Poitevin hound
The Poitevin is a breed of dog used in hunting as a scenthound, from the province of Poitou. This predoninantly pack hound was created in the 17th century specifically to hunt wolves.
Appearance
A very refined and athletic hound, with a flat gently sloping skull, a long narrow tapering muzzle, long slender well muscled neck, long straight heavily boned legs and a long tail. Their short coat is usually tricolour with a black saddle, tricolour with large black patches or white and orange.[1] They are a scent hound with some sighthound traits.[2] They stand 58-71cm (23-28in) at the withers and weigh 29.5-30.5kg (65-67lb).
History and use
The breed was created by Marquis Francois de Larrye of Poitou in 1692 when he received 12 hounds from the Dauphin of France. These he crossed with local hounds. This large hound's numbers were decimated several times throughout the 18th and 19th centuries with the French Revolution and a rabies epidemic in 1842.[3]
Originally bred to hunt the wolf, today the Poitevin is used to hunt boar, fox and deer.
The Poitevin was central to the development of the Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore, Chien Français Blanc et Noir and Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie.[4]
References
- ^ http://www.fci.be/uploaded_files/024gb97_en.doc
- ^ Fogle, Bruce (1995), The Encyclopedia of the Dog
- ^ Fogle, Bruce (1995), The Encyclopedia of the Dog
- ^ Alderton, David (2000), Hounds of the World
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