French White and Black Hound

FCI-Standard N° 220/ 12.01.2009 / GB

FRENCH WHITE AND BLACK HOUND

(Chien français blanc et noir)

TRANSLATION : Revised by J. Mulholland (2008) in collaboration with R. Triquet.

ORIGIN : France

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 04.11.2008.

UTILIZATION : Pack Hound for big game.

FCI CLASSIFICATION : Group 6 Scenthounds and related breeds.  Section 1.1 Large sized Hounds. With working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The French White and Black Hound evolved from the Saintonge Hound whose origins are uncertain; while it has no connection with the Saint Hubert, there is probably a distant ancestry with the famous white “Greffier” dogs of the XVIth century. Appearing in the second half of the XIXth century, the present type was influenced by later cross-breeding with the Poitevin and the Gascon-saintongeois. It obtained its standard in 1957. At present, the breed counts approximately 2000 subjects, representing 300/400 births per year.

The 2007 text was drafted by Mr. Pierre Astié, President of the “Club du chien d’ordre”, and his committee, in collaboration with Mr. Raymond Triquet.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Large pack hound, distinguished and of balanced build.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : The muzzle is long compared to the skull. The length of the body, from the point of the shoulder to the point of buttock, is equal to the height at the withers.

BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT : These dogs are very appreciated by many deer hunts for the following qualities: fine noses, diligence, seriousness and throat. It is a friendly dog, close to humans and easy to manage in the kennels.

HEAD : Rather long, in harmony with the whole body without ever being heavy or coarse, but expressive and well carried.

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Slightly domed, rather narrow without exaggeration.  Occipital protuberance apparent without excess, but sufficient to avoid the skull appearing too flat. The superciliary arches can be slightly prominent.

Stop : Slightly pronounced.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Black. Nostrils well open.

Muzzle : Rather long compared to the skull; the nose bridge may be slightly arched.

Lips : The flews are slightly square; the upper lip just overlaps the lower lip.

Eyes : Dark, intelligent and trusting expression.

Ears : Set at eye level, slightly curled. When pulled forward, they should reach, at least, the base of the nose leather.

NECK : Quite long and strong, with sometimes a slight trace of dewlap.

BODY :

Back : Rather long but well sustained.

Loin : Muscled and attached.

Croup : Slightly sloping.

Chest : More deep than broad and reaching the point of the elbow. Ribs long and more flat than round.

Underline & Belly : Slightly tucked up.

TAIL : Quite thick at its root; carried relatively high.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS : In line with the body; strong and rather flat.

Shoulders : Long, lean and oblique.

Elbows : Close to the body.

Forearms : Upright.

Metacarpus(pastern) : Very slightly sloping, seen from the side.

Feet : Rather long, lean and resistant.

HINDQUARTERS : Parallel, seen from behind.

Upper thighs : Long and sufficiently muscled.

Hocks : Well let down, wide, powerful and slightly bent.

Feet : Rather long, lean and resistant.

GAIT/MOVEMENT : Effortless. Preferred gait: supple and extended gallop.

SKIN : White under white hair, black under black hair with sometimes sub-cutaneous patches on the belly and inner thighs of blue or pale blue colour.

COAT

HAIR : Short, quite strong and dense.

COLOUR : Obligatory white and black, with a black mantle or with more or less widely spread black markings and possible black or bluish speckling, or even tan freckles but the latter only permitted on the limbs. A pale tan dot above each eye as well as a pale tan on the cheeks, below the eyes, below the ears and at the base of the tail. The “roebuck mark” is quite frequent on the thigh.

HEIGHT : Males:  65 to 72 cm.  Females: 62 to 68 cm. With tolerance of +/- 1cm.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and well-being of the dog.

SEVERE FAULTS :

Head : Any indication of English Foxhound blood in the head (skull too voluminous, muzzle short and not sufficiently square at the end when seen from the side).

Nose: Important lack of pigmentation.

Jaws : Overshot or undershot.

Eyes : Too light in colour.

Ears : Short and flat.

Dewlap : Excessive.

Colour : On the cheeks, black extending to the lips.

ELIMINATING FAULTS :

Agressive or overly shy.

Limbs : Frail.

Severe deviation of limbs.

Feet : Round.

Colour : Tricolour coat.

Any dogs clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B.: Males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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