Explore the breed's characteristics, health, and history — and find trusted breeders
At a glance
The essentials — key facts, traits, and health priorities — before you dive deeper.
Health grade
Relative to other breeds
The Chien d'Artois is considered a robust French hunting breed for which there are currently no mandatory genetic health tests. Nevertheless, buyers should be mindful of issues typical for larger scent hounds, such as hip dysplasia (HD) and chronic ear infections (otitis) due to their long, floppy ears. Since there is very little systematic data available, taking a close look at the health of the parent dogs is essential.
Lifespan
12–14 yrs
Height
53–58 cm
Weight
28–30 kg
Practical
Typical coat colors
Temperament
Daily life
What matters most
Especially with a Chien d'Artois, choosing the right breeder is the single most important decision you'll make. Serious breeders consistently test the parents for inherited conditions, prioritize healthy early socialization, and stay accountable long after handover. A cheap puppy without health screening tends to become the most expensive dog later on.
See HonestDog breeder standards →The Chien d'Artois is a tenacious, keen-nosed scent hound and pack dog—bred for persistent group hunting, where it tracks wild boar and hares independently and with a loud, melodic bay.
The real vibes check
A Chien d'Artois is often a gentle cuddler at home—until it catches a scent outside and the switch flips. You aren't buying a classic companion dog, but a highly specialized French hunting professional whose world consists primarily of smells and tracking calls. If you provide professional outlets for its nose, it is a wonderful buddy; if you don't, it will become invisible to you in the woods.
The Chien d'Artois is a robust and versatile French hunting dog breed that belongs to FCI Group 6, Section 1, the scent hounds. Originally, it was bred for tracking and pursuing game, especially large game such as wild boars. The Chien d'Artois is characterized by its strong, muscular build, its dense, mostly white coat with distinctive black or brown spots, and its hanging ears. Its alert yet friendly nature makes it a reliable hunting partner, impressing with endurance and courage. Despite its strong hunting instincts, the Chien d'Artois is also an affectionate and balanced family dog that requires consistent but loving training.
The history of the Chien d'Artois dates back to the 19th century, to the Artois region in northern France. Originally, this dog breed was bred as a versatile hunting dog, used both for hunting small game and for tracking wounded animals. The Chien d'Artois is characterized by its endurance, keen sense of smell, and robust constitution. Over time, the breed was further developed to meet the demands of hunters and received its official recognition from the French Kennel Club in 1885. Today, the Chien d'Artois is valued both as a hunting dog and as a family dog.
Bred to hunt rabbits and deer in the Artois region, the Chien d'Artois is known for its excellent nose.
France
1900
The Chien d'Artois is a strong and enduring hunting dog with a pronounced work drive. It is characterized by its high motivation and strong will, making it a reliable partner in tracking and in the field. Despite its robust nature, it is very people-oriented and shows a close bond with its family. This dog requires a lot of physical and mental exercise to channel its temperament in positive directions. Without sufficient activity, it can become restless or stubborn. The Chien d'Artois learns quickly but responds best to consistent and patient training. Its keen sense of smell and hunting passion make it an excellent tracking dog. With strangers, it is usually reserved but does not show unnecessary aggression. As a watchdog, it is alert and reliably reports unusual situations. Due to its strong prey drive, it is important to work early on control and recall to ensure safe coexistence. Overall, the Chien d'Artois is a loyal, hardworking, and family-oriented dog that can be an excellent companion with the right guidance.
| Trainability Has its own ideas and will test limits. | Strong-willed |
| Watchfulness Occasionally alerts but is fundamentally open. | Low |
| Openness to Strangers Neither pushily friendly nor suspicious. | Neutral |
| Hunting or Herding Drive This drive runs deep — no amount of training eliminates it. | Very strong |
Fun Fact!
Chien d'Artois: The Chien d'Artois is a French hunting dog with an impressive nose so fine that it can track down even the most hidden wild animals. Originally bred for hunting wild boar, it combines endurance and courage – a true adventurer on four paws!
