Griffon Fauve de Bretagne

Hound Group Medium (25-50 lbs)
Height 19-22"
Weight 40-53 lbs
Lifespan 10-13 years
Price $700-$1,400

About the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne

Toughness in a compact frame characterises this Breton hound. Wire-coated, fawn-coloured and built low and strong rather than tall, the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne was made for pushing through gorse and bramble after game that fights back, and the temperament reflects that history: bold, persistent and inclined to finish what it starts. At home most are friendly, affectionate and steady with family, but this remains a hunting dog rather than a house pet by design. Scent obsession dominates outdoor behaviour, recall competes poorly with a fresh line, and secure enclosure is essential. Exercise means an hour or more of vigorous walking, tracking or fieldwork daily, with nose games as useful supplements; without it, boredom shows up as digging and vocalising. Training rewards patience and food, and asks you to accept a degree of independence that would be considered disobedience in a gundog. The voice is loud and carries. Other dogs are usually welcome given the pack tradition, while cats and poultry are risky. Grooming is undemanding, requiring a weekly brush of the harsh coat, tidying around the face and feet, and checking ears and paws after cover work. Rural homes with hunting or active outdoor lives fit best. The distinctive feature is that dense fawn jacket, weatherproof and rough to the touch, worn like armour.

Temperament

Affectionate Great with Kids Dog-Friendly Playful Easy to Train
Affection Level
Good with Children
Good with Other Dogs
Playfulness
Protectiveness
Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Intelligence
Adaptability

Physical Characteristics

Size Category Medium (25-50 lbs)
Height 19-22"
Weight 40-53 lbs
Coat Type Wire
Coat Length Medium
Colors
Hypoallergenic No

Care Requirements

Exercise Needs

High (60-90 min/day)

60 minutes per day recommended

Grooming

Moderate - Weekly

Shedding:

Mental Stimulation

Needs plenty of mental challenges

Drooling

Living Conditions

Apartment Friendly
Good for First-Time Owners
Tolerates Being Alone
Cold Weather Tolerance
Hot Weather Tolerance

Cost of Ownership

Purchase Price $700-$1,400
Annual Cost $1,200/year

Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.

Health Considerations

Like all breeds, Griffon Fauve de Bretagnes may be prone to certain health conditions:

Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.

Best For

  • Families with Children
  • Active Owners

May Not Be Ideal For

  • Apartment Living
  • Long Work Hours Away
  • Sedentary Lifestyles

Guides for your Griffon Fauve de Bretagne

The story behind the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne

Brittany produced fawn-coated rough hounds from at least the medieval period, and tradition holds that they were used against wolves in the region, a role that ended with the extermination of French wolf populations. Whether the modern dogs descend directly from those older hounds is not documented with certainty. The type declined severely by the nineteenth century and survived in small numbers among Breton hunters, with a revival effort in the twentieth century rebuilding the breed around a limited base. A related, shorter-legged basset variety also exists. Recognised in France and internationally, the griffon fauve is worked mainly on wild boar, fox and hare, alone or in small packs, and is kept almost exclusively by hunters. It remains scarce outside France and is rarely seen in show rings.

Originally bred for: Wolf hunting, Wild boar and fox hunting, Pack scenthound. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.

Feeding a Griffon Fauve de Bretagne

Working hounds need feeding to match effort, richer during the hunting season and lighter through quiet months, since inactive dogs of this build thicken quickly. Two servings a day, kept clear of hard exertion, suit a compact but deep-bodied frame.

Watch for: No documented sensitivity attaches to this hound. Scavenging on hunts causes far more upsets than any recipe does, and rapid ration changes account for others. Where symptoms persist, veterinary assessment should come before any decision to cut ingredients from the bowl.

Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.

Living with a Griffon Fauve de Bretagne

Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.

For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.

Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.

Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.

Compare Griffon Fauve de Bretagne with Other Breeds

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