Several breeds of dog originate in France, most being hunting dogs. Some of these breeds are well known throughout the world, others are rare. The following is an overview of French dog breeds in alphabetical order.
Anglo French Hound
This breed comprises seven types of dogs bred for hunting and includes older French hunting hounds as well as dogs who were interbred with the English foxhound, hence their name.
They range in size from 25 to 35 kilograms (66 lbs). Their coloring is white with black spots and tan markings around the head and tail but can be white with orange or yellow. These dogs are bred to hunt game in packs and are unsuitable as pets.
Ariege Pointer
Used for hunting and retrieving fowl and originating in the French province of Ariege. They are a rare breed which almost became extinct during World War II but is being revived by a group of French breeders. Being a hardy and energetic dog with a short, fine coat, their coloring is orange or brown and white.
Ariegeois
A scent hound used for hunting several kinds of game, including deer, boar and smaller game, it has a gregarious temperament and is good with children and other dogs. Suitable as a pet as well as a working dog, it is a medium-sized dog with a short coat of black, white and tan.
Artois Hound
This dog is also known as the Picard, and is a rare hunting breed used for hunting hare and larger game. This is a tricolor dog, usually black, white and tan, weighing between 25 and 30 kilograms (60 lbs). The coat is thick and short and the temperament calm, although these dogs possess great stamina and endurance.
Barbet
A medium-sized French water dog breed used for hunting water fowl. The coat is long and curly and is usually black or brown, sometimes with white. These dogs are highly sociable and playful but require training and preferably a lot of exercise.
Basque Shepherd Dog
These dogs originated in the Basque County which includes the Northern Basque Country in France. This is one of the oldest breeds of dog, although the breed is not recognized by any major kennel club. A herding dog used for working both sheep and cattle. It has a medium-length coat, either smooth or wavy, and of a yellowish color. It is a loyal family dog with a sweet temperament, although reserved with strangers and requires daily grooming.
Basset
The term Basset is used to describe six breeds of French short-legged hunting dogs and is derived from the French word ‘bas’, meaning ‘low’. The Basset Hound is the most well-known and popular of these.
The Norman Artesian Basset is a basset with crooked front legs with black, white and fawn or white and fawn coloring. This is a rare breed with the typical temperament being friendly and calm.
The Blue Gascony Basset has a short, mostly white, coat with dappling and brown and tan markings. The breed is recorded dating back to the 14th century and is a rare breed, having almost gone extinct in the 19th century.
The Fawn Brittany Basset is of slighter build with a longer, wiry coat in fawn or reddish-cream and with straight front legs.
The Basset Hound is known for being a vocal dog prone to howl and bark when excited. The temperament is calm and friendly, and they are a good choice of companion for children. They were originally bred for hunting hare and have loose skin and a short coat of white and tan, with or without black. The tan coloration can range from very light to quite dark. Despite their short legs making them appear small; they have large, long bodies and can weigh up to 34 kilograms (75 lbs).
The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen is highly sociable and does not do well when left alone. They have a longer coat, requiring brushing and can be black or fawn with black, white or fawn markings.
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a smaller basset with a harsh double coat of mostly white with colored spots. They are known for being independent, sociable and rather noisy.
Beagle-Harrier
Has the appearance of a large Beagle and also a similar temperament to the Beagle. It is uncommon even in its home country of France. It is primarily kept as a working scent hound. The coat is smooth and can be tricolor, black, white and tan, or bi-color, without the black.
Beauceron
A large working dog used for both herding and guarding. The coat is usually black with tan markings, although a harlequin variety also exists. This breed can be a good family dog, but they do best when given plenty of exercise and a job to do.
Berger Picard
This is a French breed of herding dog. They have longish, scruffy coats in brindle or fawn and are medium-sized. They make endearing pets provided their high levels of energy are catered to.
Billy
These are a large hunting dog which does not always get along well with other dogs. Their high levels of energy, combined with their size, can make them difficult to handle, unless given plenty of space and exercise, and this makes them unsuitable as pets. They are intelligent and brave as well as being fast movers. Their coat colors are white with tan markings.
Blue Picardy Spaniel
Popular in both France and Canada, although rare elsewhere, it is a medium-sized dog with a biddable nature, making it easy to train. It has long legs and streamlined build with a black and grey speckled coat sporting black patches. They are popular with those who use them in hunting as they work well in a wide variety of terrains to include water as well as on land.
Braque
Braque means ‘pointing dog’ and there are five types, named for their area of origin.
The Braque d’Auvergne are large dogs with short black and white coats. They are highly sociable and affectionate as well as being easy to train and so are considered good family pets.
The Braque du Bourbonnais have short coats with liver or fawn markings and are highly active dogs, doing best in a home where they are worked or given extensive exercise.
