Ariege Pointing Dog

Orange & White, Brown & White, Fawn & White, Fawn ticked, Brown ticked

The shiny coat of the Ariege Pointer is short and close-fitting.

Dark amber to brown, depending on the colour of the coat.

With a strong body and clean lines, the Ariege Pointer is built as a working dog, with great stamina. It has a rounded, straight skull and pendulous lips. The dog’s nose may be either flesh-coloured or brown. Long ears hang down from the dog’s face, facing inwards. The dog has long limbs that carry him for many miles when out hunting. 

Certainly a loveable dog; he can be affectionate and loyal towards his master. 

A very energetic and playful breed that loves to be kept active and busy.

The Ariege Pointer is a working breed, who likes to be kept occupied most of the time, rather than lying down on the sofa. Calm when in the home and around children. 

As a hunting dog, the Braque de l'Ariège is a very intelligent dog, capable of hunting and working alone as well as to his master’s command. 

Generally used to hunt quail and partridge birds, although this breed is quite adaptable to hunt other quarry too.

Because this breed has not been around for very long, there are not many examples of them living as family pets. They are however, known to be quite shy and reserved around strangers. 

Incredibly speedy dogs, this athletic breed thrives when working. They are very independent, especially when in the hunting field. The dog instinctively knows what to do, without receiving constant commands from his master. 

As a very independent dog, the Ariege Pointer doesn’t need the companionship of humans or other animals. They do however become rather bored if left alone for long periods of time. 

Training the Braque de l'Ariège dog is relatively easy, although as a very independent breed, a good array of commands is essential. Early training basics, such as sit, stop and come back, are all advised when the dog is a young puppy.

Although not a great watchdog, the Ariege pointer dog will bark if he hears anything suspicious in his surroundings. 

Because of his hunting tendencies, if he is given the chance to run off the lead, he will continue for miles. A rural location that is fenced in is the ideal home for this breed.

Certainly very easily bored and frustrated when he isn’t kept active and exercised. Destructive and hyperactive behaviour can result.

As a very energetic dog breed, the Ariege Pointer needs to be given a nutritious, high-quality dog food suitable for a working dog. Not a greedy breed. He can suffer from bloat. 

Although this dog will bark when alerted, he’s not aggressive at all. 

As a very energetic breed, this dog likes vigorous exercise and either long walks or jogs daily. It also has quite a stubborn personality, and is therefore not the best for novice owners.

It wouldn’t be practical or fair to expect this large hunting dog to live in a flat or small living space. 

The Braque de l’Ariege has an enormous amount of stamina and needs to hunt whenever possible. He excels when covering all terrains and can run for many miles after his quarry. Daily hikes or runs are a necessity.

It’s not advisable to travel long distances with the Ariege Pointer in the car, even when he is secured in a crate. He is certainly not a canine to take on public transport due to his large size and high energy levels.

As a dog breed with an intense prey drive, it’s not advisable to keep this dog around cats or other small animals.

The Braque de l'Ariège will tolerate other dogs in the same household, however, early socialisation is important.

Providing the Ariege Pointer is introduced to the children as a young dog, there should be no issues. They will tolerate most children and playtimes, as long as they are not too boisterous.

As a large, energetic dog, this breed is not best suited to an elderly owner. They require a large amount of strenuous daily exercise.

Moderate shedder.

Generally recognised as a hearty and healthy dog breed. However, they are known to be prone to several health issues including patellar luxation glaucoma, bloat, chronic ear infection and epilepsy. Their average life expectancy is 11 to 13 years.

The Ariege Pointer is very energetic and robust. He is a skilled hunting and retrieving breed, with a brilliant sense of smell.

The short coat of the Braque de l'Ariège allows it to keep cool during periods of warmer weather. 

As this dog is firstly a hunting dog, he is very hardy when hunting over many terrains, in all weathers. He will also retrieve game from land and even in cold water without any adverse effects.

Although he is a very active dog, once he retires from his working life and becomes a more sedentary dog, he will gain weight more easily.

• Ear infections
• Patellar luxation (Hip and elbow dysplasia)
• Glaucoma
• Epilepsy
• Bloat

The Ariege breed first descended from old French Braques, yet over time these canines became very rare. The breed has been saved by a group of Ariegeois hunters, who continued to use these dogs for hunting purposes. It was further enlarged during 1990, when a team of breeders devoted themselves to breeding and producing more of them. In 2006, the Braque de l’Ariege was finally recognised by the UK Kennel Club.