Braque Saint-Germain puppies

About the Braque Saint-Germain

The Braque Saint-Germain came out of nineteenth century France, from crossing French pointers with English pointer stock kept at the royal kennels, and they became a favourite subject of sporting painters. This is a medium sized, elegant gundog, white with orange markings, with a fine head and a light frame for their height. The character is soft and friendly: a pointing dog that is unusually good tempered with visitors, with other dogs and with children, given the usual supervision and socialisation.

Exercise needs are more moderate than in most pointing breeds, but that still means daily walks, some free running in a fenced area and games that use the nose. Grooming is a weekly brush along with nails, ears and teeth. The breed is sensitive and dislikes being shouted at, which shuts them down rather than sharpening them up. If this gentle dog starts fidgeting, check they are getting enough exercise before treating the fidgeting as a training problem.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Braque Saint-Germain puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by radiographic hip evaluation of breeding stock
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation of breeding stock
• Ear infections in the drop ears, found by regular checks and cleaning

Your Braque Saint-Germain puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Braque Saint-Germain.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 18.1 to 26.3 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 26.3 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Braque Saint-Germain

Previous: Braque Francais Pyrenean · Next: Brazilian Terrier

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Braque Saint-Germain breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/braque-saint-germain/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

No published figure for coat type, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.

Photo: Canarian, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.