Kaikadi 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 Kaikadi or Kai Kadi is a terrier dog, hailing from India. Not much is available on the history of the dog, but today you won't easily find original Kai Kadi in India. This is because they have essentially been mixed with stray dogs of India as well as Pariah.

It is for this reason that the dog isn't recognized as a standardized breed by any of the leading kennel clubs.

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.

These dog have always been used for hunting, guarding and herding in India and today he makes a good watchdog, watching over his human family.

It's not a large dog though and he stands at roughly 35 to 45cm in height and weighs 17 to 21kg. He is lean and muscular, looking similar to the Italian Greyhound or Whippet.

He has a short smooth coat and the color can be patterned white, tan and black. The head is long and thin, as are the legs, and his tail is long and thin too. The floppy ears stand erect when alert.

Temperament:

The Kaikadi is an affectionate, alert, energetic dog. He won't do well in a city environment with a tiny garden as he requires a large garden to run in.

He is a dog that will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to be obedient and to get on well with children in the home as well as pets.

He can be a fairly quiet, docile dog inside but outside when there is a game to be had, he becomes lively and animated. They are quite sensitive, so while they get on well with children in the home, he won’t respond well to large families with lots of rowdy, undisciplined children as it makes him anxious.

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.

Your Kai Kadi loves running and playing outside, after all he has always been a hunting dog. He will love to spend time with you outside playing.

The Kaikadi is a low maintenance dog too. Provide your Kaikadi with everything that makes a dog happy and in exchange you’ll get yourself a loyal, loving pet who wants to be your friend.

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.

When you’ve got a Kai Kadi, make sure you understand some of the health risks that come along. This is a healthy dog breed so you’re not likely to have much going wrong with him, but you need to know that he can get sick and then you need to have the name of a good vet for medical treatment -

Hypoglycemia:

A sudden drop in blood sugar, which is many times brought on by stress, can make your dog lethargic and even have slight tremors in the face. It could be a hypoglycemic attack. See the vet immediately.

Pancreatitis:

The pancreatitis can become inflamed and your dog could be vomiting, have diarrhea and have abdominal pain. There are quite a few things that can cause pancreatitis such as obesity, infection as well as stress.

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.

Owning a dog is a responsibility, requiring you to look after a living being just like you would any family member of yours, otherwise why get a dog in the first place?

You may want a dog for watchdog purposes, but as a living creature, it is important to develop a relationship with your pet and to show him that you love and appreciate him.

There are many things to do to ensure you have a healthy, happy 4-legged canine member in your household

Make sure he has fresh, cool water available to him around the clock.

Provide him with a warm, dry place to sleep.

Provide him with wholesome food to maintain health. There are many excellent commercially manufactured foods on the market. Buy one according to the size and energy levels of your pet. Try to sometimes add cooked home-made food into his kibble such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables as well as some raw meat from time to time. This diet is guaranteed to keep your pet mentally and physically well.

Check your pets nails, ears and eyes regularly. He should be checked for fleas and ticks when you brush him twice a week. Have him examined by a veterinarian as soon as you suspect something is amiss with him. Keep him up to date with his vaccinations.

The Kaikadi is an energetic dog so make sure that you provide him with the opportunity to be exercised. Take him on walks or hikes, play ball and rope games with him and go swimming with him to ensure he remains lean and muscular.

Have him trained and socialized as it takes off the rough-edges of a dog.