French White & Orange Hound
Other names: Chien Français Blanc et Orange
This super-rare French scent hound is today only used for hunting in packs. A caramel shade of tan runs across her white body, and she is notable for the epic grandeur of her ears. She’s versatile and energetic but can be somewhat wilful, as is the way with scent hounds. Like others with a similar name to hers (for example, the French White and Black Hound) she seems to be a descendent of the old Hound of Saintonge.
Key facts about the French White & Orange Hound
Origins and history
This hound developed particularly over the 19th century, when hunting was a big deal in France and breeders were keen to import British stock into the bloodline. The Hound of Saintonge is probably dominant among those breeds that have contributed to the French White and Orange Hound we see today.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 6 - Scent hounds and related breeds
Section
Section 1 : Scent hounds
Physical characteristics of the French White & Orange Hound
Adult size
Female : Between 24 and 28 in
Male : Between 24 and 28 in
Weight
Female : Between 55 and 66 lb
Male : Between 55 and 66 lb
Coat colour
White and lemon or white and orange. The orange colour mustn’t be too deep.
Type of coat
Short and fine.
Eye colour
Dark brown.
Description
Looking much like a limited-edition version of her manifold cousins among French scent hounds, which in some ways is just what she is, this proud and countryfied hound is tall and distinguished with a large, domed head. Her citrus tang may extend to her nose, where that orangey-yellow fur is matched by a brown-orange sniffer, which is a significant appendage to an already substantial snout. Her ears, however, are where most casual dog-lovers will find their true home. Large, soft, and floppy, one envies the dormouse who makes his bed beneath these natural blankets.
Good to know
This dog is rarely kept as a pet, rarely seen at all outside of France, and very difficult to get hold of in the UK.