Overview
The Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noir is one of three colour varieties of large French hunting hound created by crossing English Foxhounds with old French scenthounds. This one carries the black and white coat and much of the voice and steadiness of its Gascon ancestors. It lives, almost without exception, in hunting kennels in France.
A UK walker meeting one is probably dealing with a retired or rehomed hound, which means a large, powerful dog that is comfortable with other dogs, unsure about houses and completely untrained for pavements. Patience and a strong harness are the starting point.
Exercise and walking needs
A dog bred to run all day will take as much as you can give. Two hours is a sensible minimum for a fit adult, though a retired hound may be happy with less and need building up slowly.
Expect lead walking to be the bulk of it. These hounds hunt in a pack far from their handlers and have no concept of staying near a person, so free running is for secure fields only.
On the walk
- Recall: Assume there is none. Even a hound that has been in a home for a year will choose a deer trail over you.
- Pulling: Thirty kilos of hound that has never walked on a lead properly pulls hard and steadily. Use a harness with a front clip and work on it daily.
- Other dogs: Pack life makes most of them easy and even friendly with other dogs, though they can be rough in greeting.
- Novelty: Traffic, bikes, shop doors and stairs may all be new. Watch for freezing or bolting and keep routes simple at first.
Tips for professional walkers
- Double up: a harness and a collar with two leads in case one piece of kit fails.
- Walk at quiet times until the dog has learned about traffic and crowds.
- Give the dog long sniffing stretches; it is the closest it will get to hunting.
- Ask the owner about secure fields you can hire for a proper run.
What to ask the owner
- How long has the dog been out of the kennel, and what is still unfamiliar to it?
- What does it do when it sees deer or livestock, and has it ever escaped?
- Does it have a reliable way back to the house or car if it slips the lead?