As early as the 14th century, a pointing dog known as the "Chien d' Oysel" was used in the Mediterranean region to point partridge, which were then captured with nets. This dog is believed by many to be the predecessor of the Braque Francais and most other pointing dogs of Europe. In subsequent centuries, brown- and-white spaniels and pointers came into common use in southwestern Europe. In 1683, a hunter named Selincourt wrote what may be the earliest "breed standard" of sorts. He described the popular pointing dog of the day as "tall in size, strongly built, large-headed with long ears, square muzzle, large nose, hanging lips and a brown and white coat. This brown and white pointer spread throughout Europe and evolved locally through interbreeding with various dissimilar dogs. By the late 1700s, two types of setter, one spaniel, and one shorthaired pointer had emerged. Although multiple local names existed for the shorthaired pointer, descriptions and illustrations from the period depict essentially the same dog. However, with further provincial separation, more varied physical attributes would later become apparent, even within France. Each new "breed" took on the name of its province. Hence, today we have the Braque d'Auvergne, Braque Saint Germain, Braque du Puis and Braque du Bourbonnais. After the French Revolution in 1789, mainstream French tastes gravitated toward English dogs. The last remaining stronghold of affection for the old-style French pointer was the Gascogne region in southern France. There, the big brown and white dogs continued to hunt through the 1800s as they had for centuries.As the 20th century approached, an increasing number of hunters wanted all the attributes of the old-style French Pointer in a smaller package. A 75-pound pointing dog was not ideally suited to life in an urban, industrialized society. Another impetus for reducing the breed's size was the hunting terrain in the Pyrenees Mountains of France. There, a faster dog with tremendous stamina was needed. By breeding the old-style large dogs with smaller shorthaired pointing dogs, a smaller Braque Francais was produced in the Pyrenees region. By 1920, the divergence of the Braque Francais into two distinct types became a permanent reality. Dr. C. Castets, the first President of Le Club du Braque Francais de France, fancied the larger or "Gascogne" type. The Club's second President, M. B. Senac- Legrange, was a devotee of the smaller or "Pyrenees" type. Today, the Pyrenees type is the more popular of the two. In fact, there has been no known importation of Gascogne type dogs to North America. The Pyrenees' reduced size is reflected in a different hunting style from that of the Gascogne. Whereas the Gascogne exhibits a slow and methodical movement afield, the Pyrenees is a lithe and leggy dog with nimble feet and a quick, efficient, fluid gait. "They don't sprint when they're hunting," says Brad Boisen, "They glide." This lively but reasonable pace, combined with a sleek physique, enables the Pyrenees to hunt for long periods without fatigue.The breed is now known by various names, including Gascony Pointer (Gascogne type), Braque Francais de Grand Taille (Gascogne type), Braque Francais de Petite Taille (Pyrenees type), French Pointer and even French Setter. Since the Pyrenees type is the only type currently extant in North America, further reference to the "Braque Francais" in this article will refer only to the Pyrenees type.
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Appearance
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The medium
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Description Height Dogs 22-24 inches
(55-62cm.) Weight: 44-66 pounds (20-30kg)
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Faults Note ** Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrtum.
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French Gascony Pointer 
HISTORY 
The French Gascony Pointer was developed in the 17th century from a
variety of gundogs imported from Italy and Spain. This is a fast and
serious hunter, traditionally used for tracking, pointing and setting
duties. While it was quite common in its homeland for 200 years, the
Braque Francais Type Gascogne almost became extinct by the 20th century,
but it was fortunately revived by two dedicated breeders named
Senac-Langrange and Castets. The breed never reached the popularity it
enjoyed in the past, but it can still be found in France, where it
survives in modest numbers and remains a valued gundog and family pet.
Very intelligent and loyal, the French Gascony Pointer is easy to train,
although it requires gentle and experienced handling, due to its
sensitive personality. This is a friendly and mild-mannered breed,
making a good companion. Long-legged, muscular and athletic, the Grand
Taille enjoys a lot of excercise. The coat is short and smooth, always
white with brown mottling and patches. Average height is around 25
inches.
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