develop hip dysplasia, but this is in fact fairly rare. Get your pet to the vet if you suspect this in your dog because it can lead to lameness.

In 2018 the University of Minnesota identified a disease in Dutch Shepherds called Miositis. This is an inflammatory myopathy causing painful inflammation of the skeletal muscle tissue.

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.

Grooming:

dutch shepherd dogs - caringUnfortunately Dutch Shepherds shed quite a bit of hair during their shedding period in spring and autumn. This makes regular brushing important during these seasons so as to remove the dead hairs, especially from the undercoat.

The wire- or rough-haired variety shouldn’t be brushed but should rather be groomed by a professional groomer every 6 months or so.

Their nails need to be trimmed when necessary, to avoid cracking, splitting, or an injury.

Their ears can be cleaned weekly to get rid of any debris or wax build-up. This, if left, can lead to infection. Brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to avoid dental disease which brings on a host of illnesses.

Exercise:

These dogs do need regular exercising, and at the same time need to be physically and mentally stimulated. He is the kind of dog that has been used for herding purpose on the farm and he just craves activity. Take him with you on your walks and include him in ball games, hikes, jogging, swimming or when you go cycling – he is game for all kinds of activities.

Diet:

The formula for their diet would be that of a medium to large dog with high energy levels. The top commercially manufactured foods have been developed to include all the important vitamins and minerals. Fish oil can also be added to their food to keep the coat shiny.

Add in cooked rice, cooked vegetables and chicken from time to time and be sure to add in some raw meat occasionally to prevent problems with the skin. Always ensure that your pet has fresh, cool water to drink.

Comparison with other breeds

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