Characterization - Auvergne pointer
(Braque d‘Auvergne)

Auvergne pointing dog is also called as "Blue Auvergne" for its characteristic colouring - on a white backround among black flecking are black spots having a bluey glance. The same colouring we call "greying" in standard, it is an colouring of dark "white" bluey tone. The origin of this short-haired pointer is not totally clear. There exist three possibilities, that Dr. Clerard mentions.
The first says that first dogs of this breed were brought around 1798 by Maltesian knights directly from the island Malta. This version supports the fact, that one of the most important pack of "Blues" was bred in the residence of bishop from Auvergne, lord de Foundas, who was uncle of famous maltesian knight called "Marquis".
The second version is possibility of crossing old "braque" breeds with Gallic pointers.
The most propable is the third version - it is an authentic regional breed that has developed by selection. This selection demanded - good working style, gift and keeping of the curious flecking colouring, that was well visible in close hunting ground. This verison supports another fact too - it is said that white black flecking dog was bred allready in the court of Lewis XIV. And that is why painter Desportes painted it. We can still see this painting in the museum of Gien.
Auvergne pointer kept its type unchanged for many generations, because its body construction and working style are situated to hunt in difficult conditions in hilly terrains. It works excellent on reddish ground on the rocky hills in Sancyau in the south of France. Its muscular body construction, strong bones and well developed muscles add him resistance and endurance fot the work in these dry and difficult terrain without a moment's rest. Even when its coat is short, thorny vegetation on rocky hills, in which it willingly looks for hares, that like to hide here, doesn't matter to him. It is naturally, as well as other pointers, specialist for hunting of feathered game, but is also very suitable for hunting of hares, rabbits or roe deer in Auvergne hills. Its hunting effectivity is generally approved. Even when it works alternately with galloping and troting and searching is not too fast, its excellent flair makes him possible to find all wildlife hided in a terrain, in which the dog follows its master. Its pointing is very firm with typical almost horizontal line of a head, back and tail. It likes to work in a water, when again its great endurance excels.

Auvergne pointer is very calm, good-tempered, placid and friendly, playful and sociable. That is why he is sought out by hunters, who like right this kind of partner. It has also naturally gift to bring and to track, that is its next posotive.

Nowadays this pointer is extending not only in country of birth France but it has also more and more popularity in Spain. It is also bred in Belgium, Italy, Germany and it also starts to appear on our Czech Republic and not only on shows but even on hunting examinations.