Artois Hound
A sturdy, short-coated French scent hound from Artois, calm and affectionate at home and keen in the field.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- 53–58 cm
- Weight
- 25–30 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Tricolour, Fawn, White
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent
- Country of origin
- France
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 28 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 2/5 – Low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 3/5 – Moderate |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a compact, easy-coated hound
- enjoy tracking or long walks
- live in the countryside
Think twice if you …
- need off-lead reliability
- live close to neighbours
- have small pets
Care
Temperament
Affectionate, steady and sociable, with a keen and persistent hunting drive.
Exercise
Plan on long daily walks and regular chances to follow scent; tracking, mantrailing and hiking work well.
Grooming
The short, thick coat needs a weekly brush; check the ears often.
Training
More cooperative than many French hounds, but still scent-driven; short, positive sessions and recall practice are key.
Health
A sturdy, generally healthy hound from a small gene pool; hip dysplasia and ear problems are possible. Hip and eye checks are sensible, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Artois Hound is one of the old hound breeds of northern France, descended from the hounds of St Hubert and once used in packs for hare, fox and deer. Crosses with English hounds in the 19th century almost erased the original type, and the breed was revived in the 1970s from a handful of remaining dogs.
It is a compact, muscular hound with a dense tricolour coat and a soulful expression. It is affectionate and fairly calm at home, but needs serious exercise and a secure garden. Its voice and scent drive mean it suits rural owners best.
Did you know?
The breed nearly disappeared in the 20th century and was rebuilt from a few dogs from the 1970s onwards.