Common features of the dog, what breeds formed the basis of the Anglo-French small hound, how the breed developed, its use. The current state of the breed and interesting facts.
Common features of the Anglo-French Lesser Hound
Anglo-French small hounds or Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie are sports animals with well-defined muscles and strong bones. Their ribcage is deep and narrow, with well-compressed ribs. The back is straight and strong. Compared to the body, the head is relatively small. Drop ears are medium in size for a complete look. The nose can be either black or colored (corresponding to the color of the "coat"). The eyes are preferably only dark.
The forelegs are exceptionally straight. The hindquarters are strong and well shaped to withstand violent thrusts. The tail is carried merrily by the Anglo-French hounds. It is slightly curved in a slight curve. The movements of these dogs are energetic and perfectly balanced. Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie, weigh between 15 and 20 kilograms. Their height at the withers ranges from 41 to 46 centimeters. The dogs are bigger than the Beagle, but smaller than the Harrier.
Anglo-French small hounds are energetic and active dogs. Due to their hunting nature, these dogs are better suited for keeping in rural areas and farms than for urban apartments. Although the pet will feel good if it is provided with a large yard and active physical activity. As pack animals, they usually communicate well with their other brethren. But, the owners need to keep an eye on them, since the dogs are far from indifferent to cats and other small representatives of the fauna.
Anglo-French small hounds behave very affectionately with young children and adolescents. Dogs like to play with them for a long time. But, of course, it is not wise to leave a very young child unattended with such a dog alone. These pets are extremely smart and smart. Anglo-French small hounds are responsive to training, although sometimes there are other manifestations of their character during training. Their owners have a responsibility to ensure that they become strong leaders and that they know how to properly handle such a dog.
What influenced the beginning of the selection of the Anglo-French Small Hound?
The exact origins of the Anglo-French Small Hounds, or Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie, are mostly uncertain, as this variety was created in an era before any breeding books for dog breeding began to be kept or recorded. It is clear that this canine species was developed in France several hundred years ago and that it originates from the crossing of English and French hounds. Most sources seem to believe that hounds were most likely bred in the 16th century, although it is unclear what this claim is based on. Notwithstanding the above, it is still possible to trace the pedigree of these canines.
From the beginning of the history of Rome until the last century, hunting with flocks of dogs affectionate to humans was one of the most cherished entertainments of the European nobility. Despite the fact that this activity was in great demand throughout Europe, but in the UK and, especially in France, this sport was extremely popular and occupied an important place in human life. In these countries, hunting was considered a noble business and became very ritual and regulated by law. Amusement was so prized that vast tracts of land that would otherwise have been developed for economic production were allotted and reserved for hunting. Poachers hunting in these areas were subject to huge fines and severe corporal punishment.
For many centuries, for everyone who did not belong to noble blood, that is, commoners, the law strictly prohibited the possession of hunting dogs. After all, hunting has become more than just a pastime or a sport, it has acquired critical social and cultural significance. Many personal, dynastic and political relationships were born and strengthened during the hunt. During the event, state, important laws of cooperation between friendly states were often adopted. Decisions sometimes arose and were discussed in pursuit of the beast and at subsequent celebrations, during lavish feasts. They have influenced the lives of millions of people.
Since hunting was extremely important, the ownership of quality hunting dogs became equally prestigious. Most of the nobility and lords kept their own kennels, which housed from a dozen to several hundred dogs, based on the financial situation of a particular owner. Four-legged hunters were bred with special care than other dogs, and ultimately became the first purebred purebred dogs in Europe, although until recently this term had a slightly less strong meaning and significance.
What breeds formed the basis of the Anglo-French Small Hound?
Various types of dogs have been bred in numerous regions throughout France to suit the varied hunting conditions of the French nobility as well as their localized tastes. Some of the oldest dog species were the Great Blue de Gascony and the now extinct Chien Gris, both of which may have been present in France even before the Roman occupation.
