Overview
The Briquet de Provence is one of France's least-known hounds, a medium-sized scenthound from Provence used for hunting hare and wild boar in the scrub and limestone hills of the region. Very little about the breed is formally documented and it has no following in Britain, so any dog you meet is an individual to learn rather than a type to assume.
What can be said is what applies to every medium French scenthound: an excellent nose, a loud voice, tolerance of other dogs from pack life, and a tendency to put scent above instructions. Build the walk around those four facts and ask the owner about everything else.
Exercise and walking needs
Expect to give an adult around ninety minutes a day with plenty of sniffing. A hound used for hare has stamina, and a lead walk round the block will not satisfy it.
Long-line walks through woodland, with the dog allowed to follow trails at its own pace, suit this type better than fast walking or fetch.
On the walk
- Recall: Treat as unreliable. Scenthounds follow trails and come back when the trail ends, not when called. Fenced fields only.
- Voice: Hounds bay when they find scent and bark when excited. Choose routes where that is acceptable.
- Pulling: Steady and persistent once the nose is down. A harness and a fixed lead are the sensible setup.
- Other dogs: Pack hounds are generally tolerant. Expect indifference rather than play.
Tips for professional walkers
- Let the dog lead with its nose for part of the walk; it is the breed's reason for existing.
- Carry strong-smelling treats to have any hope of competing with wildlife scent.
- Check the ears and feet after rough ground; hounds bred for scrub still get scratched.
- Keep away from livestock and deer; the hunting drive is not trained out of a working hound.
What to ask the owner
- What was the dog bred or used for, and has it ever hunted?
- Has it been walked alone before, or only with other hounds?
- What happens when it picks up a scent, and how does the owner get it back?