This breed almost fell victim to a beauty ideal. In the 1930s, breeders wanted a faded lilac colour and a naturally short tail to become compulsory in the Bourbonnais Pointing Dog (Braque du Bourbonnais). Strict selection threatened the population so severely that a group of breeders began rescuing it only in the 1970s.
| FCI | Group 7 (Pointing Dogs), Section 1.1 Continental Pointing Dogs, Braque type, Standard No. 179, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France (province of Bourbonnais) |
| Size (height at the withers) | Males 51 to 57 cm, females 48 to 55 cm, tolerance of 1 cm above and below |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | fine, dense and short, slightly coarser and sometimes a little longer on the back |
| Colours in the standard | white, predominantly finely ticked brown (formerly “lie de vin”) or flecked fawn, also roan; coloured patches few and small; no trace of black |
Already described in 1598
The FCI standard refers to Ulisse Aldrovandi’s natural history from 1598, which already features this pointing dog. Authors of that period described a pleasant hunting companion, rustic in appearance and robust, with white fur full of fine brown or fawn flecks. It is named after the old French province of Bourbonnais. Related in type are the French Pointing Dog, Gascogne type (Braque Français, type Gascogne) and the Auvergne Pointer (Braque d’Auvergne).
Compact, with a pear-shaped head
The dog is medium-sized and strong, tending towards a stocky build without coarseness; females are slightly less substantial and more elegant. The standard names the so-called pear-shaped head as the key breed feature: rounded in all directions, with a strong muzzle broad at the base. The large hazel or dark amber eyes have a gentle expression.
Gentle at home, head held high in the field
The standard describes a gentle, affectionate dog at home. On the hunt, passion and intelligence allow adaptation to widely varying terrain and game. It takes scent with a high nose and points usefully and precisely; its hunting gallop is enduring and supple. Aggressive or excessively fearful dogs are disqualified. Expect daily work outdoors, scent tasks and lengthy recall training.
Little coat, a tail question
The short, fine hair takes little work: use a rubber grooming glove weekly and check ears and paws after searching in undergrowth. The standard says some puppies are born without a tail; otherwise it should be shortened at the base. Where the law prohibits docking, the tail stays long and is carried below the topline when standing. Dewclaws or traces of their removal exclude a dog. In Germany, docking is generally prohibited under Section 6 of the German Animal Welfare Act. Exceptions for hunting dogs are possible only in individual cases.
What is known about health
We found no reliable study of disease or life expectancy for this breed. McMillan and colleagues’ large British analysis from 2024 includes it in the breed list but calculates no separate figure. The standard requires only functionally and clinically healthy dogs of breed-typical conformation to be used for breeding. Ask for examination results for both parents.
Where this dog belongs
A good match for people who hunt with it or offer equivalent field work and enjoy close cooperation with an affectionate dog. Anyone mainly seeking a companion for city routes and short walks will not satisfy its drive to search, and the learning curve is steep without hunting-dog experience. Its place is where dew lies on the stubble in the morning and someone takes it out.
Does a pointing dog fit your daily life at all? The breed quiz gives a first answer; our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German) goes deeper. When a puppy arrives, the free Puppy Starter Pack helps through the first weeks. If your ticked Bourbonnais dog is already beside you, explore our dog portraits or the magazine cover on canvas .
Further reading
- Weimaraner: the beautiful hunting dog that never clocks off
- Puppy training: the 5 rules that really work
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 179 Braque du Bourbonnais (fci.be, German version dated 18.12.2006, English version dated 29.03.2006, valid original standard dated 21.02.2006); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed listed but not analysed).
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