Braque Saint-Germain
🧠 Temperament & character
The Braque Saint-Germain is gentle, sociable and extremely biddable, a friendly pointing dog with an even temperament. He is people-oriented, good-natured and likes to work in close coordination with his handler. On the hunt he shows himself passionate and keen to move, and in everyday life easy-going and affectionate. His sensitivity calls for friendly, patient training.
📜 Origin & history
The Braque Saint-Germain arose around 1830 at the royal hunting grounds of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, when imported English Pointers were crossed with French braques. The aim was an elegant, easily handled pointing dog for genteel hunting. The breed took its name from its place of origin and quickly became popular in France. Today it is a valued, if rather rare, French pointing breed.
✂️ Grooming, care & training
The Braque Saint-Germain's short coat is easy to care for and needs only occasional brushing. As an active pointing dog he needs plenty of daily exercise, preferably with scent and retrieving work in the field. Thanks to his easy handling and eagerness to learn he is pleasant to train and appreciates friendly, motivating methods. The pendulous ears should be checked regularly.
🩺 Health
The Braque Saint-Germain is regarded as a robust, healthy breed with a life expectancy of around twelve to fourteen years. Serious breed-typical hereditary diseases are rare; hip dysplasia can occur occasionally. The long ears should be cared for to prevent inflammation. Responsible breeders x-ray the hips and pay attention to healthy, temperamentally sound parent animals.
🏡 Who is this breed right for?
The Braque Saint-Germain is suited to active families and hunters who value a gentle, sociable and easily handled pointing dog. Thanks to his friendly nature he is also conceivable for committed first-time owners with enough time for exercise. Ideal is a home with plenty of exercise in nature; he is unsuited to being kept purely in an apartment without activity. In Switzerland he is rare, but a pleasant, easy-going companion.