A Braque du Bourbonnais is a rare French pointing breed, so the paperwork matters more, not less, than with a common breed: with so few breeders, the documents are often your only way to verify which litter your puppy came from and how the parents were screened. Expect a proper folder, not a verbal promise.
The lineage and sale papers for a Bourbonnais
You should receive a lineage or registration certificate naming the sire and dam, the litter, and your puppy's registered name, plus a signed contract or bill of sale stating the purchase terms, any health guarantee, and what happens if you can no longer keep the dog. Many Bourbonnais puppies are recorded through the French kennel system, so papers may arrive in French or follow the breeder a short time after the sale if the litter registration is still being processed. That delay is acceptable only if the contract names the litter, promises the papers in writing, and gives you copies of both parents' documents on the day.
Identity records: chip, markings, and that short tail
Ask for the microchip certificate or transfer form and check the number against the puppy in front of you at collection, ideally with the breeder scanning the chip while you watch. The record should describe a liver or fawn ticked puppy accurately, including whether the tail is naturally short, since many Bourbonnais are born with a short tail rather than docked later. A clear note on the vet record explaining a naturally short tail saves confusion at future appointments, where staff may otherwise assume a past injury or surgery. Keep a photo of the puppy's ticking pattern with the papers; ticking darkens as the coat matures, and early photos help prove identity if records are ever questioned.
Health records for the puppy and both parents
The puppy's own booklet should show at least one full veterinary examination, the vaccinations given so far with their dates, and a worming history covering the weeks before handover. Ask what food the puppy is eating and get that in writing with the feeding amounts, so the first week at home does not add a stomach upset to the stress of moving. For the parents, request copies of their health screening results and any hunting or conformation records the breeder used to justify the pairing. A breeder of a breed this small should also be able to explain how the sire and dam are related, if at all, and that conversation is worth noting down.
What to verify in the first week home
Book a vet visit soon after arrival and take the whole folder. Ask your vet to scan the chip, confirm the number matches the transfer paperwork, and check that the vaccination record is complete enough to plan the next appointment rather than restarting a course unnecessarily. Complete the chip transfer immediately; a rare-breed puppy registered to a breeder in another region, or another country, is hard to trace back to you if the database still holds their details. Store the French-language documents with an English note of what each one is, so a future vet, boarder, or insurer is not left guessing. Once those checks are done, KinsLe's Pet Passport keeps the Bourbonnais lineage, chip transfer, and vaccination history in a single portable packet you can hand over at any appointment.