Braque d'Auvergne
Auvergne Pointer, Bleu d’Auvergne, Braque Bleu, Grand Braque
The Braque d’ Auvergne one of several French braques, or pointers. A pointer is a gundog that has been bred specifically for their ability to point. This means that they will freeze when they have found game and point their muzzle towards the waiting animal to give the hunter its location. They can also easily be trained to retrieve prey once it has been killed.
Braque d'Auvergne Standards
- 21-25"
- 49-62 lbs
- large pointer
- long, thin ears
- tail is traditionally docked where legal
- short, shiny coat
- black with white markings, ticked or roan
History of the Braque d'Auvergne
Named after the Auvergne province in southern France, the Braque d’Auvergne is a dog with disputed origins. One theory suggests that they are direct decedents of the old French pointers, while the other claims it originated in Malta. This second theory insists that their ancestors were brought to France by the Knights of the Order of St. John when their base on Malta was shut down by Napoleon in 1798. Their coloring does not support a Maltese origin, but it may be that these dogs were crossed with the existing braques to create the breed. At one time there were two sizes, the Braque Bleu and larger Grand Braque.