Poitevin

Also known as: Poitevin hound

Originating in France's Poitou region, this hound nearly went extinct in the late 19th century after a rabies outbreak wiped out most of the population, and was rebuilt from a small number of surviving dogs. A male can weigh up to 30 kilograms, and the short coat needs minimal upkeep. It was bred to hunt wolves and other large game over long distances in packs, giving it unusually strong stamina and speed rarely matched among other French scenthounds. Today it's one of the rarest recognized hound breeds worldwide, almost never seen outside France. It's rarely kept as a companion, remaining almost purely a working pack hound. Life expectancy runs 12 to 14 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Poitevin: how old in human years?

60–72 cmHeight
25–30 kgWeight
12–14 yrsLife expectancy

Serbian Hound

FCI group: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
FCI section: Section 1.1: Scenthounds, Large sized
FCI: 24
Country of origin: France

Energy level

5/5
Trainability

2/5
Family friendly

3/5
Grooming need

1/5

At a glance

Height

Males 62–72 cm

Females 60–70 cm

Weight

Males 25–30 kg

Females 25–30 kg

Life expectancy

12–14 yrs

Coat

short (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Poitevin's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 3/5
Good with children 3/5
Good with other dogs 4/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 3/5
Trainability 2/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Poitevin's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 5/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 5/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Poitevin's guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 1/5
Watchfulness 2/5
Barking level 4/5

Grooming & Care

Poitevin's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 2/5
Grooming need 1/5

Living with the Poitevin

At the edge of the woods in the morning he lifts his head, takes in the air, and a second later all you have left is his voice, travelling further and further away. The Poitevin is a big French scenthound from the Poitou region, bred to follow game in a pack for hours on end, and that job matters more to him than anything else. He is lean, long-legged and fast, with so much stamina that half an hour round the block won't even warm him up.

Training him takes patience and a sense of humour. He isn't slow; his nose simply outranks your commands, and once he has a scent he stops hearing you. His prey drive and hunting instinct are very strong, so off-lead running belongs in fenced areas only, and sharing a home with cats and small pets is hard for him. Expect plenty of baying and barking, especially when he's bored, which neighbours in a block of flats will not appreciate.

Having grown up in a pack, he gets on beautifully with other dogs, and he shouldn't be left alone for long. With his family he is calm and good-natured and can live with children, while strangers get a reserved, rather uninterested welcome. He is no guard. A Poitevin does best with a hunter, or with a family in the countryside that has a fenced garden and can give him a few hours of moving through fields every day.

Grooming and coat

The Poitevin's coat is short, close-lying and glossy, as if designed so that a long day in the woods leaves nothing stuck to it. Go over it once a week with a rubber brush or a grooming mitt and you're done: it sheds little and needs no clipping or stripping. Mud after a walk mostly comes off with a damp towel, and once dry the rest simply falls away.

The things the coat doesn't hide deserve more attention. Long hanging ears can bring home seeds or ticks after a walk through the undergrowth, so check them every week; redness, discharge or a bad smell is a reason to see a vet. After every outing run a hand over the legs, belly and paw pads for scratches or lodged thorns, and trim the nails if they don't wear down by themselves.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (30 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 355 g of dry food a day, from €19,42 a month For a neutered, normally active 27,5 kg dog. Calculate for your dog