French Pyrenean Arm, Small

The French braco is our protagonist today, also known as the Pyrenees, he is often confused with the Gascogne braco. To avoid this confusion, we want you to know more about this breed. Stay with us!

What You Should Know About French Braco

It is not possible to determine with certainty how this animal originated, as it exists before the breeds were registered. What is certain is that it  is a hunting breed that comes from France and dates back to approximately the year 1700.

Apparently, it is believed that, unlike the Braco de Gascogne, which was developed in southern France, the French Braque Pyrenees  may be related to other European dog breeds, such as the English pointer and the German arm.

The first reports of him date back to the 17th century and were made by a hunter named Selincourt. He described him as “tall in size, strongly built, with a large head and long ears, square snout, large nose, hanging lips and brown and white coat.”

In the beginning, there was only one type of Braco. However, around 1800, hunters began to mix their Gascony arms with smaller races,  and from there came the French arm, an animal of smaller size but with very similar characteristics.

At first, they were considered to be the same race, so crossbreeding was normal until the two races were identified individually, and  hybridization  was already prohibited. It is noteworthy that  the world wars almost made the breed disappear, although it was later rescued.

French arm characteristics

This dog is medium in size. In the case of males, they are between 45 and 58 centimeters. Females, between 45 and 55 centimeters. These dogs are strong and muscular in appearance, with a flat belly and semi-long tail, their weight varies between 15 and 24 kilos. It was customary, as a dog used for hunting, to have its tail cut off, but this changed with the ban on mutilation of animals.

Tight lips, wide head and wide nose (brown) and long, drooping ears are other characteristics of this breed. In relation to its fur, it is short, fine and soft all over the body and the accepted colors are plain brown or brown and white. Exceptions were given to some specimens that were born with several alternative colors.

French arm personality

Despite being used for hunting, he is affectionate and a loyal and loving companion. Very dedicated to family and helpful, he needs to be very close to his family and feel loved because he has a tendency to develop separation anxiety.

If he is socialized from the beginning, he  will be an ideal pet to be with children. They are not very fond of strangers, shyness and nervousness are common in this breed,  hence the importance of socializing them from puppies.

It is an ideal dog  to be trained because it is not dominant and it is obedient and intelligent. Although he was used as a hunting dog, he was not trained to catch birds, only to chase them. Therefore, even as a pet, he will tend to chase other small animals, to calm his  instincts but not to hurt them.

Health and Care

The French Arm is a very active type of dog, so it will need large amounts of exercise, between 45 minutes and an hour a day. It is an ideal companion for running or riding a bike. However, several health conditions are known that are common in many specimens of this breed, such as:

• hip dysplasia
• elbow dysplasia
• Kneecap dislocation
• falls
• progressive retinal atrophy
• cleft lip
• Acral Mutilation Syndrome
• aortic stenosis

Anyway, the French arm is an ideal animal to have as a pet. Are you already thinking about having one?