Artois Hound

The Artois Hound is another one of those exotic French dog breeds that owners seeking rare breeds will cherish. At one point, it was even on the verge of extinction. It is said to be one of the oldest of French dog breeds. The Artois Hound is a scent hound that has been used for the purpose of small game hunting. Prey includes foxes, hares, etc. its rather small frame gives it the name Briquet.

Despite being small, it has a well developed, strong skeletal and muscular structure. Its athletic build and agility make it an excellent hunter. A quality of this dog that is worth mentioning is that it can easily maneuver its way through thickly forested areas. The dog has a short, albeit broad head. It has a black colored nose with well opened nostrils, like all other scent hounds. Eyes are generally darkish brown. It has a strong and thick tail which is curved downward. The coat of the Artois Hound is generally tricolored and consists of short, thick hair.

Motivational training is known to work the best with this breed. Training must be imparted early and an active approach must be adopted. As with all hunting dogs, the Artois Hound has a tendency to be stubborn, which can be undone only through efficient training. While being of great help on the hunting frontier, the dog is known for its stable temperament and thus it makes a great pet. This dog lives for 12 to 14 years on an average.

The dog has a friendly and sociable disposition. Aggression is not even remotely a part of its temperament. Understandably, it comes nowhere close to being a good guard dog. However, it also gets along very well with other animals and household pets. Males can be a little less friendly and more dominating. The dog is so full of energy that it makes a great companion for kids; it is also good company on jogging/hiking trips, just like other scent hounds. In fact, it requires exactly that sort of exercise on a regular basis. If this need for activity is not met, it can have undesirable consequences like aggression and restlessness. So long as it gets this quota of exercise, it can be had in an apartment also. Although friendly, the Artois hound must be on a leash when taken outdoors, since it is a scent hound after all and can get interested in prey.

Since its coat is short and smooth, maintenance is easy. Brushing about twice a week should suffice. A wet wipe may be used to clean the coat occasionally. Bath can be given only depending on requirement, about two or three times a year. Dry shampooing the dog occasionally will also suffice. However, one thing must be borne in mind- a higher level of incidence of bacterial or fungal infections around the ear is observed. This condition is common to all scent hounds with drooping ears. Especially if the dog is exposed to moist conditions, special care should be taken.