The Artois Hound is a rare breed of dog, and a descendant of the
Bloodhound. A scent hound 22-23 inches high at the withers, weighing anything
between 55 and 65 pounds, it is a well constructed dog with a slow graceful
gait. It has a large, strong head, a medium-length back and a pointed tail that
tends to be long and sickle-shaped. Their ears are set at eye level; they have
large prominent eyes and quite thick lips.
Characteristics
Appearance
A
well constructed dog, muscled and not too long, giving the impression of
strength and energy.
Head
·
Cranial Region: Its skull should be strong,
broad, quite short, rounded and flat at its upper part but with the occipital
protuberance only slightly pronounced. Its stop should be accentuated.
·
Facial Region: Its nose should be black, strong,
with wide opened nostrils. Its muzzle should be straight and, seen in profile,
moderately elongated. Of its lips, the upper lip should largely be covering the
lower lip and must be rather important so as to give a square shape to the
extremity of the muzzle, (as seen in profile). Its jaws/teeth should have a
scissor bite, the upper incisors covering the lower in a narrow contact and are
well set squarely in relation to the jaws. Its eyes, in relation to the width
of the forehead, should not be very close together; they should be round, level
with the head surface, with a melancholic and soft expression; they are dark
brown in colour. The mucous membranes of the lower lids must not be visible.
Its leathers should be set at eye level, a little thick, broad, round at the
tip, almost flat and quite long, reaching the beginning of the nose. Its neck
is moderately long, powerful; very little dewlap.
Body
Its
back is broad and well supported. Its loins are slightly arched. The hips give
a slight inclination to its croup, which is well muscled. Its chest is broad
and long, rather let down so that the sternal line arrives at elbow level. Its ribs
should be well sprung. Its belly flanks fully its body.
Tail
It
is strong and quite long; there should be some longer and coarser, slightly
offstanding hairs, (like ears of grain) towards the tip. It is carried in a
sickle fashion, never falling forward.
Limbs
Forequarters
A
view of the ensemble indicates that its limbs are strong and vertical. Its
shoulders are oblique and muscled. Its elbows are set well in the axis of the
body. Its forearm should be lightly oblique.
Hindquarters
A
view of the ensemble indicates that, (seen from behind), the point of the
buttock, the middle of the leg, the hock, the metatarsal and the foot are on
the same vertical line. Its upper thighs are let down and well muscled. Its
hock joints are strong and moderately angulated, and the metatarsals are short
and strong.
Feet
They
are slightly elongated, strong but sufficiently tight; the pads are black,
tough and compact.
Coat and colour
Its
skin is quite thick. Its hair is short, thick and quite flat. The coat pattern
is a dark fawn tri-colour, (similar to the coat of a hare or a badger), with a
mantle or in large patches. The head is usually fawn, sometimes with a black
overlay. Its main colours being tan and black and white in any combination.
Temperament
The
Artois Hound is an energetic dog that is brave and loyal. Though it has a large
amount of endurance, it is calm and well balanced. It is a moderate sized dog
that will feature the best characteristics of the scenthounds. It has a
powerful sense of smell, and it is fast and independent. These dogs were bred
to hunt rabbits, and they are proficient at this task. These dogs need to be
trained by owners who are consistent. They are affectionate and loving to those
that care for them. Like all scent hounds they are happiest when on the trail
of a good scent.
Hunting
The
Artois Hound, (a Briquet, (of a small type)), is nowadays used especially in
hunting with guns, and on horseback. It drives the game closer taking advantage
of their faults with ingenuity; its speed is average but maintained.
·
In general countryside : Because of its acute
sense of smell, it is capable of outmanoeuvring many of its prey's tactics.
·
In woodland areas : With its ancestral qualities
of a hunter, in sparse and well scattered groups of tall trees, it can hunt a
deer efficiently, and in the desired direction of its owner.
·
In the thicket : its intrepidity and bravery
means that it can stir up and even the most obstinate boars.
·
Additional points: It is a robust animal with a
high pitched call which can be heard from as far away as 2 km.
Health Problems
There
are no known health problems that are specific to the Artois Hound. Any health
problems it may develop can be found in most other dog breeds. These dogs may
have a maximum life expectancy of 13 years.
Care of dog
Exercise
This
is a hunting dog that needs extensive amounts of exercise. Without it, the dog
could become problematic for its owners. It should be taken on walks daily, and
this dog is great for healthy people who love to jog and hike. While it can
live in an apartment, it may perform better in a small yard. It is important
for owners to make sure this dog is never unleashed in an unsecured area, as it
may run off in the direction of the first interesting scent it picks up. It is
important for owners to make sure these dogs are given lots of space to move
around in.
Grooming
The
Artois Hound does not require a large amount of grooming. The Artois' smooth
short-haired coat is easy to look after. Owners will simply want to make sure
the coat is brushed on a consistent basis. These dogs should only be given
baths when they need it. A wipe down with a damp towel should suffice for the
bathing aspect, (although you should bathe it with mild soap only if or when
necessary; you should also dry shampoo it occasionally), however a rubber,
wire, or hard bristled brush would work best for the brushing aspect.The
shedding patterns of these dogs are not known. Be sure to check the ears
carefully for signs of infection. The nails of the D'Artois should also be
trimmed, (particularly to avoid nail-born infections).
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