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French Hound (Chien Francais)
Large Breed
French Hounds are fantastic hunters with their brilliant noses lending them well to the task of tracking. This has made the breed a favourite amongst hunters.
Breed standards
Country of origin
France
Weight
30 kgs/66 lbs (standards may vary)
Height
Males 65-72 cm/26 - 28 3/4 inches; Females 62-68 cm/26 - 27 1/4 inches (standards may vary)
Coat
Black and white variety has short hair, quite strong and dense. The orange and white and tricolour varieties have short, fine hair.
Markings
White and black, white-lemon or white and orange, tricolour.
White and black variety has black saddle, some black speckling. Pale tan above each eye, on the cheeks, below the eyes, below the leathers and at the base of the tail.
Orange and white variety: no markings.
Tricolour variety: black mantle.
Lifespan
Average 10-12 years
French Hounds are built for stamina and their energy levels never seem to decrease. These dogs are very hardy and are courageous, working at a swift pace for several hours at a time. They have a gentle temperament while maintaining their hunting excellence.
Temperament
A hardy, courageous and powerful dog used to work as part of a large pack of hounds for hunting large game, specialising in deer. They require a firm owner whom they can respect to lead the pack. This breed is not suitable for life as a family pet.
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PoorChildrenGood
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VeryCombativenessNot very
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VeryDominanceNot very
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Not veryFriendlinessGood
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Not veryIndependenceVery
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LoudNoiseQuiet
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Not veryTrainabilityVery
Good to know
This breed excels as excellent hound, hunting in packs, with a temperament suited to that lifestyle. French Hounds were originally bred to hunt large game.
- An excellent hunting pack hound
- Not suitable for novice owners
- Not suitable for living in the home
- Requires a lot of exercise
- Requires acreage