Meet 10 Spectacular French Dog Breeds

By Gail Jennings Bruce
• - 7/14/16

You'll love these adorable pictures of French dog breeds and some fun facts to go along with them!

France is known for its rich history, delicious food, beautiful art and high fashion. But did you know there are some great french dog breeds?  Here are some of the most popular:

#1 – Pyrenean Shepard :  The Pyrenean Shepherd is a small herding dog from the Pyrenees Mountains.  The breed is still relatively rare outside of France, but has been found to do well in sports like obedience and agility.

#2 –  Barbet:  The Barbet is a water retrieving dog and is a relatively rare breed. The Barbet is a very old breed that is thought to be the ancestor of many water retrieving dogs we see today.

#3 – Basset Hound:  The Basset Hound is a short-­legged hound used for hunting rabbits and hare. The Basset Hound is an old breed with the first reference to them being in 1585.

#4 – Berger Picard:   The Berger Picard, or Picardy Shepherd, is a herding dog that nearly became extinct after both World Wars, making it still a rare breed today. They are intelligent, energetic and friendly dogs that do well in active households.

#5:  Dogue de Bordeaux:  The Dogue de Bordeaux is the French Mastiff and is one of the most ancient dog breeds in France. It was used for cart pulling and hauling and guarding castles and livestock.

 

#6 – French Bulldog:  The French Bulldog was developed in France by breeding bulldogs from England to French ratting dogs. The result is the fun­loving, sweettempered dog we have today.

#7 – French Spaniel: The French Spaniel are descended from hunting dogs in the 14th century.  They are very active and intelligent dogs that are eager to please and make great companions. Because they are still relatively rare outside their home country, French Spaniels are a fairly healthy breed.

#8 – Great Pyrenees:  The Great Pyrenees, or Pyrenees Mountain Dog, is a large livestock guardian dog developed in the Pyrenean Mountains in France. They are gentle and affectionate dogs that are great with children, but have a naturally protective nature due to their guarding history.

#9 – Papillon:  The Papillon is named so because of its ears. Papillon is the French word for butterfly and the ears of the breed fall into a butterfly shape. They are small but active dogs that excel in sports such as agility and obedience.

#10 – Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen:  The PBVG, is similar to the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen and the Basset Hound but smaller in stature. Also bred for hunting, they are more commonly found as family companions now.

 Which one of these pedigrees is your favorite?