Ariegeois
Other names: Ariege Hound
The Ariégeois is a breed of medium-sized dogs thought to have originated in 1912 in the Midi-Pyrenées region of southern France. The Ariégeois was originally bred to hunt, both by coursing and driving. To ‘course’ prey is to chase it; a dog such as the Ariégeois would have had the speed to do this to great effect. Game most often caught by this dog includes foxes, hares and boar.
Key facts about the Ariegeois
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Origins and history
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.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 6 - Scent hounds and related breeds
Section
Section 1 : Scent hounds
Physical characteristics of the Ariegeois
Adult size
Female : Between 20 and 22 in
Male : Between 20 and 23 in
Weight
Female : Between 62 and 66 lb
Male : Between 62 and 66 lb
Coat colour
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.
Type of coat
Smooth, short-haired, single coat.
Eye colour
Brown
Description
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.
Good to know
For the owner of an Ariégeois to deny this dog a good proportion of their time and energy will not do. This dog makes an excellent companion only if treated with respect and love. If the Ariégeois feels as though it has been abandoned it will be unhappy and depressed.
Temperament
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66%
Affectionate
A friendly and an affectionate dog despite its hunting heritage; the Ariégeois is slow to anger.
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66%
Playful
An active and playful dog that enjoys constant and positive interaction with the family.
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66%
Calm
A serene and stable dog; it is highly adaptable and not easily upset or made nervous.
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100%
Intelligent
This dog is highly intelligent, well-adjusted to its living with humans, and generally sensible. The Ariégeois is skilled at manipulation.
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Hunter
The Ariégeois was until recently bred to hunt. As a result it has a high prey drive.
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66%
Fearful / wary of strangers
The Ariégeois tends to be welcoming of new people and will seek to play with visitors.
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66%
Independent
The Ariégeois was bred for its independent mind; this dog has a tendency for stubbornness.
Behaviour of the Ariegeois
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66%
Tolerates solitude
He can stay alone but in order for this dog to tolerate solitude occupation should be available to avoid him to be bored.
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100%
Easy to train / obedience
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.
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100%
Barking
He barks a lot when he works but never without reason.
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66%
Tendency to run away
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.
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66%
Destructive
The Ariégeois can be destructive if left on its own for long periods of time.
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66%
Greedy / Gluttony
This dog is prone to gluttony but is more likely to put on weight due to being under exercised.
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33%
Guard dog
It is exclusively a hunting dog, it is not a good guardian.
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100%
First dog
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.
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Is the Ariegeois right for you?
take the testLifestyle
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33%
Ariegeois in a flat
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.
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100%
Need for exercise / Sporty
The Ariégeois needs a lot of exercise; exercise must be vigorous and prolonged.
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66%
Travelling / easy to transport
Once trained, an Ariégeois is exceptionally obedient and comfortable with new experiences.
Compatibility
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33%
Ariegeois and cats
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.
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100%
Ariegeois and dogs
This dog gets along with other dogs reasonably well. Ideally it should cohabit with a dog of a similar breed.
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100%
Ariegeois and children
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.
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66%
Ariegeois and the elderly
Because it is a dog that requires such a lot of exercise the Ariégeois is not right for people of senior years.
Price
We do not have enough data to set an average price for an Ariegeois. You’re also looking at between £150 to £190 per month to care for this dog.
Grooming
Minimal grooming is required for the Ariégeois. The dog should be brushed once or twice in the week with a finely bristled brush.
Shedding
The Ariégeois moults only a moderate amount and may not excite human allergies.
Nutrition of the Ariegeois
It is always worthwhile to feed the Ariégeois a high-quality and specially formulated dog food.
Health of the Ariegeois
Life expectancy
11 to 13 years
Strong / robust
An active, confident and courageous dog that likes nothing better than a day of outdoor exercise.
Withstand heat
The short coat of the Ariégeois allows it to be tolerant of hot temperatures.
Withstand cold
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.
Tendency to put on weight
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.
Common illnesses
- Hip Dysplasia
- Ear Infections
- Patellar Luxation
- Cataracts