Quick Facts
- Weight: 35 to 44 pounds
- Height: 16 to 22 inches
The Look of a Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie
Like many of the French hounds, the Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie looks elegant and delicate. Its English heritage gives it a bit more robustness. The head slopes gently to the muzzle, which is moderately long. The nose is prominent, with wide nostrils, and the eyes are large and soft. The legs are long and straight and the tail extends elegantly from the spine.
The coat is short and dense and is often seen in the color combination popular in French hounds — orange and white. They can also be white and black or tricolor.
Traits
- Orange and white markings
- Mournful “bay” (howl)
- Elegant looks and sturdy stance
- Incredible hunting skills
- Lifespan: 13 years
Ideal Human Companion
- High-energy owners
- Residents without noise ordinances
- Country dwellers
- Those willing to keep several dogs
- Folks who like to “work” with their dogs
What They Are Like to Live With
The Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie, a scent hound, is an energetic hunting dog that loves to work. They also love to be in a pack, so ideally you should have several hounds and do fieldwork with them. These dogs can easily live part-time outside (with shelter) and are, in fact, more work dogs than family dogs. That said, they are gentle with children and have a sweet disposition but can sometimes be stubborn which can make training difficult.
Grooming an Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie is very simple because of its short coat. Their drop-down ears do need frequent cleaning to avoid infection, and he should be checked after field work for fleas, ticks, and injuries.
Things You Should Know
The Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie can often get a scent and follow it to its conclusion. Because of these superior hunting qualities, the dog can get so focused on its “prey” that it can disappear from view. Unless these dogs are actually hunting, they should always be on lead or in an enclosed area.
The Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie also has the trademark hound “bay,” which could limit its living situations — your neighbors in a city apartment building don’t want to be woken by a howl at 2 a.m.
There are no known health issues with this breed, but this could be because of its scarcity.
Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie History
The Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie has been around since the 16th century. Its name translates as “Anglo-French of Small Hunting.” The “small” refers to the game, not the dog. It was developed in France by crossing French and English hounds, including the Harrier, to track small game. The UKC recognized the Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie in 1996. It remains a fairly rare breed.
