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Hound · France

Basset Fauve de Bretagne

A walker's guide to the Basset Fauve de Bretagne: how much exercise they need, what to expect on and off the lead, and what to ask the owner before the first walk.

Small, 16 to 18 kgActiveScenthoundWire coatLivelyFawn
Exercise a day60 min plus
Energy3 of 5
Walk styleBusy, bustling, nose down
With other dogsFriendly and cheerful

Overview

The Basset Fauve de Bretagne is the smallest of the French bassets and the liveliest. It wears a harsh, short wiry coat in shades of fawn or red wheaten, has a slightly longer leg than the Basset Hound and a cheerful, bustling manner. It was bred to hunt rabbit and hare in the dense Breton cover and remains a working dog in France.

In Britain it has a small but growing following as a sociable pet. Fauves are affectionate, good with other dogs and more biddable than most hounds, though they are still hounds.

Exercise and walking needs

An hour and a quarter a day suits most adults, and a fit Fauve will happily do more. They enjoy bustling about in undergrowth and have more stamina than their legs suggest.

Hedgerows, woodland and rough ground give the dog what it needs. Pavement walks bore it and it will try to drag you towards the nearest verge.

Daily minimum75 minutes
Ideal2 walks a day
Off-lead timeWith caution, long line

On the walk

  • Recall: Better than most bassets but still unreliable when a rabbit breaks cover. Use a long line until you know the dog.
  • Other dogs: Friendly, playful and sturdy enough to join most groups without trouble.
  • Lead manners: Busy and inclined to pull towards smells, but light enough to manage comfortably on a harness.
  • Voice: A Fauve on a scent will bark and bay. It is less booming than a Basset Hound but still travels.
  • Coat: Wiry fur sheds dirt well and dries fast, though it collects seeds and burrs in late summer.

Tips for professional walkers

  1. Carry a long line and let the dog range on it where it is safe; it satisfies the need to hunt without the risk.
  2. Check the coat and ears for grass seeds after walks through long vegetation.
  3. Reward check-ins generously; the breed is food motivated and will learn to look back.
  4. Keep away from rabbit warrens and field margins where the dog is likely to disappear down a hole.
Every dog is an individual. Treat this as a starting point and go with what the owner tells you about their dog. Anything to do with health belongs with the owner and their vet.

What to ask the owner

  • Has the dog ever gone to ground or vanished after rabbits, and what did the owner do?
  • Is it on a long line normally, and does it have a harness that fits?
  • Any back, ear or weight concerns the owner wants you to bear in mind?
Griffon Fauve de BretagneA wiryPetit Basset Griffon VendéenA shaggyBasset HoundA heavyBasset Artésien NormandA lighter