Overview
The Artois Hound is one of the older French scenthounds, kept in small packs to hunt hare and deer in the flat country of northern France. It is a compact, well-muscled tricolour dog with a broad head and long hanging ears. Numbers are low even in France and it is seldom seen in the UK.
Temperament follows the pack-hound pattern: calm indoors, affectionate with people, tolerant of other dogs and single-minded the moment a scent crosses the path.
Exercise and walking needs
An adult Artois wants an hour and a half a day, ideally as two walks with real sniffing opportunity in each. Distance matters less than engagement. A slow mile along a hedgerow with the nose working tires this dog more than a fast loop of the park.
Stamina is not the issue; a safe outlet for it is. A long line on open ground and a tracking game with hidden treats both work well.
On the walk
- Recall: Treat it as unreliable unless the owner has shown you otherwise. Once the head drops and the tail goes up, most scenthounds stop hearing you.
- Lead manners: Steady pullers rather than lungers. A harness with a front and back clip gives you options.
- Other dogs: Usually relaxed and tolerant, as you would expect from a dog kept in a pack.
- Voice: Scenthounds bay. If the dog finds a line and you are near houses, be ready to move on quickly before complaints start.
- Livestock: A hare or deer hound will chase if it gets the chance. Keep it on lead anywhere stock or wildlife might appear.
Tips for professional walkers
- Walk routes with varied scent: field margins, woodland edges and canal paths are far more satisfying than pavement.
- Carry a long line of at least ten metres and use it as your default off-lead substitute.
- Dry and check the ears after wet walks. Long pendulous ears trap moisture and pick up seeds.
What to ask the owner
- Has the dog ever been worked or hunted, and does it have a track record of chasing wildlife?
- How does it react to livestock, and is there anywhere on your usual routes you should avoid?
- Is the dog used to a long line or a harness, and what gear does it already accept?