Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie

The Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie is the small French-English hound — the name refers to the size of the quarry, not of the dog.

History

Petite vénerie means hunting small game, and this hound was bred for hare, rabbit and pheasant rather than deer or boar. It comes from French hounds crossed with English Harriers and Foxhounds in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and was recognised as a breed in 1978. It is worked in small packs on foot.

Temperament

The breed is known for being cheerful, sociable and biddable by hound standards, good with people and other dogs and enthusiastic in the field.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and secure ground; recall competes with the nose. The short coat is easy and the drop ears want checking.

Health

Generally robust, with ear infections the usual complaint. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.