Hellenic Hound vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison

Hellenic Hound vs Braque Francais - Breed ComparisonBraque Francais is originated from France but Hellenic Hound is originated from Greece. Braque Francais may grow 14 cm / 6 inches higher than Hellenic Hound. Braque Francais may weigh 35 kg / 78 pounds more than Hellenic Hound. Braque Francais may live 3 years more than Hellenic Hound. Both Braque Francais and Hellenic Hound has almost same litter size. Both Braque Francais and Hellenic Hound requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Hound dog
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France
Greece
Height Male:
47 - 69 cm
18 - 28 inches
47 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
Height Female:
45 - 65 cm
17 - 26 inches
45 - 53 cm
17 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
20 - 55 kg
44 - 122 pounds
17 - 20 kg
37 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
19 - 52 kg
41 - 115 pounds
15 - 18 kg
33 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 10
6 - 8
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
French Pointing Dog -; Braque Francais, de Grande Taille
Greek Hound or the Hellenikos Ichnilatis The Hellenic Hound, Greek Harehound
Colors Available:
brown, Chestnut brown, either solid or mixed with white. With or without ticking or roaning or tan marking
Black with tan markings
Coat:
thick
Short, smooth, sleek
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Sweet
Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Playful, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

braque francaisBraque Francais was at first one general breed of hounds in the Gascognes and Pyrenees Mountains areas of France. The one breed became two. Known as the Braque Francais Gascognes and the Braque Francais Pyrenees - two separate breeds of very alike dogs. The Gascognes is a lot less common than his smaller brother. Not very much is known about the beginnings of these two strains of Braque Francais as the breed has been around since at least the 15th century. Because the Braque Francais was exported or taken to so many different countries in the 15th-18th centuries, a lot of the origins of the breeds were lost. A major bloodline search was The conducted in the 19th century and found that these were two very distinct breeds of dog.

It is known that France was the birthplace of this breed and it was developed because of a need for a tracker that could point, flush and retrieve. The Braque Francais Gascogne probably came from the south of France. It is related to the German Shorthair Pointer and the English Pointer as well. Having existed since the 15th century, he was the father of all pointing dogs in France. By the 17th century the breed had grown enough to be called the “old style Braque Francais”,

Though the origin of the breed is not known there are of course several theories about it. The most prevalent belief is that the Braque Francais Gascogne is a descendent of the Chien d’Oysel, a spaniel breed of medium size and white or brown with brown markings. The Chien d’Oysel is an ancient breed used for hunting prior to the 13th century. Hunters crossed the Chien with local dogs on a routine basis.

Braque Francais came out of these breedings. It was probably French Scent hounds that created the larger size of the Gascogne. This also increased the stamina and strength of the Gascogne as opposed to the Pyrenees. There was also a mixing in of the Grand Bleu De Gasgogne and the Petit Bleu De Gasgogne.

The other prominent theory is that this breed the Gasgogne was actually developed from the Portugese, Spanish and Italian pointers rather than the French dogs. These dogs originated not with the Chien d’Oysel but with the scent hounds. From these dogs came the Spanish and English Pointers. All that is truly known is that all of these types of dogs were present in Europe by the fifteenth century and were moved among countries and cross bred regularly. However in the part of France called the Central Pyrenees region and in a small southern part of France the original, old style Braque Francais was pure bred. This aspect of the breed contributed to the development of all of the French pointers and European shorthaired dogs. By the end of the 1800’s today’s breed was developed.

In 1850 the first Braque Francais breed club was established and in the breed standards for both dogs followed in 1880. They were then registered in the French Kennel Club and the International Kennel Club (FCI). The French Kennel Club does not allow dogs with any common ancestors in Generations 1-3 into the Club in order to keep out the practice of inbreeding. In Canada only the Gascogne is recognized and the United States’ United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes both. The American Kennel Club (AKC) does not recognize either.

With most local regions and countries choosing their local dogs over other breeds, the Braque Francais Gascogne has become fairly rare outside of France where the breed was the most popular gun dog throughout the 1700’s. The Gascogne was mostly a dog of the hunting nobility because of its size and food needs. Following the French Revolution, the breed fell off dramatically, while the smaller Pyrenees continued to thrive. This was because in the Pyrenees Mountains and the Southwestern region of Gascony, the English Pointer never supplanted the Braque Francais.

The Second World War was brutal to the Braque Francais Gascognes and as it recovered it became much less common than its sister breed. Today it is found almost exclusively in France.

hellenic houndDeveloped in Southern Greece, the Hellenic Hound was bred to hunt hare and is an ancient breed. It is a medium sized breed with strong scent and tracking skills. It is believed to have been in existence for thousands of years. The ancestry of the breed included the Lagonikoi or laconikoi, native to southern Greece in ancient times. The breed was spread by sailors on Greece trading ships and colonization.

