HUNTING NICHE: WHO SHOULD OWN ONE?
The Braque Francais probably should be classified as a versatile breed. Braques are excellent trackers, and most have an enthusiasm for water. Thus, it appears likely that NAVHDA is the organization holding most promise for the future of the breed in North America, since that organization has the testing structure best suited to showcase all the talents of the breed. But what type of person should own a Braque Francais?

The interviewees suggested that the breed is ideal for the rookie handler who has never owned a gun dog. They develop into satisfactory hunting companions without elaborate training beyond a few basic commands, dummy retrieving and exposure to bird scent. They learn well through simple absorption of field experience. Michel Gelinas said the breed is "born half trained."

Phil Knape agrees. "I've trained about every kind of dog there is," he said, "but I've never seen dogs as easy to train as a Braque Francais." Some of his Braques were naturally steady to wing and shot, requiring no "breaking."

The most important trait for a Braque Francais owner to possess is sensitivity. If you can't control your temper and cut an honest dog a little slack when he's learning the ropes, don't buy a Braque Francais.

Phil Knape advised that the Braque Francais is a perfect choice for the hunter who intends for his dog to be primarily a house dog and secondarily a hunting dog. He described his as "couch potatoes" who really came alive in the field.

Brad Boisen says the breed is best suited to "the person who wants a family pet and companion, while also being a dependable hunting dog." Most of the dogs Boisen has sold have become full-time house pets in addition to their role as hunting companions.

If you do a lot of hunting in frigid weather or waterfowling in cold water, then there are better dogs for your purposes than a Braque Francais, even among the versatile breeds. The same is true if you're an avid field trialer. Boisen warns that Braques "just don't have the speed and ground coverage necessary for success in trials." Hunting tests are another matter, but more on that later.

Libby, a young Braque Francais, points a Minnesota pheasant for her owner, Jeff Hjeltness of Menomonie, Wisconsin.

HOW TO FIND A GOOD ONE
Now comes the hard part. You can't always turn to the classified ads in Gun Dog, make a phone call and buy a Braque Francais. At the present time, the Boisens and Michel Gelinas are the only people on this continent breeding registered Braque Francais on a regular basis. They each produce only one or two litters per year. However, they network with many previous clients, and can often direct you to someone with a one-time litter of puppies from registered parents.

Still, the present gene pool on this continent is not yet large enough to support widespread demand. If the breed is to become ubiquitous in North America while retaining its present quality, more registered dogs must be imported from France to expand and diversify the North American gene pool. At the time of this writing, the Boisens are negotiating the importation of two new dogs from France, which will allow them to satisfy the demand for more puppies, while preserving the essential quality of the breed. Michel Gelinas also continues to import dogs as needed.

Admittedly, North Americans could expedite the proliferation of the Braque Francais by breeding extensively within families. How-ever, true linebreeding is an art practiced only by people who really know what they're doing. Without a programmatic, holistic focus, the result is not linebreeding but mere inbreeding. And that can have disappointing consequences.

A GUN DOG FRONTIER
How rare is the breed here in the New World? Currently, NAVHDA records show only 31 Braque Francais registered with that organization, with Phil Knape and Michel Gelinas being the only breeders with registered litters. CKC records from 1996 through 1998 show only 26 new registrations during that period, all entered by the Boisens or Michel Gelinas. CKC officials estimate that there are probably less than 200 Braque Francais living in North America.

There aren't many frontiers left on the North American gun dog scene. The Braque Francais is one of them. According to NAVHDA records, only two Braques have participated in hunting tests, and both passed the Natural Ability test. No representative of the breed has yet qualified in the CKC's pointing dog field testing program. Only one has entered. To anyone's knowledge, no Braque Francais has ever participated in any dog show, obedience competition or field trial in either Canada or the United States.

This is a breed with potential to fit the needs of the modern hunter in North America. If the foreign name puts you off, then don't call it the Braque Francais. Call yours a "French Pointer" and name him "Jake." But whatever you call it, this breed combines the best attributes of many other breeds into one dog--convenient coat, compact size, calm and biddable temperament, natural ability, early maturity and versatility.

The tiny handful of breeders on this continent are not pros. They are average folks--avid hunters who have not yet become interested in trials or hunting tests. They are dog lovers, not dog campaigners. The breed itself reflects these demographics. Currently, you cannot find a Braque Francais with any sort of North American hunting test title beyond NAVHDA Natural Ability.

But only one thing is lacking for the breed to achieve success in the hunting test arena--experienced, sensitive handlers with test savvy, who understand the breed and are able to bring out its natural talents through structured but gentle training. For such a handler, a rare opportunity exists for a "first" in hunting tests. Although the breed isn't eligible for AKC pointing breed tests (JH, SH, MH), the Braque Francais may participate in NAVHDA testing (NA, UPT, UT) and the CKC Field Dog program (FDJ, FD and FDX).

A growing perception exists in the minds of many Americans that we have ruined much of what we inherited from the old countries. While we have made most breeds better at bird-finding, faster and more stylish in their movement, we also have sometimes made them more difficult for the novice to control.

Phil Knape has witnessed the effects of this transformation firsthand as a pro trainer. He describes "Americanization" of breeds as a process in which strong will is selectively bred in to enhance speed and range, and to provide resilience to strict discipline.

The Braque Francais represents unspoiled raw material "fresh" from the old continent--yet untouched by the American penchant for speed and strong will. But a growing number of hunters are beginning to wonder what it might be like to have a dog that actually wants to do what they tell him to. I've found an answer to that question. He is a French Pointer puppy named "Jake" from Brad and Julie Boisen's kennel, and he is napping by my chair as I type this.

I couldn't resist the call of the frontier!