Chien d'Artois

62-66 lbs
21-23"
France
Artois Hound, Picard, Briquet
Originating as early as the 15th century, the Chien d'Artois, also known simply as the Artois Hound, is a dog born in antiquity, one that has made it to modernity in small numbers but with a rich history of use and development. It holds a unique place in terms of both time and its relation to other breeds, standing as a descendant of the popular Bloodhound breed and a likely parent to the well-loved Beagle, yet receiving only marginal international acclaim like the other two have undoubtedly shared. And although Artois Hounds share many similarities with both, in character and in look, they still remain a rare breed outside of France, their country of origin. But of course, that's not to imply that they are inferior in any matter. This breed has been beloved by royalty throughout its history, revered by hunters for its top-notch skill set and temperament, and risen in the ranks of scent hounds nearly every step of the way. They have even made a transition from that of hunters and trackers to that of companion animals because of their overall easy-going attitude and loving personalities, and that trend looks to continue as their popularity in recent years has been on the rise.
purpose Purpose
Hunting, Companion, Watchdog
history Date of Origin
15th Century
ancestry Ancestry
St. Hubert's Hounds

Chien d'Artois Health

Average Size
Male Chien d'Artois size stats
Height: 21-23 inches Weight: 62-66 lbs
Female Chien d'Artois size stats
Height: 21-23 inches Weight: 62-66 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
Minor Concerns
  • Anesthesia Sensitivity/Allergy
  • Ear Health and Infection
  • Foot and Toenail Injuries
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Lens Luxation
Occasional Tests
  • X-Rays
  • Physical Examination
  • Eye Examinations

Chien d'Artois Breed History

The Chien d'Artois has a long history, starting as early as the 15th century, and they are believed to have descended from the dogs of St. Hubert's, which were highly similar to the modern Bloodhound. In its earliest years, this breed actually encompassed two breeds, a Basset Hound-type and a larger "Picardy Hound", the pair of which shared many characteristics but largely differed in overall size and stature. By the 1600s, however, the larger Picards took the Chien d'Artois name and came in two sizes, large and small, with the latter being much more common. They looked a bit different than the Artois Hounds we know today, as in those days they were white with fawn and grey markings - notably lighter in shade than modern tri-colors. In the late 1500s and early 1600s, their popularity skyrocketed thanks to French nobility, who revered the breed for their exceptional tracking abilities, especially with fox-hunting. They were often bestowed as gifts to other members of nobility and many accounts of nobles and hunters alike began to flourish in this era, almost all of it including high praise of the breed for its skill set and excellent overall temperament. Unfortunately, by the 1800s, Artois Hounds took a downturn thanks to the rise in popularity of breeds like the English Foxhound, which were fashionably imported as the next best hunting breed, leaving many traditional French breeds by the wayside. As their numbers fell, so did their purity, as their limited population caused the need for crossbreeding with those like the now-extinct Normand Hounds to help maintain dwindling numbers. While this did help the population stabilize at least somewhat, the infusion of other larger, taller breeds with scroll-type ears vastly changed the Chien d'Artois' overall appearance until far removed from their original aesthetic by the late 1800s. Numerous intense breeding efforts were undertaken by experts and enthusiasts alike but any semblance of success was short-lived, as both WWI and WWII decimated their numbers to near extinction. Fortunately, in the 1970s, a man named M. Audrechy took to the task of finding as many pure specimens as possible and began a new breeding program aimed at returning the breed to its original look. While modern Artois Hounds still maintain darker shades than the originals, Audrechy's efforts largely paid off, taking the breed back to the original characteristics first written about in accounts from centuries before. Since then, their numbers have increased to a healthier level and today, around 500 are now registered with the Federation Cynologique Internationale. In 2006, they were finally recognized by the United Kennel Club and continue to be used as both hunters and companions.

