Ariégeois

Temperament Ariégeois is very calm, reserved, and balanced. Not aggressive to strangers, so as a guard for your home breed is not suitable. Their character is too soft and friendly. They are also quiet and do not bark unnecessarily. Ideal for housing both in their own home and in an apartment. Ariégeois gets on well with children and patiently withstands all kinds of games together.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The Ariégeois is one of the youngest hound breeds in France. The breed’s name is directly related to the French department of the Occitanie region – Fr. and the river in the south of France – Ariégeois. The formation of the breed began in the XIX century. Ariégeois is considered a relative of the following breeds: the Artoisois Hound, the Blue Gascon Hound, and the Gascon-Sentjon Hound. All of them are incredibly similar in appearance and their unsurpassed hunting instincts.

The Ariégeois was officially recognized in its homeland in 1912. During World War II, the Ariégeois were on the verge of extinction. By the early 1970s, researchers managed to restore the population of purebred hounds. And the standard of the breed was officially recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale only in 1996. The hound is popular among French hunters, but outside the country, representatives of the breed are quite rare.

Appearance

The breed differs from other hounds in that it is more finely built. Ariégeois is a medium-sized and elongated hound. It is slender and with well-developed musculature. The head is proportional to the body and has clear features. The skull is slightly convex; the occipital tubercle is weakly expressed. The length of the muzzle equals the length of the skull and narrows toward the end. The skin is elastic, without wrinkles. The ears are floppy, wide, and very long, set low. The back is straight and strong. The neck is long; the skin suspension is well expressed. The tail is moderately long and saber-shaped, tapering toward the end. The coat is short and dense, without an undercoat. Color is mostly white, but there are usually patches of varying sizes of pale and black throughout the body.

Character

Temperament Ariégeois is very calm, reserved, and balanced. Not aggressive to strangers, so as a guard for your home breed is not suitable. Their character is too soft and friendly. They are also quiet and do not bark unnecessarily. Ideal for housing both in their own home and in an apartment. Ariégeois gets on well with children and patiently withstands all kinds of games together. Ariégeois is devoted to its owner and will be affectionate to all family members. They were bred to hunt in a pack, so they treat other animals calmly. Problems may arise only with representatives of small animals and breeds; Ariégeois will perceive them as prey. Ariégeois is full of desire to be active and give you all its energy and stamina.

Care

If you choose the best place for the Ariégeois, it would be your own home with a spacious yard where the dog can run wild. The Ariege Hound needs long walks and physical activity. It is a working dog, and it is not at all used to sitting idle. Taking care of its hair is not complicated; it is smooth, and it will be enough to comb it once in several weeks. The shedding is seasonal, and you won’t have to worry about it too much. Pay special attention to the ears of the pet; this is a weak spot of the Ariégeois. Due to its structure, dirt and moisture often accumulate in them, and regular cleaning is recommended to prevent infection development. Check the condition of the ears several times a week. In case of any abnormalities, seek veterinary care right away.

Also, clean the eyes at least once a week. Frequent water treatments are not necessary; bathing about four times a year is enough. If the claws, for whatever reason, do not sharpen on their own, trim them a few times a month so that they do not interfere with the normal movement of your pet. Also, consider the fact that the Ariégeois, though famous for its endurance, but poorly tolerates cold weather conditions. Therefore, you should prepare for winter and buy special clothes for your pet to protect it from hypothermia and colds.

Training

Like all hounds, the Ariégeois is very stubborn. You will have to spend a sufficient amount of time to show your pet your authoritative position. But there is a huge plus of the breed – the Ariégeois is quick-witted and incredibly attached to its owner, which means it also wants to show its loyalty strongly. Remember that with harsh discipline, humiliation, and aggression, you will achieve nothing. Such behavior will only worsen the situation; the pet will completely stop trusting you. Choose a more loyal approach: include in training different games, encouragement, and then the pet will please you very soon with a new command you learned.

Common Diseases

The Ariégeois is a tough dog and is resistant to many diseases. But many diseases can occur in the breed:

• infectious diseases of the ears;
• eye infections;
• hip dysplasia;
• intestinal torsion.

Nutrition

Ariégeois is quite unpretentious about their food choices. To keep your dog active and looking healthy, be sure to include protein-rich foods. The breed isn’t prone to allergies, which means premium dry food for medium-sized breeds is also acceptable to feed.