Sporting breed Large size 25-30 kg
Ariegeois Short Haired Pointer
An energetic French pointer bred to range and find game, gentle at home but needing serious daily exercise and a purpose.
Match with your household
See match detail → Quick overview
Large
Size
25-30 kg · 56-67 cm
Very high
Exercise needs
Tireless; needs a job and hard daily exercise
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Copes with a normal workday if eased in
Trainable
Training
Eager and responsive to training
Wash-and-go
Coat care
Wash-and-go coat
Good
Fit with kids
Good, patient family dog
Good
Other pets
Generally sociable with other animals
Light
Health burden
Dental Disease, Hip Dysplasia
The Ariegeois Short Haired Pointer typically weighs 25-30 kg, stands 56-67 cm, and lives 11-14 years.
Consider this breed if…
you hunt, hike or run long distances and want a dog that keeps up all day,
you have rural space or reliable access to large open areas,
you want a low-maintenance coat and a generally sturdy dog,
you enjoy training a responsive, biddable gundog.
Do not consider this breed if…
you live in an apartment or a home without serious daily exercise options,
the dog would mostly get leash walks around the block,
you cannot manage a strong ranging and prey instinct off leash,
you need a breed you can actually find in the US - this one is barely exported from France.
A typical day with a Ariegeois Short Haired Pointer
- 6:30 · Morning60+ min of running or field work
- 9:00 · MidmorningRests calmly if properly exercised
- 12:30 · NoonShort walk, sniffing break
- 16:00 · AfternoonRetrieve games or scent training
- 18:30 · EveningLong walk or free running in a safe area
- 21:00 · NightSettles quietly with the family
Family and environment
Kids Good
Gentle and patient; big and bouncy around toddlers.
Dogs Good
Sociable; bred to work alongside other dogs.
Cats Conditional
Strong prey drive; raised-together cats usually fine.
Apartment Poor fit
Too much engine for flat living.
House with a yard Suitable
With secure fencing and real exercise on top.
City Conditional
Only with daily access to open running space.
Countryside Ideal
The terrain it was bred for.
Health data provided by RealVetCost Overall health burden Light
Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.
View the full health profileTop health concerns
Dental Disease Routine dental care and cleanings needed
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; watch for early lameness
Chronic Ear Infections Keep the ears dry and check them often
Progressive Retinal Atrophy Genetic test available; leads to vision loss
Similar breeds - by reason
Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.
Same job, far easier to find in the US
Pointer
A tireless field pointer that thrives on daily running and birdwork - poorly suited to a quiet apartment or a sedentary owner.
View profile →
Smaller French gundog, similar energy
Brittany Spaniel
A bright, tireless bird dog and affectionate family companion for active homes - its high energy quickly overwhelms sedentary owners.
View profile →
Another rare French braque
Braque Dupuy
A rare, lean French pointer with greyhound-like speed - affectionate and trainable, but it needs serious daily running and close human company.
View profile →Frequently asked questions
How much does an Ariegeois Short Haired Pointer cost?
There is no realistic US market for this breed - it is a rare regional French pointer (Braque de l'Ariege) with very few breeders even in France. Expect to work with a French breeder, join a waitlist and pay import costs; the dog plus transport can easily reach $2,500-$4,500 total. Ongoing costs match other large sporting dogs: roughly $1,500-$2,500 a year, often $20,000+ over a lifetime.
Is the Ariegeois pointer good for a first-time owner?
Only if that first-time owner is genuinely athletic and outdoorsy. The dog itself is biddable and gentle, which helps, but its exercise requirement is on the level of a working gundog: an hour of leash walking a day is nowhere near enough. Most behavior problems in pointers trace straight back to under-exercise.
Can this breed live with cats?
Sometimes. It is a bird-hunting pointer with real prey drive, so a cat it grew up with is usually respected while strange cats and small animals outdoors may be chased. Careful introductions and management are needed; households with free-roaming small pets should look elsewhere.
How much exercise does it actually need?
Plan for 1.5-2 hours of genuine activity daily, with at least some of it off leash or on a long line in safe terrain. This breed was developed to range widely over rough Pyrenean foothills, and a fit adult can outlast most owners. Scent games and retrieving help, but nothing fully replaces running.