Braque Francais, Type Gascogne Rescue Dogs for Adoption

Deciding to take in a Braque Francais, Type Gascogne from a rescue centre is something truly special. With this original French pointing breed, you bring a highly intelligent, gentle and extremely people-oriented companion into your home. If you are ready to engage with his past and to channel his hunting instincts sensibly, you gain an exceptionally loyal family dog who will stand by you through thick and thin.

In German rescue centres, the Braque Francais, Type Gascogne is a fairly rare sight, but through specialist gundog rescue organisations and international animal welfare groups (particularly from France), dogs of this breed are regularly in need of a new home. The reasons for giving them up almost never have anything to do with a difficult character – after all, the breed is regarded as especially good with children and families. Most often it is a change in the previous owners’ circumstances, such as illness, separation or a house move.

On top of that come breed-typical factors that were underestimated in everyday life: as a passionate pointing dog, the Braque Francais, Type Gascogne has a high energy level (4 out of 5) and an excellent sense of smell. If a working dog like this is acquired purely for his noble looks and only taken on short walks around the block, he will find himself a job. Staying home alone is also often hard for these devoted dogs if it was not built up in small steps. Sometimes dogs are also given up abroad because they proved too sensitive for active hunting work.

If you want to adopt a Braque Francais, Type Gascogne, you will meet a dog who, despite his stately weight of 25 to 32 kg (height at the withers: males 58 to 69 cm, females 56 to 68 cm), can be very calm and cuddly indoors – provided he gets enough physical and mental exercise outdoors. Thanks to his high trainability and his good compatibility with other dogs, he learns quickly even in adulthood. Even so, you must expect a pronounced prey drive when he is off the lead. His short, dense coat with an undercoat, on the other hand, is extremely easy to care for.

In terms of health, the Braque Francais, Type Gascogne is considered a very robust dog with a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. Because of its athletic build, however, the breed occasionally has issues with the joints and eyes. Reputable breeders have the parent dogs’ hips, elbows and eyes checked by X-ray and clinical eye examination, in order to reduce hereditary risks in the line from the outset; the Verein für französische Vorstehhunde e.V. (VBBFL) requires testing for hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED). With a rescue dog, you usually do not know the parents’ results, especially if he comes from irresponsible puppy farmers or from an unknown background. So make sure he stays at a healthy weight, and plan for occasional eye checks and, if needed, an orthopaedic check with the vet, so that your dog stays active and pain-free for a long time.

Financially, adoption differs markedly from buying a puppy. While a puppy from a reputable breeder falls in a price range of 1,200 to 2,500 EUR, a rescue centre or animal welfare association charges only an adoption fee, which is usually a few hundred euros. Vaccinations, microchip and an initial veterinary check are usually already covered by it; ask to be shown the relevant documents and the pet passport in advance, and look at them carefully. Also budget for good-quality initial equipment – in particular a well-fitting safety harness and a long line – as well as a financial cushion for future vet bills.