The Braque du Puy was one of the oldest French hunting dogs. They were white with liver or fawn markings and were highly athletic and energetic dogs but did not adapt well to working in water. The breed is now considered to be extinct.
The Braque Francais is a breed resembling the German Shorthaired Pointer but smaller in stature, and is a popular hunting dog in France due to its versatility. The coat is brown and white. There are two types, the Gascogne and Pyrenees.
The Braque Saint-Germain is resilient and sociable and has a fawn and white coat.
Briard
This is a larger herding dog with a thick coarse coat which occurs in many colors except white. They require regular grooming and a fair amount of exercise, since they are a working breed. They have a strong protective instinct which makes them good watch dogs.
Brittany
This dog is another French hunting dog breed used for both pointing and retrieving. It has a medium-length coat which is either flat or wavy and can be either liver or fawn and white or tricolored. They are amiable and easy to train, with a softer temperament that is typical of hunting breeds, so gentle training is required.
Dogue de Bordeaux
This is a large breed of dog also known as the Bordeaux or French Mastiff. They have been used for hauling loads and as guard dogs. They have short coats ranging in color from light to dark reddish brown. They need firm, consistent handling and are not easily aroused.
French Bulldog
A small breed of Bulldog designed to be a companion dog. The body is stocky and muscular with the characteristic flattened face and brindle, fawn, or pied colors. They are highly sociable and do not require much exercise.
French Spaniel
Used as a hunting dog, it is a larger breed of spaniel with a coat that is normally white with brown markings. They are generally friendly and trainable with high exercise requirements.
Gascon Santongeois
This is a black and white scent hound used for hunting in packs. There are two varieties, one being slightly smaller and used for hunting smaller game. Their temperament is bold and independent.
Grand Bleu de Gascogne
A large, long-legged scent hound with a coat of mottled white and black, used to hunt boar, bear, deer and wolves in packs. The breed is known for its good nose and powerful voice.
Great Pyrenees
They are a large dog, with a long, predominantly white, coat and are used for guarding livestock. They are protective of their territory, affectionate with family and reserved with strangers.
Griffon Bleu de Gascogne
A scent hound with a shaggy black and white coat and tan markings, these dogs are easily aroused but friendly.
Griffon Fauve de Bretagne
A scent hound with a rough, pale colored coat, they are determined hunters but are considered good pets as they are friendly and loving with people.
Griffon Nivernais
Today’s breed is a smaller reconstruction of the older Nivernais. They have rough agouti coats in varying shades. They are versatile hunting dogs, used to hunt game of all sizes, either singly or in packs. The temperament is willful and independent.
Papillon
Papillon means ‘butterfly’ referring to the large, pointed ears of this toy breed. They are bi-colored or tricolored, white with markings in one or two other colors. Despite their small size, they are active dogs, requiring exercise and are popular agility dogs.
Petit Bleu de Gascogne
These are pack hunting dogs that are easily controlled on the hunt but generally not considered suitable as pets. They are white with black mottling and tan markings. While the Grand Bleu de Gascogne was bred to hunt larger game, this breed was developed for hunting smaller game.
Picardy Spaniel
A versatile medium-sized hunting dog with a coat in varying shades of brown with white. A playful breed, it is also able to adapt well to life in smaller spaces, making it a good pet.
Poodle
One of the most popular breeds of French dog, it is considered to be highly intelligent and trainable. They often take top honors in the breed ring as well as in obedience and agility competitions. There are three sizes of Poodle; standard, miniature and toy. They can have various coat colors, including black, brown, grey and white but should be one solid color only. Poodles do not shed much and are thus a good choice for people with allergies; however, they do require regular grooming. Being active as well as intelligent, they fare best when given both exercise and training.
Porcelaine
This medium-sized breed gets its name due to its fine, predominantly white, coat. It was bred as a working scent hound but can be a gentle pet provided plenty of exercise is given.
Pyrenean Shepherd
A smallish herding dog used mainly for herding sheep. Colors may be fawn, grey, merle or brindle with a medium-length or long coat. This breed does best when they have a job to do. They tend to bond strongly to one person and need to be well-socialized.
Saint-Usuge Spaniel
This is a small pointing Spaniel with a brown or brown and white coat. They have a lot of working drive and are able to work in a variety of different terrains.
Talbot
A now extinct hound thought to have been the ancestor of the Beagle and the Bloodhound.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
There is some dispute as to the country of origin of this breed. They have wiry coats, and a grey and brown coloring is considered ideal. These dogs do best in a home and love company. They are somewhat ‘immature’ in that they retain their playfulness well into adulthood.
As is clear from the above, French dog breeds comprise predominantly their distinctive hunting hounds, characterized by powerful bodies, short bi or tricolored coats, long drop ears and strong, loud voices.