Todays Hellenic Hound is found throughout Europe. Kept somewhat isolated by the mountains, the breed was protected from outside breeding and they remained pure for centuries. It is a fearless, smart and hyped up purebred. The Hellenic Hound needs to have a job and if you don’t give him one, he will find one. He is smart and independent which sometimes makes him stubborn. It also takes this dog longer to mature than others, sometime between two and three years. It is not good for first time owners. Today’s hound is still a popular hunting dog and companion animal as well. They are rarely seen outside of the Greek country.

In 1996 the Hellenic Hound was recognized as the first Greek dog breed into the FCI. They are not recognized by the AKC. Its numbers continue to decline.

Description

braque francais puppy - descriptionThe Braque Francais Gascogne is a larger dog than the Pyrenees breed and is a very handsome dog. Both have a deep chest, a solid bodies, strong and slender legs and are well-proportioned. They have padded, round paws and a large brown head with floppy ears. The muzzle is a pointed block and he has a scissors bite, with a black nose and dark or amber eyes. The eyes are very expressive and round. The tail can be straight and long, or it can be docked. They are tall and athletic.

hellenic hound puppy - descriptionToday’s Hellenic Hound is not a big dog but rather very average or medium. It is an athletic dog and looks like it. It has a balanced body with a deep chest and thick neck. It has medium height legs that are strong and muscular with paws that are prepared for the terrain it always works on. Its coat is short and tight. The colors of the Hellenic Hound are black with tan or white on the chest. Their heads are noble and rounded with a rectangle shaped muzzle. They have v shaped, long ears and round eyes. Their toe nails are black and so is their nose. It has excellent scent glands, very quick responses, speed and stamina. Their tail is thick and tapers off.

Characteristics

braque francais dog - characteristicsThis is a working breed, but they are nevertheless friendly and loyal to their families. They want to please their people and are usually docile. They love kids and are good as a first ever dog. They are friendly and even-tempered. They tolerate people they do not know but can be shy and are not guard dogs. instead they are loving, affectionate and people oriented. They need to be with their families and never left outside alone. They can develop separation anxiety.

Children friendliness

hellenic hound dog - characteristicsyes, they are very fond of children as long as they are carefully socialized.

Special talents

Great hunter, stamina ,scent, voice

Adaptable

He needs to have a yard or land. He doesn’t do well in apartments.

Learning

The breed is very intelligent and can be very trainable. However, they can also be stubborn and that makes training harder.

Health Problems

braque francais puppies - health problemsThe Braque Francais is a fairly healthy breed. They are susceptible to certain health conditions that most dogs of their size and working history are susceptible to. These include Patellar luxation which seems to be one of the most common problems for them. They also can have hip and/or elbow dysplasia, aortic stenosis which is a narrowing of the aorta, and some eye issues such as ectropion, entropion, and PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy as well as cataracts.

hellenic hound puppies - health problemsThe Hellenic Hound is a fairly healthy breed having been isolated on the Island of Greece for the most part. They are susceptible to:

Joint dysplasia

Could be hips, elbows or knees. If untreated can lead to lameness or inability to walk.

Arthritis

Causes joint pain and can cause lameness or inability to walk.

Bloat

Can be fatal if not treated immediately. To avoid it don’t feed a large meal before or after exercise.

Hunting injuries

Can be a variety of things that occur during the hunt.

Ear infections

Need to keep the ears clean and dry in order to avoid infections.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

braque francais dogs - caringThis is a high energy, working dog with a need for a high-quality energy food or raw food that you make up yourself. Be sure to include chicken, beef and fish. Feed him about 3 cups once a day or 1.5 cups twice a day.

Health issues

In addition to the conditions listed above, his long floppy ears can lead to ear infections if not cared for. Wash them out daily. He is also susceptible to bloat so don’t feed him large meals and don’t let him exercise or work right before or right after exercise.

Exercise and games

These dogs have a variety of hunting skills. They are not only pointers but can flush, trail and retrieve. The Gascogne is not as quick as the Pyrenees. They need a lot of exercise daily or they need a hunting job. They would do well with barn hunt, lure coursing and free play in an off leash fenced in area. If they don’t get rid of their energy, they can be destructive. They were bred to hunt and cannot resist the chase,

Feeding the puppy

hellenic hound dogs - caringFeed the puppy 2-3 times a day a total of 2 cups

Feeding the adult

Feed the adult twice a day a total of 2-3 cups

Points for Good Health

The Hellenic Hound has excellent stamina, speed and scenting ability.

Games and Exercises

This is a very active, athletic dog that needs to work and needs exercise. He is powerful, quick and has great endurance. It thrives on hunting but will need other activities on the days it doesn’t hunt. It needs a yard or land to play in. Agility, Field Trials, tracking, hunting and fly ball are all activities the Hellenic Hound will enjoy.

Comparison with other breeds

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