Basset Fauve De Bretagne

Expert Grooming Article

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Basset Fauve De Bretagne

The Basset Fauve De Bretagne is truly an old French Hound, tracing back to the 1500’s when Francois I had a pack of Breton hounds which he hunted regularly. Up to the French Revolution, only aristocracy were allowed to keep and hunt with packs of hounds and this was done via horseback. In 1789, aristocratic privileges were abolished, allowing anyone to own and hunt a hound. However, most peasants did not own a horse, necessitating a shorter-legged, closer-ranging hunting companion.

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The Basset Fauve De Bretagne

The Basset Fauve De Bretagne is truly an old French Hound, tracing back to the 1500’s when Francois I had a pack of Breton hounds which he hunted regularly. Up to the French Revolution, only aristocracy were allowed to keep and hunt with packs of hounds and this was done via horseback. In 1789, aristocratic privileges were abolished, allowing anyone to own and hunt a hound. However, most peasants did not own a horse, necessitating a shorter-legged, closer-ranging hunting companion.

The original Breton Hounds have been preserved over history. In the 1920’s, Sir John Buchanan-Jardin saw a pack of Bassets being exhibited at a Paris show. How the Basset breed was formed is a matter for debate, but most likely smallest bred to smallest over a period of time produced them. By the 19th Century, hound packs were made up exclusively of Bassets to hunt rabbits, hare fox, roe deer, and wild boar.

It has been rumoured that both the Grands and Bassets nearly became extinct during WWII, but whether due to the dedication of French breeders or not as much of a problem as originally thought, the breed emerged strong in popularity and excellent type by the 1950’s.

The Basset Fauve De Bretagne skin is rather thick, supple. Their coat is very rough, harsh, rather short, never woolly or curly. The face shouldn’t be too bushy.

The coat is fawn coloured, from golden wheaten to red brick in hue. A few black hairs dispersed on the back and ears are tolerated. Occasionally the presence of a small white star on the chest, something not sought after.

Preparing a Fauve requires understand the breeds coat texture.

Starting with the head and the all important beard use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It Shampoo. This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed just for faces. It’s no tear formula features the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, soothe, add moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. It can also be used in and around the ears with the same benefits. Leave this on until all the shampooing of the body is done and then rinse off.

For the body use the specialised shampoo for maintaining and even adding texture Plush Puppy Texture + Shampoo. This shampoo thoroughly yet gently cleanses and deodorises the coat of Terriers and other wire, harsh or coarse coated breeds without softening or compromising texture. It’s ideal for boosting body and coarseness in coats of all colours and coat types. It is low irritant, pH controlled and is easy to rinse out. It is full of beneficial and powerful extracts from the Gentian Root, Juniper Fruit, St John’s Wart Leaf, Hay Flower, Lemon Balm Leaf and Arnica Flower that combine to nourish and vitalise the skin. Use diluted up to 1:10 or apply undiluted directly to areas requiring intensive cleansing. Rinse thoroughly.

Don’t use a conditioner on this type of coat as it will only soften and make it fluffy. To ensure a healthy coat you still require hydration.

For this use Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil. This will add shine, hydrate and condition the coat with its truly beneficial blend of extracts of Calendula oil, Wheat germ oil, and Evening Primrose.

You apply the following mix to a well rinsed wet coat after your shampooing process. Add 1 teaspoon to 2 Litres of water, then either sponge on or sluice well through the wet coat and LEAVE IN. DO NOT RINSE. As this is an essential oil based product don’t use around the eyes.

Seabreeze Oil is quite a unique product in that it is not greasy and totally water-soluble. It gives an outstanding healthy vigour by maintaining moisture in the skin and coat.

Use the oil at this dilution rate after shampooing. Again LEAVE IN AND DO NOT RINSE. You will get a nice healthy sheen on the coat with this routine.

When drying a Fauve use Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush, oval cushioned ½ bristle ½ dialon pin brush for smoother finish. This ensures the coat is not stretched or opened up for the desired finish to a harsh coat.

TIP – Plush Puppy Anti-Static brushes feature dialon pins known for their superior anti-static properties.

Finish the furnishings with a Plush Puppy Professional Grooming Comb, built for absolute ergonomic comfort in various sizes. The lightweight oval shaped spine combining fine and coarse pins made of hardened stainless steel with anodic oxide finish that reduces drag and static to the coat. Perfect for use for this breed of dog.

The coat texture of the Fauve is of the utmost importance. To increase the harshness or to make stripping easier use Plush Puppy Powder Puff Terrier. This is the texture maker. It not only cleans and deodorises, it leave the coat like barbed wire! You will have texture like no harsh texture you have ever seen before! If as your standard states that you want a rough and harsh coat, then this is the stuff to use. It has a faint odour of mandarin and ginger without being flowery or artificial.

It is applied by sprinkling onto the coat, with your brush or hands and worked in well. It’s that easy. Just keep brushing or better still, blow dry to remove excess and you have a clean dog with a coat you could scrub the pots with. Just remember a little goes a long way.

Use Plush Puppy Reviva Coat mid-week on the legs and face to protect. This is a great moisturiser to use without overly softening the coat. Hard to find things that will do just that. It is the perfect product for after show bathing out of the furnishings to protect and moisturise.

Keep on hand Plush Puppy Wonder Wash which is a no rinse wet instant shampoo for any last-minute emergencies as this will clean up anything, pronto! Just spray foam with the fingers and towel off. Wonder Wash is a brilliant quick self-rinsing bathing alternative solution for quick and easy cleaning without the need for a complete bath. It contains optical brighteners, has a fresh apple fragrance, and violet tone. In moments when regular shampooing is not an option, Wonder Wash will clean, whiten and brighten problem areas on all coat kinds.

Lastly a quick spray with Plush Puppy Odour Muncher. It literally munches the odour and works well for smelly problems such as emergencies in transit. Odour Muncher leaves a light fragrance – certainly not too much and definitely not too little. It is a deodoriser as well as a fragrance, eating up the nasty odour and leaving a good fresh smell.

Now your Basset Fauve De Bretagne is prepared to it’s finest and ready to strut their stuff in the show ring. This smart dog has such appeal.

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