Chien d'Artois Breed Appearance

The Chien d'Artois is a medium-sized dog, standing just under two feet at the withers and weighing an average of about 64 pounds. To the average person, they generally look like a taller, more athletic version of a Basset Hound. Their skulls are broad and domed but not too long and possess an obvious stop. Their muzzles are slightly shorter than their skulls and come capped with a wide, black nose. Their eyes are well-separated and mark the setting of their ears, which are long, broad and rounded at the tip. Their necks are relatively long and muscular as are their forequarters, which are highlighted by a deep, rounded chest that reaches to their elbows. Their hind legs are strong, muscular, and slightly angled, positioned to give them a straight topline that terminates with a thick, tapering tail that is carried in sickle fashion. Their coats are short, dense, and tri-colored with a white base punctuated with large patches of fawn and black.
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Chien d'Artois eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Chien d'Artois nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
white Chien d'Artois coat
White
black Chien d'Artois coat
Black
fawn Chien d'Artois coat
Fawn
brown Chien d'Artois coat
Brown
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Chien d'Artois straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Chien d'Artois Breed Maintenance

The Chien d'Artois, like many of its French scent hound relatives, is a low maintenance breed overall. They take little brushing outside of once or twice a week with a firm bristle brush to keep their coats free of dirt, debris, and loose hair. They generally maintain their own cleanliness well and only need to be bathed when they get into something particularly dirty or offensive smelling but otherwise rarely need true washing over wiping them down with a towel. Because of the size of their folded ears, they are particularly prone to ear infections, as they often amass extraneous moisture and wax, so they will need to be monitored regularly and occasionally cleaned. Their nails will also need to be checked and trimmed as needed to prevent painful cracks or breaks, and like any breed, their teeth will need to be brushed at least once a week.
Brushes for Chien d'Artois
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Chien d'Artois requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Chien d'Artois Temperament

Like their Bloodhound and Beagle relatives, the Chien d'Artois is not only an excellent hunter, but generally beloved for their friendly, easy-going personalities. Because of their pack-hunting background, they are usually very good with other dogs and tend to do well with children inherently, but will excel with both even more when thoroughly trained and socialized. If there is any great disadvantage to this breed, it is that their intelligence often turns into a strong-willed stubbornness, as they require an exceptionally firm, patient, and experienced owner to get the absolute best out of their character. That being said, their in-home personality characteristics are still highly desired. They are known to be regularly friendly, playful, loving, affectionate and endlessly loyal, making them excellent companion animals even if not used for hunting. They are also decent watchdogs (although less so than many other breeds because of their tendency to become distracted) and will often take command of a self-appointed post to keep an eye out for anything suspicious and will alert their owners with a significant bark if they find that anything is amiss. In the hunt, they are excitable and thoroughly dedicated and employ their seemingly endless endurance to follow a scent for hours or miles if need be. Because of their prey drive, they need to be raised with other non-canine animals at an early age if they are to co-exist without incident. They also do best with active families as their energy level requirements are high for their size and they take a considerable amount of exercise to tire in any meaningful capacity.

Chien d'Artois Activity Requirements

Artois Hounds are considered medium to high energy dogs that need a healthy amount of exercise daily to maintain good health and happiness. When used for hunting, they are usually exhausted by those activities alone and can survive on less exercise on off-days, but if they are adopted purely as a companion, they will need at least 60 minutes of exercise daily. Since they have such a strong hunting background, they prefer to exercise in open areas so they can both run freely and follow their nose at will but many owners prefer to do so in a fenced area, either a large yard or dog park, as the breed's stubborn nature and nose-driven curiosity will often have them wandering off aimlessly. They thoroughly enjoy games where they can chase and fetch as well as games that stimulate them mentally, which will further exhaust them and help to prevent boredom or frustration if they are cooped up for large parts of the day.
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
16 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Chien d'Artois Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3.5 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $2.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$45.00 - $60.00
food bag monthly cost

Chien d'Artois Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Chien d'Artois size stats at six months
Height: 15.5 inches Weight: 45.5 lbs
Female Chien d'Artois size stats at six months
Height: 15.5 inches Weight: 45.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Chien d'Artois size stats at 12 months
Height: 18.5 inches Weight: 53.5 lbs
Female Chien d'Artois size stats at 12 months
Height: 18.5 inches Weight: 53.5 lbs
18 Months
Male Chien d'Artois size stats at 18 months
Height: 22.0 inches Weight: 64.0 lbs
Female Chien d'Artois size stats at 18 months
Height: 22.0 inches Weight: 64.0 lbs

Chien d'Artois Owner Experiences

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