What a difference a few borders make. The Basset Fauve de Bretagne, a lighter, longer legged hound than the Basset Hound, but built along the same body lines, is scarcely seen in America and is currently listed as a Foundation Stock Service (FSS) breed with the AKC. In France, however, there are over 1,000 registrations a year of this breed, many of them in packs. The number of Fauves in France now exceeds the combined registrations of the Petit and the Grand Griffon Vendeens and is only outnumbered by Beagles!
Most probably developed from crosses of the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne (once called the Fawn Hound of Brittany and now extinct) and Brittany Bassets, the breed also known as the Brittany Basset was developed to trail larger game such as roe deer and wild boar, but it has earned its national reputation as as an outstanding rabbit hunter. It’s reported that some hounds imported into Sweden are used to hunt elk where a single dog is expected to scamper into the woods, remain quiet, and guide the animal towards the hunters – not an easy thing a vociferous, joyful hunting hound!
Its hardy toughness, drive to hunt, friendly and outgoing nature and sweet heart has earned it the moniker: ‘A Big Dog in a Small Jacket” in a descriptive piece written by Tricia Turton.
Basset Fauve de Bretagne by Steven Nesbitt
http://stevennesbitt.co.uk/index.php