COUNTRY: France
WEIGHT: 44 pounds
HEIGHT: 20-22 inches
COAT: Rough, hard hair of medium to short length
COLOR: Solid, in various shades of wheaten to
red; small white spot on chest allowed; black hairs highly objectionable
OTHER NAMES: Tawny Brittany Griffon
Group:Hound
The soil in Brittany is poor, and much of the agriculture is devoted to grazing, especially sheep. Brittany is a peninsula in the northwestern corner of France, reaching out into the Atlantic toward Britain. In times past, wolves posed a constant threat to the flocks. Dogs that could track down this predator were an economic necessity. An extra bonus was the diversion from the everyday farm routine provided by the wolf hunts.
The soil in Brittany is poor, and much of the agriculture is devoted to grazing, especially sheep. Brittany is a peninsula in the northwestern corner of France, reaching out into the Atlantic toward Britain. In times past, wolves posed a constant threat to the flocks. Dogs that could track down this predator were an economic necessity. An extra bonus was the diversion from the everyday farm routine provided by the wolf hunts.
The fawn-colored Griffons of Brittany were well chronicled as far back as the Middle Ages. Whether or not these dogs predate the Griffons of Vendee, which is the neighboring province to the south, is debatable. They go back to the same era, and facts of whether one contributed to the other or they came from some of the same stem breeds have been lost in the mists of time.
By 1885, the wolves were gone from Brittany and this breed fell into oblivion or was crossed carelessly with other hounds. Breeders of the present century have worked hard to save the tawny hound. This griffon was easily adapted to other game such as fox and wild boar and, although rarely seen outside of its native area, is still used by modern hunters. Because the breed was becoming bastardized, fanciers have applied a strict standard to eliminate animals that are not of correct type. They are about the same size as the Briquet Vendeen and are always of the solid fawn, tawny or wheaten color.
The Basset version was probably created from crosses of the large Griffon with bassets from Vendee or elsewhere. The smaller version is quite swift for his size and has a lively and enterprising personality. Brittany Bassets are generally hunted in packs of four, going after smaller prey such as rabbit, hare and wild boar. Along with many other bassets, this variety has achieved some standing in modern society as a companion. He makes a fine pet as long as his need for exercise and his passion for hunting are fulfilled. BFB s are bred and shown in England as well as in their homeland.