Hound Medium size 20-30 kg

Artois Hound

A robust French pack hound with strong hunting drive and stamina, sociable but best suited to active, outdoor-focused homes.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Medium
Size
20-30 kg · 52-60 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
Moderate
Training
Capable but needs motivation
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
Moderate
Health burden
Dental Disease, Hip Dysplasia

The Artois Hound typically weighs 20-30 kg, stands 52-60 cm, and lives 11-13 years.

Consider this breed if…

you live actively and largely outdoors - hiking, running, fieldwork,
you want a sociable, even-tempered dog rather than a sharp one,
you have a securely fenced rural or suburban property,
you find hound independence charming rather than frustrating.

Do not consider this breed if…

you want a dog that reliably comes back off leash - scent wins,
you live in an apartment or a dense neighborhood that won't tolerate baying,
your exercise plan is a daily 30-minute walk,
you need a breed available in the US - this is an import project.

A typical day with a Artois Hound

  1. 6:30 · Morning
    60 min brisk walk or run, mostly on leash
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Rests if the morning was real exercise
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Garden patrol, short sniff walk
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Tracking game or long-line field time
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Second long outing
  6. 21:30 · Night
    Tired hound, quiet house

Temperament and training

Hunting drive Very high
Stamina Very high
Sociability High
Independence High
Vocality High
Guarding tendency Low
Common owner mistakes
Trusting recall around game and losing the dog for hours · Buying a pack hound as an only, mostly-alone pet · Meeting its stamina with a yard instead of real mileage

Family and environment

Kids Good
Gentle and tolerant; boisterous when young.
Dogs Very good
A pack hound through and through.
Cats Conditional
Prey drive is real; early socialization required.
Apartment Poor fit
Energy and voice both work against it.
House with a yard Suitable
High, secure fencing; hounds follow their noses.
City Conditional
Possible for a dedicated runner-owner, not ideal.
Countryside Ideal
Space, scents and work - its element.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Moderate

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 profile
Top health concerns
Dental Disease Routine dental care and cleanings needed
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; watch for early lameness
Bloat (GDV) Feed smaller meals and know the emergency signs
Chronic Ear Infections Keep the ears dry and check them often

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Similar mid-size pack hound, easier to find
Harrier
A sturdy, sociable pack hound like a bigger Beagle - cheerful and good with company, but energetic with a nose that pulls it away.
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French pack hound of comparable build
Beagle Harrier
A friendly French pack hound between a Beagle and a Harrier, great with families but a determined nose that ignores the recall.
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Bigger but the same pack-hound lifestyle
English Foxhound
A sociable pack hound built for stamina and following a scent, best for a rural home with room to run, not an apartment.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Artois Hound cost?
This is a rare French pack hound with essentially no US breeder base, so plan on importing: puppy, health paperwork and flights typically total $2,500-$4,500. Annual costs run like any active medium-large dog, roughly $1,500-$2,500, and a 11-13 year lifespan puts realistic lifetime spending at $20,000 or more.
Is the Artois Hound good as a family pet?
Temperamentally yes - it is sociable, gentle with kids and rarely sharp. Practically, it only works for families whose lifestyle absorbs a high-stamina scenthound: long daily outings, secure fencing and tolerance for hound voice. As a lightly exercised suburban pet it becomes loud and destructive.
Can it live with another dog?
It should, ideally. This breed spent centuries living and working in packs and tends to be genuinely happier with canine company, especially in homes where people are out part of the day. It is one of the easier breeds to add to a multi-dog household.
How bad is the recall really?
Assume that a hot scent overrides you. Many owners get decent everyday recall with consistent training and high-value rewards, but the safe operating rule for any working scenthound is: off leash only in fenced areas, long line everywhere else. Plan your walks around that and the breed is easy to live with.