Artois Hound

Breed appearance

The Artois Hound is a medium-sized dog with a powerful and harmonious body. This dog's head is rounded and broad, with a well-defined stop leading to a powerful muzzle. They have drooping ears covered in short, soft fur. Ears are placed high on the dog’s head and should easily reach the tip of its nose. That characteristic is typical of hound dogs. The brown eyes reflect the Artois Hound's soulful, ruminative expression.

The Artois’ nostrils must be fully open, and the nose leather must be black. Their upper lip should be very large, and most often it should cover the dog’s lower lip. They have thick necks that are long and robust. Their backs are broad and muscular, and their chests are deep. These dogs have straight, lean, and powerful limbs, allowing them to move quickly. Their tails should be fairly long and carried like a sickle.

The Artois Hound's coat is tri-colored, consisting of black, white, and dark shades of fawn. They usually have a mantle or large color patches. When working, their thick coat protects them from the elements. Individual dogs will range in size from 21 - 23 inches and weigh between 62 and 66 pounds.

Grooming and care

Artois Hound doesn’t require a lot of brushing. Weekly brushing will be enough to keep this dog looking its best. They will need only a few baths throughout the year. Occasional baths are only required if your dog rolls into something smelly or dirty. Since they have droopy ears, you should regularly check them. Long-hound ears are prone to developing ear infections. If you notice that their ears are red or have a bad odor, that might be a sign your dog has an ear infection.

Their nails should be trimmed if the dog doesn’t wear them naturally. A crucial but overlooked aspect of dog care is dental hygiene. You can teach your dog to get used to you brushing their teeth, or you can provide them with dental chews that will remove the plaque. You should know that periodontal diseases are dangerous and can have fatal consequences.

Breed temperament

The Artois Hound is primarily a hunter with a strong hunting drive and nose that allows them to scent and pursue prey. In fact, their noses are so powerful that they will take precedence over all other senses. The Artois Hound will prioritize their nose during the hunt above all else. They are known for their endurance and speed, two characteristics that ensure a successful hunt.

While this breed has traditionally been used for hunting in packs, often pretty small ones, they are still considered fairly independent. They take on every task that is assigned to them without fear and with great determination.

Despite their hunting origins and instincts, these dogs can make good family pets in the right circumstances. They are known for their faithfulness and will happily transition to the life of a family pet. They can adapt to act calmly and respectfully, as you might expect from other hunting breeds turned pets.

However, you need to ensure your Artois Hound has the chance to exercise and get rid of that pent-up energy. They love playing with children and will eagerly join them in various games. However, they may play too intensely for younger children.

While one might think the Artois Hound could be a great watchdog due to their devotion and loud bark, most owners know these dogs lack the necessary territorial behavior.

The Artois Hound's strong hunting instinct makes it unsuitable for a household with many pets. However, they can adapt and learn to peacefully share homes with other dogs if introduced to them at a young age. Owners must be especially cautious when walking this breed off-leash or leaving the dog outside in an unfenced yard. If the Artois Hound detects an interesting scent, there is not much you will be able to do to prevent the inevitable chase.

Exercise and training

Artois Hounds are incredibly active dogs, and you will have to provide them with a lot of daily activities. Long walks in the woods, hiking, or playing fetch can all do the trick to keep your dog happy and healthy.

This is not a very easy breed to train. They can be stubborn, and you must be very consistent with training. You must be firm and consistent and you can be sure that your dog will listen to you. Their training should start from the moment the Artois puppy enters your home. Start teaching them allowed behavior, leash walking, potty training, and get the puppy used to its crate. Once the puppy gets settled, you can start with basic obedience.

Socialization

Since this is a hunting dog breed, early socialization is a must. From the moment you bring your Artois Hound home, start the socialization process. That way, you can be sure that your dog will develop into a well-behaved dog with whom you will not have any problems later in life.

The best thing to do is to expose your dog to many different situations, people, dogs, animals, and sounds, so they can learn how to react appropriately in different situations. You can even start this process at home: dress and act differently, so your dog can’t recognize you right away.

Artois Hound and kids

Artois Hound is not a great choice if you have small kids in your household. They are far better suited for bigger kids who know how to properly play and interact with the dog. If they are properly introduced early, your dog will get along with the children. A huge benefit is that the kids will have an excellent and tireless playing partner.

However, you should never leave Artois Hound alone while playing with kids. You have to be sure that unwanted behavior wouldn’t emerge.

Artois Hound and other animals

Artois Hound can generally tolerate and coexist with other dogs if they are properly socialized and introduced early. However, there are situations where your Artois Hound will not like the company of other dogs. Since this is a true hunting dog, smaller animals in the household are not advised.

These dogs are hunters with a strong prey drive and will, in most cases, try to pursue smaller animals because they perceive them as prey.

Health problems

Artois Hound has an 11 - 13 years life expectancy. They are generally healthy dogs but they can be prone to some health problems. These problems include:

• Hip dysplasia
• Ear infections

To be sure that your dog will not develop any inherited diseases, we advise you to only buy it from a responsible and official dog breeder. Those breeders regularly perform various health tests on their breeding dogs to ensure that their puppies will not develop inherited health problems.

Artois Hound breeders

Artois Hounds are not too popular for dogs worldwide, so you should prepare to wait for your puppy if you decide this is the best choice for you. While searching for breeders, always find responsible, ethical, and professional ones. If you do so, you don’t have to worry your dog will end up with inherited diseases. While talking to breeders, always ask them to show you the health certificates of their dogs.

Since this is an active dog, you should provide them with many activities. If you are not a very active person, we advise you to search for a different, less active dog breed. That way, you won’t end up with a dog who will be unhappy because its physical needs are not met.

World Dog Finder team

The Artois Hound, also known as the Chien d'Artois, is a breed that has been around for over 500 years. It is thought to be descended from the Bloodhound. This breed first came to life in Northern France, and since the breed’s beginning, it was crossbred with several English Hound breeds that were carried over the channel for centuries. Some historians even claim the Artois is the ancestor of the well-known Beagle.

This is a hunter at heart, and it still performs the same role that was intended for them. This scent hound hunts in small packs and excels at pursuing hares, foxes, and boars. These dogs' robust bodies allow them to hunt effectively through tough terrain, but they are also quick in open fields. The Artois Hounds have unique high-pitched barks they use when working.

Perhaps it is fair to say that the popularity of this breed reached its highest point in the 17th and 18th centuries when they were a popular choice of hunting hounds among the nobility. The breed suffered greatly in both World Wars, and these dogs became so rare after WWII that many cynologists thought the Artois Hound became extinct.

Their  “cousin,” the Beagle, is far more popular than the Artois Hound, which is relatively unknown outside France. In their native country, they are content to serve as both companion animals and hunting hounds.