Auvergne pointer

		Auvergne pointer
		FCI standard Nº 180

Origin		France
Translation		John Miller and Raymond Triquet
Group		Group 7 Pointing Dogs
Section		Section 1.1 Continental Pointing Dogs « Braque » Type
Working		With Working Trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI		Thursday 30 June 1955
Publication of the official valid standard		Wednesday 24 March 2004
Last update		Friday 02 April 2004
En français, cette race se dit		Braque d'Auvergne
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar		Auvergne Vorstehund
En español, esta raza se dice		Braco de Auvernia
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd		Auvergne Pointing Dog

Usage

Pointing breed.

Brief historical summary

The Auvergne pointer is a very ancient breed, present in the Cantal region for more than two centuries. Descending from a multi-pointer common source, derivation has been made by a selection to which the Knights of Malta might have participated. Created by and for hunters, it has a strong identity reinforced by its coat.

General appearance

Rectilinear, of medium proportions. Robust dog, strongly boned, but without heaviness, showing a characteristic Braque type, lightness in its gait, with elegance enhanced by the coat and harmonious proportions. Its conformation predisposes it to cover long distances with a supple-action, permitting it to maintain its activity the whole day on the most difficult terrains.

Important proportions

• The length of the body (from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock) is approximately equal to the height at the withers. The depth of the chest equals half the height of the dog at the withers.
• Length of the muzzle slightly less or equal to the length of the skull.

Behaviour / temperament

Gentle dog, very affectionate, intelligent and obedient. Its training consists mainly of developing its natural qualities. Its sense of smell is powerful. It adapts well to family life.

Head
Cranial region
Skull		The lines of the skull are slightly divergent towards the front (a characterized braque). The head is long, proportional to the size, somewhat lighter with the females. Seen from above, the shape of the skull is nearly oval. The occipital protuberance is only slightly prominent. The skull width between the zygomatic arches is equal to its length. Superciliary arches well pronounced.
Stop		Moderately marked.

Facial region
Nose		Always black, relatively broad, shiny, with well-open nostrils. Its upper profile is in prolongation of that of the muzzle.
Muzzle		Length close to that of the skull. The muzzle is level.
Lips		Relatively important. The upper lip overlaps the lower. Neat commissure, without important inner fold. Seen from the front, the lips form a square end to the muzzle.
Jaws and teeth		Sturdy, of equal length. The teeth are strong. Scissors bite or level bite.
Eyes		Relatively large, oval, of dark hazel colour, well set in the orbit, giving an expressive candid and kind look. The well pigmented eyelid does not allow the conjunctiva to be seen.
Ears		Attached rather towards the rear. At rest, the ear is set below a line running from the upper level of the nose to the eye. When attentive, the ear may move up to that line. Turned slightly inward, neither curled nor flat, the ear is supple and slightly satiny. The tip is fairly round. Drawn forward, it should reach the root of the nose, without going further than the tip.

Neck

Relatively long, well inserted between the shoulders, slightly arched. Presence of a slight dewlap. The length of the neck is roughly equal to that of the head.

Body
Topline		Straight and taut.
Withers		Marked.
Back		Narrow, flat and short. The spinal column isn’t sprung out.
Loin		Well attached, wide (especially in females), very slightly convex.
Croup		Oblique (35° with respect to the dorsal line), points of hips visible.
Chest		Long and deep, reaching elbow level. A transversal section is egg shaped, regularly sprung, without rupture in the lower part.
Underline and belly		Rises gently towards the belly, not whippety. The flank is wide, only slightly hollowed, joined smoothly to the hips.

Tail

Set rather high. It should be carried horizontally. Cylindrical and not too fine. Docked, it has a length of 15 to 20 cm (6” to 8”). Undocked, it reaches the point of the hocks without going further.

Limbs

Forequarters
Generality		They are in line with the body. Upright to the ground.
Shoulders		Strong, well muscled, quite free in action. Sloping at 45°.
Elbows		Well in the axis of the body.
Forearm		Strong and long, muscular and straight.
Carpal		Strong without knots.
Pastern		Short, slightly inclined seen in profile.

Hindquarters
Generality		They are in line with the body. Well angled, they work in parallel planes.
Upper thigh		Well muscled.
Metatarsus		Short and never too thin.
Hock		Lean and well defined.

Feet

A little longer than what’s called a « cat food » and a little shorter than a « hare foot ». Turned neither inward nor outward. The nails are strong and short; the pads are hard and resistant; the toes are tightly knit.

Gait and movement

Movement of average amplitude but with a sustained rhythm which confers its notorious endurance to the dog. Its habitual hunting gait is an average gallop, regular and slightly rocking.

Skin

Fine enough, rather loose without exaggeration.

Coat
Hair		Short, not too fine, never hard, shiny.
Colour		Black with white markings of variable importance. The particularity of the marking generates two recognized types : Flecked or Greying. This difference cannot be used to separate two subjects of the same quality. The head should be black preferably with a white blaze on the muzzle extending to the skull. The white of that blaze can extend laterally on the muzzle. A white and flecked ear or the side of the head white and flecked cannot be considered as faults.

Size and weight
Height at withers		Height at withers (with for both sexes a tolerance of + 2 cm and – 1 cm) : Males 57 to 63 cm (22.5" to 24.8") (60 cm – 23.6" – ideal height). Females 53 to 59 cm (20.9" to 23.2") (56 cm – 22 " – ideal height).

Faults

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

General faults

Parallel lines of skull and muzzle.

Head too loaded under the eyes.

Apparent conjunctiva.

Serious faults

Convergent lines of muzzle and skull (towards the front).

Concave or convex muzzle.

Ear attached too high, too short, flat, too much corkscrew.

Lips hanging or floppy, too short, muzzle tapering towards the end.

Too narrow brisket.

Disqualifying faults

Aggressive or overly shy.

Lack of “braque” type.

Undershot or overshot with more than 1mm gap between the incisive arcades.

Lack of first premolars is tolerated.

The lack of 2 other premolars (PM2 or PM3) or of any other tooth including PM4 is eliminatory.

Eversion or inversion of eyelids or traces of corrective intervention.

Presence of dewclaws or traces of their removal.

Entirely black or entirely white.

Absence of flecking.

Tawny marks or “burnt bread” (fawn) glints.

Dudley nose.

Unpigmented eyerims.

Yellow eye (said “hawk eye”).

Wall eyes.

Size outside of standard defined limits (official tolereance + 2cm and – 1 cm).

Important

This amended breed standard will become effective from September 2004.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography

http://www.fci.be/

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Auvergne pointer