Ariege Pointer
Encyclopedia
The Braque de l’Ariège, translated into English as the Ariege Pointing Dog or Ariege Pointer, is a breed
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....

 of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...

, a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 hunting dog of pointing gun dog
Gun dog
thumb|right|A group of Gun dogs as printed in Dogs of All Nations by W.E. Mason in 1915Gun dogs, also gundogs or bird dogs, are types of dogs developed to assist hunters in finding and retrieving game, usually birds. Gun dogs are divided into three primary types: Retrievers, flushing dogs, and...

 type
Dog type
Dog types are broad categories of dogs based on function, with dogs identified primarily by specific function or style of work rather than by lineage or appearance....

. The breed is kept primarily as a hunting dog
Hunting dog
A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur type dogs, and gun dogs...

, not as a pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...

 or showdog.

Appearance

The breed is a normally proportioned dog with drop ears. The tail is traditionally docked. The coat
Coat (dog)
The coat of the domestic dog refers to the hair that covers its body. A dog's coat may be a double coat, made up of a soft undercoat and a coarser topcoat, or a single coat, which lacks an undercoat...

 is short and primarily white, speckled with larger patches of colours described as orange, liver, or chestnut on the head and ears. Size is about 60–67 cm (24-26 ins) in height at the withers
Withers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...

. Dogs of the breed should appear powerful but without excessive heaviness, robust and of strong.

History and use

The dog type
Dog type
Dog types are broad categories of dogs based on function, with dogs identified primarily by specific function or style of work rather than by lineage or appearance....

 used by hunters in the Ariege region of the Pyrenees were said to be descended from dogs that were crosses of Perdigueiro de Burgos and the Bracco Italiano. The breed was developed in the 20th century by Braqque Saint-Germain and Braque Francais with the local dogs, to give them more lightness and activity. During World War II, the breed almost disappeared.

In 1990 a team of breeders decided to devote themselves to the Braque de l’Ariège's survival. In particular we have Mr. Alain Deteix to thank for the survival of the breed. He headed that team of breeders and wholeheartedly devoted himself to the revival of part of France's National heritage.

The Braque de l’Ariège is well suited to hunting wild hare and partridge. The breed is a robust and very energetic, with an excellent sense of smell, and is a skilled retriever suitable for all kinds of hunting.

Temperament

The Braque de l’Ariège is quick and energectic. It is also very independent so needs regular training and activity. It also needs regular brushing.

Recognition

The Braque de l’Ariège is recognised under that name in its country of origin, and recognised internationally under the same name. It is also recognised as the Braque de l’Ariège by the United Kennel Club
United Kennel Club
The United Kennel Club is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. According to the website, the club records 250,000 registrations annually. The UKC is not part of the International Canine Organisation, Fédération...

 in the US. It may be recognised under its original name, the English translation Ariege Pointing Dog or other various translations of the name by other minor kennel clubs, hunting clubs, or internet dog registry businesses. Outside its country of origin it is promoted as a rare breed
Rare breed (dog)
Rare breed is any breed of dog that is small in number. Since dogs have greater genetic variability than other domesticated animals the number of possible breeds is vast...

for those seeking a unique pet.
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