Ariegeois

Sometimes mottled black and white, but mostly white with well-defined black shapes. A pale tan is sometimes seen on the cheeks of the Ariégeois.

Smooth, short-haired, single coat.

Brown

The head of the Ariégeois is long and narrow; the ears are set high on the head and fall close to the cheeks. The neck is arched slightly and is narrow; the top line leading from the withers is almost horizontal. The chest is narrow and deep.

A friendly and an affectionate dog despite its hunting heritage; the Ariégeois is slow to anger.

An active and playful dog that enjoys constant and positive interaction with the family.

A serene and stable dog; it is highly adaptable and not easily upset or made nervous.

This dog is highly intelligent, well-adjusted to its living with humans, and generally sensible. The Ariégeois is skilled at manipulation.

The Ariégeois was until recently bred to hunt. As a result it has a high prey drive.

The Ariégeois tends to be welcoming of new people and will seek to play with visitors.

The Ariégeois was bred for its independent mind; this dog has a tendency for stubbornness.

He can stay alone but in order for this dog to tolerate solitude occupation should be available to avoid him to be bored. 

The Ariégeois is reasonably easy to train. Its ability to learn relies on its closeness with the trainer and the manner in which the lessons are given. A harsh teacher makes this dog a shy and unhappy pupil.

He barks a lot when he works but never without reason.

A well-trained Ariégeois can be recalled. However, if the recall command is not learned, the dog is likely not to return to its owner when instructed to do so.

The Ariégeois can be destructive if left on its own for long periods of time.

This dog is prone to gluttony but is more likely to put on weight due to being under exercised.

It is exclusively a hunting dog, it is not a good guardian.

The Ariégeois is a suitable first dog. The inexperienced dog owner should take their time to learn about the breed’s foibles and thirst for adventure.

The Ariégeois must have regular access to the outside. A large fenced garden is an excellent provision for the dog. A flat is a too confined space to keep this dog.

The Ariégeois needs a lot of exercise; exercise must be vigorous and prolonged.

Once trained, an Ariégeois is exceptionally obedient and comfortable with new experiences.

The Ariégeois is not overly tolerant of other animals, even of those with which it has been brought up. Take care when introducing it to new animals. 

This dog gets along with other dogs reasonably well. Ideally it should cohabit with a dog of a similar breed.

Although, Ariégeois are boisterous and energetic, and may accidentally knock over even a large child (incidentally, do not berate the dog for doing this) they absolutely love children.

Because it is a dog that requires such a lot of exercise the Ariégeois is not right for people of senior years.

The Ariégeois moults only a moderate amount and may not excite human allergies.

11 to 13 years

An active, confident and courageous dog that likes nothing better than a day of outdoor exercise.

The short coat of the Ariégeois allows it to be tolerant of hot temperatures.

The Ariégeois is robust enough to withstand walks in inclement weather, but care should be taken after cold walks to dry the dog’s coat.

Weight gain is not usually a feature of a well-exercised Ariégeois. But if it is not exercised as regularly as it should be and is fed too much human or substandard food the dog will quickly become obese.

• Hip Dysplasia
• Ear Infections
• Patellar Luxation 
• Cataracts

The breed came about in the Ariège region located in southwestern France. It was created in 1912 by the joining of a Briquet with an indeterminate scent hound of the day (possibly the Bleu de Gascogne). The Grand bleu is a breed of dog believed to have been brought to France by the ancient Phoenicians.