Artois Hound

Originally from France, more precisely from the county of Artois, the breed, formerly known as the "Picardy Dog", is very old.

He is said to come from the powerful Hound of Saint-Hubert and is also the result of crossbreeding with several types of hounds.

Towards the end of the 15th century, the breed was known as the Great Artois Dog. The latter had a coat that was distinct from that of his ancestor, the Hound of Saint Hubert, but was very similar in size at the time.

During the Renaissance, the dog evolved to reach almost the proportions we know today. He was introduced into royal packs at the beginning of the 17th century and the breed was standardized.

To make the difference with the former Great Artois Hound, he was named Briquet d'Artois and eventually became officially known as the Artois Hound. The Artois Hound is related to the Basset hound.

He is moreover the ancestor of the Beagle and the Normandy Artesian Basset, having been part of the initial crossbreeding that resulted in these two breeds.

During the reign of Louis XIII and Henry IV, the Artois Hound knew his hours of glory in the Bourbon venery. The breed was greatly appreciated and rather regularly sought after. In 1890, in his "Manuel de Vénerie Française", the Couteulx de Canteleu speaks of him with great praise, even though the breed had already begun to decline.

Specialized for hunting in large packs, the Artois Hound has unfortunately lost his place in modern times.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the breed even seemed threatened with total extinction, his numbers having greatly diminished.

In the 1970s, enthusiasts of the breed, including Burgundy, Champagne and Picardy breeders, rescued him and managed to bring back the numbers to such a level that the breed was able to regain a certain notoriety.

The Artois Hound is a hunting dog used to hunt wounded game or to chase it by smell.

This hound is highly prized for hunting and companionship.

However, he prefers daily exercise of hunting episodes and peaceful rest while waiting for the next exercise, rather than family life, as he is very independent by nature.