Page 168 - (DK) The Dog Encyclopedia

CATALOG OF BREEDS | SCENT HOUNDS

Poitevin

HEIGHT 24–28in (62–72cm) White and orange
WEIGHT 132–146lb (60–66kg)
LIFE SPAN 11–12 years Wolf-colored hair also often occurs.
Long, narrow head
This big, courageous hound is adept at
fast and furious pack-hunting over rough
ground, and once hunted the wolves that Large, brown eyes Saddle of black
used to roam the province of Poitou hair over
arched back
below the Vendée and Brittany in
western France. The longest-serving
of the French pack hounds, today
this powerfully muscled breed
Muzzle narrows
shows great prowess and toward nose Thin, cone-
shaped ears
stamina in pursuing wild
boar and deer. It can hunt
Well muscled
all day and can even body with deep,
narrow chest
follow its quarry Tricolor
Sleek,
through water. shiny coat

Rounded feet

Slightly arched forehead
Billy Clearly defined stop

HEIGHT 23–28in (58–70cm)
WEIGHT 55–73lb (25–33kg)
LIFE SPAN 12–13 years

Strong, slightly
A sleek, attractive breed built for speed, arched back
the Billy has remained relatively obscure Long, strong tail
even in its native France. Its forebears are
the now extinct Montemboeuf, Ceris,
and Larye breeds. Its quirky name comes
from Château de Billy in Poitou where
Gaston Hublot du Rivault bred this
instinctive hunter of roe deer and wild
boar in the late 1800s. Numbers fell
Short, harsh
dramatically during World War II, but White with coat
light orange
the breed was revived by Hublot du patches
Rivault’s son, Anthony. Starting with Mottling resembles
just two dogs as his foundation stock, it café au lait
took until the 1970s for him to establish
sufficient numbers to form several packs.
The breed remains rare outside France.

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