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Braque du Bourbonnais

At a Glance

Built for Close-working pointing. Heavy cover, woodcock, quail, pheasant, grouse. Stays with the hunter.
From Bourbonnais region, France. UKC/BBCOA in North America. One of the most remarkable survival stories in the dog world.
Temperament Gentle, affectionate, calm, handler-bonded. One of the most approachable and gentle pointing breeds available.
Coat Short, dense, fine. White with liver or orange ticking — often very dense, giving a distinctive "faded" appearance. Natural bobbed tail.
Size 35–53 lbs
Live with Excellent family dog. Calm, gentle, good with everyone. Real off switch. Not a demanding dog.
Best for Hunter who wants a close-working, naturally talented pointing dog with a calm temperament and ancient French heritage.
Famous for Documented since 1598. Functionally extinct by the 1970s. Rebuilt from near zero. The natural bobbed tail.

Origin

The Braque du Bourbonnais is one of the oldest pointing breeds in France — and one of the most remarkable survival stories in the dog world. Its origins in the Bourbonnais region of central France are documented as far back as the late 15th century, with written references appearing in French hunting literature from 1598. It was prized by French nobility for its natural pointing ability, its distinctive short tail (often born with a naturally bobbed tail), and its close-working, methodical hunting style.

The breed nearly disappeared entirely in the 20th century. By the 1960s and 1970s, the Braque du Bourbonnais was considered functionally extinct — no registered breeding dogs could be found. A small group of dedicated French hunters and breeders began a reconstruction program in the 1970s and 1980s, locating surviving dogs that matched the historical breed description and rebuilding the breed from near zero. The reconstruction was successful, and the Braque du Bourbonnais was re-established as a recognized breed.

It was introduced to North America in the 1990s and has built a devoted following among hunters who value its close-working style, gentle temperament, and ancient heritage. It is recognized by the UKC in North America.

Original Purpose

A close-working pointing dog for the French hunter on foot — built to point, flush, and retrieve across the varied terrain of central France. The Braque du Bourbonnais was bred for the hunter who needed a dog that stayed in contact, worked the cover thoroughly, and pointed with natural steadiness.

Hunting Style

The Braque du Bourbonnais is a close-working pointing dog — one of the closest-working of all the French pointing breeds. It quarters cover methodically, uses its nose with exceptional sensitivity, and points with a natural steadiness that requires minimal training to develop. It retrieves naturally on land and water.

Its close-working style is its defining characteristic. It is not a wide-ranging dog — it is built for the hunter on foot who wants a dog that works the cover in front of the gun and stays in contact. In heavy cover on woodcock, quail, pheasant, and grouse, the Braque du Bourbonnais is in its element.

Temperament

Gentle. Affectionate. Calm. Handler-bonded.

The Braque du Bourbonnais is one of the most gentle and calm pointing breeds in the world. It is deeply bonded to its handler and family, sensitive to its handler's energy, and genuinely warm and affectionate at home. It is not a high-strung or demanding dog — it has a settled, calm quality that is distinctive in the pointing breed world.

It does not respond well to harsh handling. Patient, consistent, relationship-based training produces exceptional results. The Braque du Bourbonnais is consistently described as one of the most approachable and gentle pointing breeds available.

Coat Type

Short, dense, fine coat. Easy to maintain. The coat is similar to the Braque Français — functional in the field and low-maintenance at home.

Color: White with liver (brown) or white with orange, in ticked or roan patterns. The ticking is often very dense, producing a distinctive "faded" or "washed" appearance that is unique to the breed. The Braque du Bourbonnais is also known for its naturally short or bobbed tail — many dogs are born with a tail that is naturally short, a breed characteristic that has been present since the earliest historical descriptions.

Trainability

Excellent — and notably easy for a pointing breed. The Braque du Bourbonnais has a natural pointing instinct that is strong and early-developing. It is responsive, eager to please, and picks up training quickly. Its calm temperament and genuine desire to work make it one of the most accessible pointing breeds for first-time bird dog handlers. It does not require heavy pressure and responds beautifully to patient, positive training.

What It's Actually Like to Live and Hunt with a Braque du Bourbonnais

The Braque du Bourbonnais is the pointing dog for the hunter who wants a close-working, calm, gentle partner with ancient heritage and a natural pointing instinct that seems almost effortless. It works the cover in front of you, finds the birds, points with steadiness, and retrieves. It stays with you. It is a dog built for the hunter on foot who wants a partner, not a project.

At home it is one of the most pleasant hunting dogs you can live with. It is calm, affectionate, and genuinely settled. It has a real off switch. It is not a dog that demands constant stimulation — it is content to be near its people, and when it gets exercise and hunting, it is deeply satisfied.

Family Compatibility

Excellent. The Braque du Bourbonnais is one of the most family-friendly pointing breeds. It is gentle, patient, and good with children of all ages. It bonds with the whole family and is warm with strangers. Its calm temperament and genuine warmth make it one of the most livable hunting breeds regardless of hunting frequency.

Common Misconceptions

"The bobbed tail is a defect."
The naturally short or bobbed tail is a breed characteristic that has been present in the Braque du Bourbonnais since the earliest historical descriptions. It is not a defect — it is part of what makes the breed distinctive. Dogs are born with varying tail lengths, from full-length to naturally bobbed.

"The Braque du Bourbonnais is too rare to find quality breeding."
The breed is rare in North America, but the breeding community is serious and committed to working ability. Finding a quality breeder takes more effort than with more common breeds — but the dogs produced by committed breeders are exceptional.

Best For

  • Hunters who want a close-working pointing dog with a calm, gentle temperament
  • First-time bird dog owners looking for an approachable, naturally talented pointing breed
  • Families who hunt and want a dog that is exceptional in both roles
  • Those who value ancient French hunting heritage and a remarkable survival story
  • Hunters who work on foot in heavy cover and want a dog that stays in contact

Registry & Organizations

  • UKC — United Kennel Club (North America)
  • BBCOA — Braque du Bourbonnais Club of America
  • NAVHDA — used for testing in North America
  • Club du Braque du Bourbonnais — French breed club

Testing: NAVHDA Natural Ability and Utility tests. BBCOA field testing also available.

Related Breeds

Braque Français · Bracco Italiano · Drentsche Patrijshond · French Brittany

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