Rabbit hunting at championship level: according to the FCI standard, Basset Fauve de Bretagne dogs won French rabbit-hunting championships several times. This made the little red Breton hound known nationwide during the last 30 years of the 20th century, after long popularity in the home region.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.3 Small-sized Hounds, Standard No. 36, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France |
| Height at the withers | Males and females 32 to 38 cm, an extra 2 cm tolerated in exceptional specimens |
| Weight | Not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | Median 13,7 years for a British pooled group combining this breed with Petit and Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | Very rough, harsh, fairly short, never woolly or curly; facial hair should not be excessive |
| Colours according to the standard | Fawn from golden wheaten to brick red; a few black hairs on back and ears tolerated, occasionally a small white chest patch |
The Griffon Fauve’s little relative
According to the standard, the breed shares the qualities of its ancestor, the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne. It hunts rabbit, hare, fox, roe deer and wild boar. The FCI describes a compact dog, fast for its size and exceptionally tough. Related types include the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen and the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen.
Hunter and housemate together
Unusually for a scent-hound standard, it calls the breed passionate hunters and excellent human companions: trusting, affectionate and even-tempered. On the hunt, courageous, resourceful and persistent. You notice that on a walk as soon as a trail beckons.
A short back for a Basset
The back should be short and broad for a Basset. Forearms are vertical or slightly bent inwards, with the standard explicitly stating that bending should not be encouraged. Excessive curvature of the forequarters disqualifies. When meeting the parents, look for straight legs, a firm back and lively movement.
Glaucoma: a genetic test helps
Open-angle glaucoma is the best-studied concern. A 2015 study found all three affected Basset Fauves carried an ADAMTS17 change on both chromosomes; among 24 healthy dogs, five carried one copy (Oliver et al. 2015). A genetic test identifies carriers. French studbook data from 1997 to 2001 gave a mean inbreeding coefficient of 3,9 per cent (Leroy et al. 2006). No separate lifespan figure exists: McMillan and colleagues pooled the breed in a group with a median of 13,7 years.
Rough coat, quick care
The very rough, harsh coat is easy to care for. Brush weekly and strip out dead hair, particularly during shedding. Check the tapering ears, which reach just to the nose tip, regularly, and the paws after outings through undergrowth.
Who lives well with this breed
People and families who enjoy daily exercise and nose work, seeking a small, sturdy, cuddly dog, can find a good partner. Homes where the dog stays alone for long periods, and owners expecting off-lead exercise without training, are less suitable. Recall takes time; the return is a loyal, cheerful friend.
To see whether this little red hunter fits your everyday life, try the breed quiz, with more help weighing the choice in our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For a puppy’s arrival, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. The warm fawn coat glows on a magazine cover on canvas or as a downloadable digital artwork.
Further reading
- Beagle: a nose with a dog attached, and what that means day to day
- Older dog, new rules: giving your senior their best years
- Toilet training your puppy: a plan for the first 4 weeks
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 36 Basset Fauve de Bretagne (fci.be, German version dated 21.05.2003, English version dated 05.05.2003, valid original standard dated 25.03.2003); Oliver JA et al., Two Independent Mutations in ADAMTS17 Are Associated with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma in the Basset Hound and Basset Fauve de Bretagne Breeds of Dog, PLOS ONE 2015; Leroy G et al., Genetic variability in French dog breeds assessed by pedigree data, Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 2006; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024.
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