Let's talk Poitevin dogs
The greyhound of French hounds - so-called because of their speed and endurance - Poitevins are also considered by many to be among the most handsome of the hound breeds, thanks to their expressive eyes and beautiful tri-colour black, orange and white coat. A combination of muscular strength and a long-shaped head makes Poitevin dogs look as poised for the next discovery—as these traditional scent hounds typically are. Originally bred to hunt, the Poitevin is less a family pet than an active companion for adventures in the great outdoors.Official name: Poitevin
Origins: France
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| *Energy Level (high, low, moderate)*: | Moderate | Family pet* | 
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*Can stay alone? * |
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* We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches.
Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behaviour. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed’s specifics should be taken as an indication.
For a happy healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socialising your pet as well as covering their basic welfare, social and behavioural needs.
Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.
Contact your breeder or veterinarian for further advice.
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62 - 72 cm
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29 - 34 kg
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60 - 70 cm
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27 - 32 kg
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| Baby age: | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age: | 2 to 15 months |
| Adult age: | 15 to 5 years |
| Mature age: | 5 to 8 years |
| Senior age: | From 8 years |
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Get to know the Poitevin
All you need to know about the breedBuilt for speed and stamina with elegance to boot, meet the long-nosed French Poitevin hound. The pace at which a Poitevin likes to take off running and their ability to keep on going for hours means they’re most at home where they’re able to freely roam. With this natural athleticism and need to move, Poitevins are less-suited to apartment living or indeed to city living overall.
A rare breed outside their native France, Poitevins can be found galloping through the woodland of the French countryside, just as they have for centuries. First bred in the 1600s to chase wolves out of the ancient Poitou region they’re named for, their working dog hunting past means Poitevins don’t take particularly well to time alone and tend to be most content when in a group. As a scent dog they’re capable of altering the pitch of their bark, and it’s worth bearing in mind that they’re extremely capable of using it. One more reason the Poitevin is better suited to a home with plenty of land to roam around, at a safe barking distance from any neighbours.
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2 facts about Poitevin dogs
1. The pace of a Poitevin
Reaching 56 km (35 mph), Poitevin hounds are known for their incredible speed. They’re the perfect training partner to develop your fitness level—even if you can never match a Poitevin’s pace. Unless you’re on the saddle, a bike or a horse!
2. Poitevin by another name
There’s another Poitevin also known to set off at a gallop—a breed of horse, likewise named after Poitou, the old name of a province in the West of France. Poitevin is also the name of the local dialect.
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History of the breed
Long known as the Chien du Haut-Poitou, the old name of the western French region from where they hail, in 1957 their name was shortened to Poitevin. As history tells it, the Poitevin’s combination of size and speed is an Anglo-French success story, originally created by wolf hunters.
During the 17th century, litters descended from dogs belonging to French royalty were bred with English hounds. Yet unlike modern Foxhounds, the chosen English breed was a more solid breed, today extinct, called the English Staghound. The resulting dog was both athletic and strong, which made the Poitevin ideal for hunting wolves. There followed their reign as a noble pack dog, fearlessly seeing off wolves from the Poitou region.
However just as the French revolution spelled the fall of nobility, their hounds almost met the same fate. When numbers dwindled again after both World Wars, breeding programs - this time matching the Poitevin with English Foxhounds - helped restore the breed.The Poitevin, with their fittingly described “wolf feet” was officially recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1963.
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From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Poitevin dogs
1. Coat
Tricolour black, white and orange coat.
2. Head
Elongated head.
3. Tail
Very muscular back, with a medium-length tail.
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Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Poitevin
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Caring for your Poitevin
Grooming, training and exercise tips
To maintain their distinct tricoloured coat, your Poitevin will require very little grooming. A once-weekly brush down will suffice, since their short fur sheds on a moderate level. Their ears should be cleaned and dried, nails clipped regularly, and teeth also brushed often (ideally daily) to offset plaque build-up. Bred for both endurance and speed, when it comes to exercise, your Poitevin can be the ideal pacing partner, particularly if you’re on a fitness regime, or training for an event yourself. Remember, they need up to three hours a day to burn off that energy! If you’re a first-time dog owner, a Poitevin should perhaps not be your top choice of puppy, as you’ll need to train them out of their natural drive to chase, and particularly so if you already have other pets in the home. Early socialisation matters. To help keep their muscular form, take any training rewards out of their daily kibble allowance.7/7
All about Poitevin dogs
Originally bred as a hunting dog, the naturally-independent Poitevin is not traditionally kept as a family pet. Although loyal, you may find they’re too busy and active to be particularly affectionate. And with their strong prey instinct, they may send any smaller pets running. They’re not called the greyhound of French hounds for nothing!
While the breed was recognised by the United Kennel Club in 1996, Poitevin dogs are very rarely found outside their native France. So yes, a hard to find breed!
Read more on this topic
How to adopt a dog
Things to consider before getting a dog
Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/