The Chien d'Artois is a robust and enduring hunting dog known for its loyalty and strong protective instinct. It requires consistent training and sufficient activity to fully realize its potential. These dogs are alert and are well suited as family dogs if socialized early. With its dense, weather-resistant coat, the Chien d'Artois is perfectly suited for outdoor use.
Chien d'Artois are lively and intelligent dogs that require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. They are well suited for active families who spend a lot of time outdoors and can integrate the dog into everyday life. Due to their temperament, they are alert and watchful, which makes them good guard dogs. When dealing with children, Chien d'Artois are usually friendly and patient but should always be supervised, especially with small children, as they can sometimes be boisterous. They get along well with other dogs and pets if socialized early. Purely apartment living is not ideal, as they need a lot of exercise to remain balanced and content.
Gets on well with different people and varying routines.
Gets on well with children — with adult supervision.
Actively enjoys the company of other dogs.
Suffers in tight urban conditions.
Owning a dog is a privilege, but it's also a real responsibility. Before you bring one into your life, be honest with yourself about the commitment it takes.!
The Chien d'Artois is an intelligent and eager-to-work hunting dog that enjoys being challenged. Its pronounced sense of smell and endurance make it an excellent partner for search and retrieve tasks. It is important that you provide your Chien d'Artois with clear structures and consistent, yet loving training from the very beginning. As with the Labrador and German Shepherd, training should be positive and reward-based to maintain motivation and build a close bond. The Chien d'Artois requires regular mental and physical exercise to stay balanced. Retrieve games, tracking work, and other hunting activities are ideal to promote its natural abilities. At the same time, it is important to allow the dog rest periods and to accustom it to different situations to strengthen frustration tolerance and impulse control. Early socialization is essential so that the Chien d'Artois moves confidently and assuredly in everyday life. Overall, the Chien d'Artois requires dedicated training that takes its hunting abilities into account while also making it a balanced family dog. With patience and consistency, you will gain a loyal, eager-to-learn, and versatile companion.
The Chien d'Artois requires a balanced diet that supports its active and strong physique. High-quality dog food with a good proportion of proteins and nutrients is important to strengthen its muscles and promote its health. Be careful to avoid overweight, as this can strain the joints. The coat of the Chien d'Artois is dense and weather-resistant, with a thick undercoat that protects it well from the cold. Regular brushing, at least 2-3 times a week, helps keep the coat clean and healthy and removes loose hair. Especially during the shedding seasons in spring and autumn, they shed more heavily, so more intensive coat care is necessary then. The Chien d'Artois is well adapted to the Central European climate. Its coat protects it from the cold, yet in high temperatures, sufficient shade and water should be provided to prevent overheating. Regular exercise and activity are important to satisfy its natural urge to move and keep it balanced.
| Care Level Occasional brushing is all it takes. | Very low-maintenance |
| Exercise Needs Needs several hours of serious exercise every day. | Very active |
| Shedding Regular shedding — dog hair on clothes is now normal. | Moderate |
| Trainability Has its own ideas and will test limits. | Strong-willed |
Our experts are still reviewing this information. Spotted something wrong? Email us at info@honestdog.de.!
Robust
The Chien d'Artois is considered a robust French hunting breed for which there are currently no mandatory genetic health tests. Nevertheless, buyers should be mindful of issues typical for larger scent hounds, such as hip dysplasia (HD) and chronic ear infections (otitis) due to their long, floppy ears. Since there is very little systematic data available, taking a close look at the health of the parent dogs is essential.
Grade is relative to other breeds — AI-generated by our veterinary-genetics model.
You should regularly check and clean its long, floppy ears and ensure it is raised in a way that protects its joints to prevent chronic ailments.
Reputable breeders have the parents' hips, elbows, eyes, and hearts tested and pay attention to a healthy ear shape with good ventilation.
No specific health tests are currently available for this breed.
Ich halte eine kleine Meute von vier Chien d’Artois für die Jagd auf Feldhasen und Rehe. Was diese Hunde auszeichnet, ist ihr absolut friedliches und soziales Wesen untereinander. Es gibt in der Meute so gut wie nie Beißereien oder ernsthaften Streit, selbst wenn Hunde desselben Geschlechts zusammengehalten werden. Sie sind im Zwinger und auf dem Hof unglaublich ausgeglichen.
