THE GUIDE TO GRIFFONS — PART ONE
THE GRIFFON FAUVE DE BRETAGNE
So, where do we begin? With one of the most recognisable of the French Griffons — the beautiful Griffon Fauve de Bretagne.
The little red Griffon from Brittany (France)
Look at a Fauve, and you’ll notice the golden-red coat first, then the beard, the expressive eyes, and that wonderfully scruffy, slightly wild face. But a Fauve is far more than its appearance.
The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne was bred to hunt. To follow scent, to work, to keep going. They are determined, intelligent, energetic and incredibly persistent dogs, and their hunting instincts are still very much alive today. Give a Fauve an interesting scent, and you may suddenly discover that whatever you wanted them to do is no longer nearly as important.
That nose has a mind of its own.
And this is what you need to understand about Griffons. They weren’t bred to sit quietly beside us waiting for instructions. They were bred to think for themselves, follow a trail, and work independently.
Not every Fauve looks the same
Many Fauve crosses and Griffon-type dogs have Fauve somewhere in their ancestry, and they vary enormously in size, shape, and appearance. Some are small, some much larger. Some look almost exactly like a traditional Fauve. Others have longer legs, different markings, or characteristics from another hunting breed altogether.
A dog doesn’t have to match the breed standard to have Fauve in its ancestry. In northern Spain, hunters have bred dogs for generations for working ability rather than looks. So, you can meet two dogs that look completely different and still see the same unmistakable Griffon character in both. And sometimes, when one of these dogs arrives in rescue, we simply don’t know exactly what is in their ancestry.
But we know a Griffon when we see one.
The nose. The coat. The expression. The determination. And that wonderful personality.
Sadly, some of these dogs have another story to tell.
Some Fauves and Fauve crosses come to us after difficult lives as hunting dogs. Some have spent years living outside. Some have had very little affection. Some have been neglected or badly treated. And some were simply discarded when they were no longer wanted.
But this is where the story can change. With patience, kindness and time, a frightened Griffon can learn that people can be trusted.
A dog who has never known a home can discover a sofa. A dog who has spent its life working can discover toys, warm beds, cuddles, and the simple pleasure of being someone’s companion. They may carry their past with them. But their past doesn’t have to decide their future.
Is a Fauve right for you?
Take a read below about Peanut, who was adopted by Maggie Janssen.
We’ll be honest, because it matters more than the romance does.
A Fauve needs secure, high fencing, properly checked – a scenting dog will find the one gap you didn’t know was there. Many will never have reliable recall off-lead, and that isn’t a training failure; it’s centuries of breeding doing exactly what it was designed to do. Assume long-line walks and safe enclosed spaces rather than open fields.
They need real physical exercise and, just as importantly, something to do with their nose. A bored Fauve will find its own job, and you probably won’t like it. They can be stubborn – very stubborn – and they respond to patience and reward, never to force.
They are also funny, affectionate, loyal and full of personality. Once you understand the dog behind the breed, you begin to understand the magic of the Griffon.
So, when you see a scruffy little red dog in a photograph, look a little closer. Hundreds of years of history may be behind those eyes. And an extraordinary dog may be waiting to be discovered.
