Braque du Bourbonnais
French Pointer
About the Breed…
The Braque du Bourbonnais is a bold, compact French Pointer - a gundog prized for its agility, keen nose and unwavering devotion to its handler. Characterised by a short, smooth coat, marked with liver or fawn pigment, a graceful yet muscular frame, and either a full, or distinctive natural short tail, this versatile pointer excels in fieldwork and as a loyal companion, combining lively intelligence with calm steadiness in the home and an eager, steady temperament in the hunt.
Coat & Colour
The Braque du Bourbonnais carries a coat that is functional, short and dense, designed for work in the field while remaining elegant in appearance. The texture is close-lying and smooth, providing protection against brambles and weather without excessive bulk. The skin is supple; the coat should lie flat along the body, neither long nor woolly. A light undercoat may be present in colder climates but should not be pronounced. The overall silhouette is clean and athletic.
Colour is a defining and striking feature of the breed being fawn and white, or liver and white, with more dense variations of pigment often known as peach (fawn), and lilac (liver).
The colour does not come from the hair but from the skin known as pigment. Solid patches aside, puppies are born white with pigmentation developing anything from 2 weeks old up to 2 years old.
Head pigment is often more solid; many Bourbonnais show a coloured head with or without a white blaze on the top of head.
Trainabilty
Braque du Bourbonnais are smart, eager-to-please gun dogs that learn quickly with consistent, firm, reward-based training. They do best with clear commands, short sessions, and positive reinforcement. Early socialization and varied exposure channel their hunting drive into reliable behaviour. Regular mental and physical exercise prevents boredom and stubbornness. With a confident, patient handler they become versatile, steady companions in both field and home.
Origin and early centuries …
The Braque du Bourbonnais is one of the oldest French Pointer breeds, its roots reaching back to at least the 17th century in the Bourbonnais region of central France. Contemporary historians trace the dog’s origins to local scenting and pointing dogs used by rural landowners and gamekeepers. These early dogs were valued for versatility: tracking, flushing and retrieving in a landscape of wood, bocage and marsh.18th–19th centuries…
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Bourbonnais type was refined through selective breeding by hunters who emphasised a compact, muscular frame, an intense nose, and an open, forward pointing stance. The breed became known for its courage in thick cover and its steady, close-working style. Local kennels and hunting families maintained lines that showed a consistent pattern: short, dense coat (often liver-and-white), a naturally bobbed or short tail, and a strong hunting instinct paired with tractable temperament.Early 20th century near disappearance and revival
Like several French field breeds, the Braque du Bourbonnais suffered a dramatic decline through the upheavals of the early 20th century: industrialisation of the countryside, two world wars and changing hunting practices drastically reduced the population. By the 1920s-1930s this French Pointer breed was on the verge of extinction. A determined revival began in the 1970s and 1980s, driven by a small number of passionate breeders and hunters who scoured rural archives and pedigrees and sought out remnant dogs still showing the classic type and working ability.
Modern Day
The revival used careful outcrossing, selection for the traditional hunting traits and concerted efforts to re-establish the breed standard. In 1991 the French Kennel Club (Société Centrale Canine) officially recognised the Braque du Bourbonnais, cementing the breed’s comeback. Following recognition, dedicated breed clubs formed, records were compiled and a new generation of hunters, show exhibitors and companion owners embraced the dog.Today the Braque du Bourbonnais remains a relatively rare, niche breed outside France but enjoys a stable and committed following among hunters and breed enthusiasts. Breeders continue to emphasise preservation of the historical type, working ability and genetic health. This French Pointer breed’s survival from near extinction stands as a testament to dedicated conservation breeding.
The Braque du Bourbonnais is not currently recognised on the breed register by the Royal Kennel Club however we hope to gain recognition on the import register in the near future. Our puppies are registered with the Irish Kennel Club who are part of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), which is the overarching organisation linking all European Kennel Clubs.
We are active committee members of the British Braque du Bourbonnais Club, a dedicated breed club for UK owners and enthusiasts. For more information regarding the club, what we do, and how to join, follow the link below to the club website.
Breed status in the UK
Protecting and Preserving a rare and ancient breed.