Bei der Arbeit auf der Spur sind sie unschlagbar. Sie sind hervorragende 'Rapprocheur' – sie können also auch sehr kalte Fährten, die schon Stunden alt sind, problemlos aufnehmen und rekonstruieren. Zu Beginn der Suche geben sie oft nur ein feines, fast katzenartiges Winseln oder 'Miauen' von sich, aber sobald die Fährte heiß wird, bricht ihr unverkennbares, lautes Geläut los.
Man darf sich aber nichts vormachen: Sie sind absolute Arbeitshunde und gehören nicht auf das heimische Sofa. Sie brauchen ihren Platz, viel Auslauf und eine klare Aufgabe. Wenn man ihnen das bietet, sind sie dem Menschen gegenüber extrem anhänglich, sanft und fordern regelrecht ihre Streicheleinheiten ein.
Wir haben uns bewusst für diese seltene französische Bracke entschieden, weil wir sehr ländlich leben und einen robusten, aktiven Begleiter gesucht haben. Unser Rüde ist im Haus die Sanftmut in Person – er ist treu, unglaublich liebenswürdig und sensibel. Allerdings ist sein Jagdtrieb eine echte Lebensaufgabe. Ohne Leine im Wald laufen zu lassen, ist absolut unmöglich, da er sofort jede Fährte aufnimmt und dann im 'Tunnel' ist.
Um ihn auszulasten, machen wir täglich mindestens zwei bis drei Stunden intensive Spaziergänge und beschäftigen seinen Kopf mit Fährtenarbeit und Suchspielen im Garten. Ein einfaches Spazierengehen an der kurzen Leine reicht diesem Hund niemals aus. Er braucht die Natur und die Möglichkeit, seine Nase einzusetzen.
Gesundheitlich ist er sehr robust und wetterfest. Einzig seine langen, herabhängenden Schlappohren erfordern regelmäßige Pflege und Kontrolle, da sie durch die mangelnde Belüftung leider recht anfällig für Ohrenentzündungen sind. Wer sich diesen Hund anschafft, sollte unbedingt Hundeerfahrung mitbringen und viel Zeit haben.
Da der Chien d'Artois in Deutschland ein absoluter Exot ist, habe ich meine Hündin direkt aus Frankreich geholt. Ich nutze sie hauptsächlich als Solistin bei der Stöberjagd. Sie ist extrem kühn, ausdauernd und schreckt selbst vor dichtem Gestrüpp nicht zurück, um Wildschweine aufzuspüren. Ihr Finderwille ist einfach unbändig.
Allerdings zeigt sich bei der Ausbildung auch die typische Sturheit der Rasse. Sie agiert sehr eigenständig und hinterfragt Kommandos, wenn sie keinen Sinn darin sieht. Man muss sehr früh – am besten schon im Alter von 4 bis 5 Monaten – mit einer konsequenten, aber liebevollen Erziehung beginnen. Druck bringt bei diesen sensiblen Hunden gar nichts.
Nach einem anstrengenden Tag im Revier ist sie zu Hause die Ruhe selbst. Sie verträgt sich hervorragend mit unseren anderen Hofhunden und zeigt keinerlei Aggressionen. Für die Stadt oder reine Wohnungshaltung ist diese Rasse aber definitiv nicht geeignet.
Paraphrased from real owner reports
Showcase your kennel on HonestDog and reach families searching for a responsibly bred Chien d'Artois.
The Chien d'Artois is an active dog that needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Research the temperament, grooming needs, and space requirements before deciding.
The average life expectancy of a Chien d'Artois is 12-14 years. With proper care and regular vet visits, your dog can live a long, healthy life.
Chien d'Artois grooming requirements include regular brushing, nail trimming, and dental care. HonestDog provides detailed grooming tips for every breed.
The Chien d'Artois can be a great family dog. Proper training and socialization are key. HonestDog provides family suitability information for every breed.
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