French tricolour hound

Overall description of the breed

The French Tricolore Hound is, as its name indicates, of French origin. Its ancestors have never been identified with certainty, but some people believe that it is the descendant of the white grafting dog. We can trace the presence of the latter as early as the 16th century, however others claim that the French Tricolore has been influenced by certain very old hunting dog breeds such as the Gascon saintongeois, the English Foxhound or the Poitevin.

It is not very widespread outside of France, with a global population of barely 2000 dogs and 3 to 400 births per year. The first standard was written in 1957, two years later, the International Cynological Federation officially recognized it on December 15, 1959, its official standard in force was published on January 13, 1965 and has not been updated since.

The French Tricolore Hound is one of the large dogs, mainly used as a hunting dog, it is a formidable tracker, endowed with extraordinary endurance and resistance to effort. His powerful and long body gives him a lot of presence, his movement is light but determined. Its robust bone structure and solid musculature make it a formidable predator of medium and large game. As long as it is tall, its body is square. Despite its imposing build, it retains a supple and agile gait, as well as remarkable top speed.

The head is large and broad, with a long muzzle, a shallow stop and thick, long ears that fall back along the cheeks. The coat is short, dense, with a rough texture. The coat colour accepted by the breed standard is tricolour, with a more or less extensive black and tan coat, vivid or even coppery, interspersed with distinct white patches or flecks.

The character of the French Tricolore Hound is pleasant, it is a reliable companion, trusting and attached to its owners, even if generally speaking, it remains little demonstrative. They are tireless walkers and tracking experts who can cover many miles without showing the slightest physical weakness. His pack temperament allows him to live easily in a community, particularly at ease with his fellow dogs. It is a sociable animal, which appreciates contact with humans very much, moreover, it is a fundamental need for its development. Loneliness, lack of attention or lack of physical activity could make it destructive, even if it keeps a certain independence in work.

Rather distrustful of strangers, it takes him a while to adapt before he feels fully confident, never aggressive, he has no instinct to attack humans, but could take the initiative to protect his owner if he feels he is in danger. A hunter by nature, he is nonetheless a remarkable companion dog who can easily follow you in your daily activities with attention and benevolence.

Adult: The French Tricolore Hound will weigh approximately 66 lbs and will stand approximately 25.6-28.4" for males and 24.4-26.7" for females.