Koolie vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne from France was introduced to the UK in 1983, and this smallest of the French hounds is rarely seen outside France, and when you do it is in Britain. This French hunting breed belonging to the Hound group in all likelihood descends from the Grand Fauve de Bretagne which is now extinct.

Long ago the dog was used for hunting and there was even a time when it was on the brink of extinction.The breed became very rare but was later bred with the Basset Griffon Vendeen as well as the Wire Haired Dachshund which has resulted in the breed we have today. The first Basset Fauve was imported into the USA in November 2001.

The Koolie's ancestors were both the smooth coated blue merle Collie as well as the Black and Tan Collie. The dog hails from Australia.

Looking much like the Heeler dog, the Koolie is thought to have got its name from German immigrants to Australia who couldn’t pronounce the name ‘collie’ properly, so the name came out as Koolie. The Koolie of today is a product of a cross between the German Koolie and the Australian Dingo.

The dog has been around for a long time and in 2000, the Koolie Club of Australia was formed. It was in 2004 that the Koolie was recognized by the Australian Sporting Registrar. In May 2006, the Stockdog Committee of the Australian Shepherd Club of America accepted the Koolie as a recognized and accepted herding breed.

Wiry, Dense Coat

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne is a smallish hound, with a long body and deep chest. He is lively and friendly. He is a wire-coated dog, looking similar to a golden cocker spaniel, but his coat is coarse and quite springy and wiry to the touch. He is nimble, he has plenty of courage, he is lively, friendly and amenable. He has short legs, but unlike other Basset breeds, these don’t have that crooked, turned outwards appearance that the Basset Hound has.

The tail is fairly long and held upright when the dog is alert. He has long low-set ears which reach roughly to the end of the nose. The coat is always wheat- or fawn or red in color. The Basset Fauve de Bretagne, also referred to as the Fawn Brittany Basset isn’t quite as low to the ground as the Basset Hound, measuring 32 – 38 cm.

Friendly and Adaptable

Small, stocky and feisty, this rough-coated Basset is energetic, agile and quick and you’ll find that he gets on well with children as well as other pets in the house. Some training and socialization will go a far way to make him an even more super dog than what he is. He’ll make a wonderful family pet and will adapt well to country living as well as living in the city, if he can rely on you to take him for walks.

Known also as the German Koolie or German Collie, the Koolie is a working- or herding dog standing at between 40 – 60cm in height and weighing up to 24kg.

The Koolie's coat is a merle coat pattern in red or black and possibly with some tan and is mostly short and smooth, though it can be medium length too. Depending on the coat color – red or black – the nose and eyes can be either brown or black, although eye color can also be blue or yellowish.

Temperament:

The Koolie is such a wonderful pet who has some excellent characteristics to his name. He is active, energetic, fun, clever, friendly and playful, but if you have him trained and socialized he becomes even more of a great family pet. He is intelligent too and will require an owner who is steady, firm, fair and consistent. You wouldn't call him an aggressive dog

Smart and courageous, the Basset Fauve is such a wonderful pet to have in your home. He is gentle, loving and loyal and will adapt to living in the countryside or the city, so long as he is loved, fed well, exercised and given lots of attention.

He was once a serious hunter, but these days he is most content to be friend and protector for his human family.

Many people today like the idea of a ‘wild’ animal as a pet, and the Koolie, with his Dingo ancestry, can be a challenging dog breed to keep. People eventually blame these animals for having a poor temperament – meantime all they are essentially, are high-energy animals.

If you keep a Koolie, it will be better if you were a firm, kind, patient, consistent dog owner who understands the special needs of these kinds of dogs. They’re an energetic, care-free animals who will do better on a large property or farm as he is lively and will need a good deal of exercise.

He is quite capable of being a splendid pet with training and socialization and will settle down well to family life when he is loved and cared for.

The Basset Fauve is free from inherited health problems in the UK and is in fact one of the hardiest of the Basset group. Like all Basset type breeds, as a dog owner you’ll have to keep an eye on your Basset Fauve as he can develop back problems as he gets older.

When it comes to your Basset Fauve’s health, make sure he gets all his shots, starting from when he is a puppy. Many of the dangerous canine diseases can be prevented with vaccines.

The Koolie is a long-lived dog and there are records of it being able to reach 18 years of age. Because they have a diverse gene pool, you won’t find many genetic problems with this dog.

It is always wise when you’re the owner of a dog, to look out for his health and wellbeing -

Vaccination:

This is to prevent your Koolie picking up fatal diseases such as distemper and parvo-virus. Dogs can be vaccinated from 6 weeks of age for protection.

Parasites:

Working dogs like the Koolie are susceptible to parasites such as tapeworm. Worming of your dog can be included in your vet visit. Dogs with worms may show tell-tale signs such as being pot bellied, very pale gums, anemia and a dull, thinned coat.

A look at his droppings may reveal white segments or worms. Fleas are another kind of parasite and they breed quickly in warm months. Mange is a skin disease caused by small parasitic mites which can actually live inside the hair follicles of dogs. Veterinary treatment will be required.

Heat Stroke:

This is when your pet’s temperature rises out of control. Dogs pant to reduce their body temperature so a dog puffing heavily is putting in extra work to reduce his body temperature.

Never leave you pet in a boiling hot car as the body becomes weak and he has difficulty with breathing. Without immediate treatment, the dog will collapse and die.

Grooming

The Basset Fauve is easy to maintain, and all that is required from you is to brush his wiry coat at least twice a week to remove all loose hairs. Look out for too much hair in the ear passage and remove it. The teeth should be brushed a couple of times a week with a dog toothpaste and brush to avoid plague build-up and the claws should also be trimmed.

Exercise

Daily walks will be imperative for your Basset Fauve as he is an energetic dog and will need regular exercise. Just ignoring his energetic side will make him frustrated, bored and even destructive.

Food

This breed of dog used to hunt small game and so he is lively and energetic. Because of this he will need a high-quality dog food. Always buy the best commercially manufactured dog foods and speak to your vet about the best one, and whether dry- or wet foods would best suit your canine friend. You want to provide your pet with variety, and it is imperative to include some raw- and cooked meat to his regular dog food to ensure he doesn’t battle with an itchy, dry skin.

Dog foods suited to age, activity levels and stage of life can ensure your dog is always energetic, full of life, healthy and happy and not prone to putting on weight. Always ensure that clean, cool water is constantly available to your pet.

If you get a puppy from a reputable breeder, they will tell you what the puppy’s feeding schedule has been. Make sure to stick to the same routine for a while so that your puppy doesn’t have any tummy upsets.

Training:

The Koolie is an intelligent dog that will benefit from training and socialization to make him obedient and able to cope in diverse situations.

Exercise:

These dogs show an untiring enthusiasm for exercise and work and wherever you live, you will need to ensure that he gets regular exercise.

Diet:

Only the very best - both home-made and commercially manufactured food - will be good enough for this energetic dog. Good quality food ensures health and longevity. Always see that there is a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Relaxing Time:

Make sure that your dog has a warm, dry place to sleep inside and that when outside, he has a cool, sheltered spot from the sun.