Français Blanc et Orange
🧠 Temperament & character
The Français Blanc et Orange is an even-tempered, enduring dog with good cohesion in the pack. On the hunt he follows the trail independently and with great persistence. In dealing with people he is friendly and sociable, but remains a true working dog with a pronounced hunting drive. His calm manner in the house contrasts with his passion in the field.
📜 Origin & history
The Français Blanc et Orange belongs to the group of large French pack hounds and was recognised in 1957 together with his tricolour and white-and-black relatives. He is numerically the rarest of the three varieties and goes back to old French hound lines. Because of his limited distribution he is kept almost exclusively by hunters in France.
✂️ Grooming, care & training
The Français Blanc et Orange's short white-and-orange coat is easy to care for, while the long ears need regular checking. As a pack hound he has a very high need for exercise and requires extended runs as well as plenty of scent work. He feels most at ease in the company of other dogs and wants to be challenged in the hunt. In training, consistency is called for, since he works independently.
🩺 Health
The Français Blanc et Orange is regarded as a robust, healthy breed with a life expectancy of around eleven to thirteen years. Clusters of breed-typical illnesses are hardly known, but the long pendulous ears make the ears prone to inflammation. Because of the very small population, careful, responsible breeding is especially important in order to preserve genetic diversity.
🏡 Who is this breed right for?
The Français Blanc et Orange is a specialised hunting dog and practically suited only to pack hunting. As a family dog or in an apartment he is hardly conceivable because of his need for exercise and his hunting drive. He needs extended exercise, tasks for the nose and the company of other dogs. Outside France, and thus in Switzerland too, he is hardly ever encountered.