“Braque” is a French term meaning, “pointing dogs,” the word derived from the French verb meaning “to aim” or “to point,” and one of the finest of the Braque breeds is the ancient Braque du Borubonnais (pronounced brock-do-bor-bon-NAY). Thought to have originated from the ancient Spanish Pointer but developed in France, the Borubonnais’ head, size, coat color, and very short (or absent) tail make this breed difficult to mistake for anything else.
Dogs fitting this description have been around since at least the late 1500s, and references to them paint a dog known for profound hunting talents. Until the mid 1800s, however, the breed was unknown outside the Bourbonnais region of France, and a formal standard wasn’t even written until 1925.
Early breeders strove for an original coat color called “faded lilac.” In this color, a white background was completely covered by fine lines or distinctly ticked liver or fawn coloring, something the French called “lie de vin,” fleur de peche,” “wine dregs,” or “peach blossom.” Any dog that deviated from these characteristics was not considered to be purebred, and therefore wasn’t used for breeding. Noble in thought, but it nearly undid the breed. A strict adherence to the aesthetics of the breeding standard lead to dogs that were long on appearance but short in performance, and as a result, breeders started to lose interest. Already strained by two world wars, the strict breeding requirements resulted in not a single Braque du Bourbonnais pup having been registered between 1963 and 1973. Thanks to the dedication of early French breeders, the Bourbonnais somehow survived. 
Bonnie Wilcox, DVM, and Chris Walkowicz (two of our favorites) wrote an article for Dog World Magazine called, “Renaissance of a French breed in America” (April 1988 p.6). Its goal: To bring French and Americans together with the hope of establishing the breed in the US to help continue its its survival. A meeting of interested American homes and French breeders on the East Coast resulted in a pair of Bourbonnais being imported to a home in Louisiana. The pair went on to produce the first litter of Braque du Bourbonnais in North America. The Bourbonnais is now firmly established in the United States and is classified in the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service, though it’s thought that fewer than 2,000 individuals exist in the world.
The Bourbonnais is in every sense of the word a “continental breed,” which is to say that he is an “all purpose” gun dog, not a specialist like the English Pointer. He takes to water easily, and the retrieving instinct is strong, even in puppies. The breed tracks well, and is known for a solid, snappy point. Bourbonnais are known for an affectionate and magnanimous temperament, as well as a calm and friendly demeanor, but the breed isn’t a good choice for those living in a cold climate.
Insert photo of a Braque du Borubonnais taken at the World Dog Show in 2010 by Frei Sein and uploaded to WikiCommons Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. Larger photo by Michael Comte via WikiCommons under the GNU Free Documentation License.