Anglo-Français and Français (hound)
Encyclopedia
Anglo-Français and Français hound
s are a general type
of hunting
dog
s that include ancient French hounds and breeds created by mixing the French dogs with English (Anglo) foxhound
s. There are seven dog
breeds
that are described as Anglo-Français and Français hounds.
These names replaced older names in 1957, when it was decided to append "Anglo-Français" to the names of all the hound breeds that had been crossed with foxhounds. "Grand" (French for "large") does not mean that the dogs are especially large, but rather that they were hunted in large packs. Hunting with the hounds was originally done in two styles, Chasse-à-Courre, in which the pack chases and kills the game animal, and Chasse-à-Tir, where the pack (or sometimes an individual dog) circles the game animal and chases it back towards the waiting hunter.
Individual hunting hounds are not well suited to be pets, as they need a great deal of space, exercise, and experienced handling. Most breeds are usually kept in packs or 20 to 100 dogs. The French and Anglo-French hounds are bred as hunting dogs, not as pets or for show, and are registered through the Société Centrale Canine (French Kennel Club) and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Some dogs of these breeds have been exported to North America and are recognised by the United Kennel Club
, which has specialized in hunting hounds for many years. Other dogs of these breeds, especially the Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie, are being bred in North America for the rare breed
pet market, and are registered through various minor registries and internet dog registry businesses. An additional breed name, apparently invented in North America, the Anglo-Francais de Moyen Vénerie, is sometimes seen advertised.
Hound
A hound is a type of dog that assists hunters by tracking or chasing the animal being hunted. It can be contrasted with the gun dog, which assists hunters by identifying the location of prey, and with the retriever, which recovers shot quarry...
s are a general type
Dog type
Dog types are broad categories of dogs based on function, with dogs identified primarily by specific function or style of work rather than by lineage or appearance....
of hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s that include ancient French hounds and breeds created by mixing the French dogs with English (Anglo) foxhound
Foxhound
A foxhound is a type of large hunting hound. Foxhounds hunt in packs and, like all scent hounds, have a strong sense of smell. They are used in hunts for foxes, hence the name. When out hunting they are followed usually on horseback and will travel several miles to catch their target. These dogs...
s. There are seven dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
breeds
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
that are described as Anglo-Français and Français hounds.
Breeds
- Français tricolore, the classic hound that follows a hunter on horseback. Similar to the PoitevinPoitevinPoitevin may refer to:* From or related to Poitou or to the town of Poitiers * Poitevin , the language spoken in the Poitou* Poitevin horse, a breed of draught horse from Poitou, France* Poitevin , a breed of dog...
.
- Français blanc et noirFrancais Blanc et NoirThe Chien français blanc et noir translated into English as the French White and Black Hound, is a breed of dog of the scenthound type, originating in France...
, the original evolved over centuries and was influenced in the 19th century by crosses with Poitevin and the Gascon-saintongeois.
- Français blanc et orange
- Grand anglo-français blanc et noirGrand Anglo-Français Blanc et NoirThe Grand anglo-français blanc et noir translated into English as the Great Anglo-Francais White and Black Hound, is a breed of dog used in hunting as a scenthound, usually in packs...
, originally from the 19th century Bâtard anglo-saintongeois type, a cross of the Saintongeois and the Foxhound.
- Grand anglo-français tricoloreGrand Anglo-Francais TricoloreThe Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore is a breed of dog used in hunting as a scenthound, usually in packs. It is one of the Anglo-French hound breeds which were created by crossing French scenthounds with English foxhounds.- Appearance :...
, the French hound breed most influenced by the foxhound.
- Grand anglo-français blanc et orangeGrand Anglo-Français Blanc et OrangeThe Grand anglo-français blanc et orange translated into English as the Great Anglo-Francais White and Orange Hound, is a breed of dog used in hunting as a scenthound, usually in packs...
, originally from crosses between the BillyBilly- People :* A given name and a common nickname for William* Jacques de Billy, French mathematician* Jacques de Billy , French patristic scholar, theologian, jurist, linguist, and Benedictine abbot...
and the foxhound, showing a great deal of the English foxhound type.
- Anglo-français de petite vénerieAnglo-Français de Petite VénerieThe Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie is a medium-sized breed of dog used in hunting as a scenthound, usually in packs. It is one of the Anglo-French hound breeds which were created by crossing French scenthounds with English foxhounds...
, created by crossing the Harrier with the Poitevin, the PorcelainePorcelaineThe Porcelaine is a breed of dog originating from France. It is believed to be the oldest of the French scent hounds. Its alternate name is the Chien de Franche-Comté, named after a French region bordering Switzerland...
, the Petit gascon-saintongeois and the Petit bleu de gascognePetit Bleu de GascogneThe Petit Bleu de Gascogne Is a breed of dog of the scenthound type, originating in France and used for hunting in packs. Today's breed is the descendant of a very old type of large hunting dog...
. De petite vénerie refers to dogs used on smaller game, such as rabbits, not to the size of the dog.
These names replaced older names in 1957, when it was decided to append "Anglo-Français" to the names of all the hound breeds that had been crossed with foxhounds. "Grand" (French for "large") does not mean that the dogs are especially large, but rather that they were hunted in large packs. Hunting with the hounds was originally done in two styles, Chasse-à-Courre, in which the pack chases and kills the game animal, and Chasse-à-Tir, where the pack (or sometimes an individual dog) circles the game animal and chases it back towards the waiting hunter.
Individual hunting hounds are not well suited to be pets, as they need a great deal of space, exercise, and experienced handling. Most breeds are usually kept in packs or 20 to 100 dogs. The French and Anglo-French hounds are bred as hunting dogs, not as pets or for show, and are registered through the Société Centrale Canine (French Kennel Club) and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Some dogs of these breeds have been exported to North America and are recognised by the United Kennel Club
United Kennel Club
The United Kennel Club is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. According to the website, the club records 250,000 registrations annually. The UKC is not part of the International Canine Organisation, Fédération...
, which has specialized in hunting hounds for many years. Other dogs of these breeds, especially the Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie, are being bred in North America for the rare breed
Rare breed (dog)
Rare breed is any breed of dog that is small in number. Since dogs have greater genetic variability than other domesticated animals the number of possible breeds is vast...
pet market, and are registered through various minor registries and internet dog registry businesses. An additional breed name, apparently invented in North America, the Anglo-Francais de Moyen Vénerie, is sometimes seen advertised.
External links
- Pack of Hounds before the hunt
- Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris
- Musée de la Vénerie in Senlis
- Pack of French hounds in a hunting magazine