The most influential French dog breed was the Hubert Hound, known in English as the Bloodhound. Saint Hubert's Dog, or Bloodhound, was the result of the earliest known and deliberate canine breeding program, conducted sometime between the seven hundred and fifty and nine hundred AD.
The breed was bred by monks, in the monastery of Saint Hubert near Mouzon, the Champagne-Ardenne region. It has become a tradition for the monks to send each year, as a tribute, to the king of France, several pairs of their hounds. These animals were then distributed among the nobility as gifts. Saint Hubert's dog would later exert a strong influence on almost all subsequent French canine breeds.
The Saint Hubert hound will also have a profound influence on English dog breeding. In 1066, William the Conqueror, a vassal of the King of France, invaded Britain. Wilhelm brought many hunting dogs with him to his new kingdom, where they were crossed by local British breeds.
There has long been a serious debate among canine experts regarding the extent to which French hounds have influenced British hunting dogs. Some argue that subsequent British lineages descended almost entirely from these dogs, while others insist that it was only the Bloodhound and that British hunting breeds were bred long before its existence. However, several excellent British cops were bred, including Talbot, Southern Hound, North Country Beagle, Harrier and several different Beagle species. Initially, the British nobility, like their continental counterparts, preferred to hunt deer, wild boars and wolves in forests and hunting grounds. However, the growth of the population and the development of society meant that these species of animals became very rare, as in the case of the disappearance of the wolf. The British upper classes turned their attention to fox hunting, which had previously been almost exclusively a farmer's domain.
The new breed of canine English Foxhounds was developed specifically for hunting foxes. The exact pedigree of this species has long been very controversial, but it is widely believed that it mainly stemmed from southern dogs, with a strong influence of breeds from the northern part of the country: beagle, harrier, bloodhound, greyhound, as well as Scottish deerhound, lurcher, fox terrier, an old-fashioned English Bulldog and possibly a Talbot. Foxhound development began in the 1600s but continued until the 1700s.
Reasons and history of the development of the breed Anglo-French small hound
Separated by a narrow English Channel (less than 22 miles at some points), France and England have a long history of close political, cultural and economic contacts, especially Northern France and Southern England. Over time, there has been a major exchange of dog breeds between the two states. This is most evident in the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie, which was bred from a cross between English and French canines.
The name of the breed can be freely translated as "Anglo-French Small Hound". The word "petite" in her name has confused many English speakers who think it is about the size of the dog when in fact it is about its purpose at work. Although it is clearly a medium-sized breed, it was used primarily for hunting hares, foxes and similar creatures.
It is not clear when exactly the variety was developed and what kind of breeds were used to create it. It is widely believed that the English species of canines used for its breeding were: English Foxhound or Harrier, and from French breeds, various medium-sized canines were used, such as: petite bleu de gascogne, petit gascon-saintongeois, poitevin and possibly now extinct artesian and Norman hounds.
Old varieties of Franco-English hounds could well be used for her selection. This breed probably developed slowly, over several centuries, when new breeds were regularly added to it. For example, the English Foxhounds were at a very early stage of development when the Anglo-French Small Hound was developed and the Harriers were a significantly different species. Some of the French breeds, such as the Petit Gascon-Saintongeois, did not even exist when this dog was already developing.
Application of the Anglo-French Small Hound
The result of crossing French and English hounds is a dog with the traditional color pattern and body of an English dog, but with a head, muzzle and level of sophistication, more like French canines. Representatives of the breed were used in hunting small animals, which was carried out in a traditional manner in France. Anglo-French small hounds were used to track their prey while hunters followed on horseback or on foot. The dogs were hunted in large packs, either in pairs or singly, depending on the specific situation. Anglo-French small hounds will find a trail, and then begin to run along it at such a pace that the hunters can have time to follow them.
In England, burrowing began to emerge, which is associated with search and tracking. French hunters then had few burrowing dogs, and in any case, they preferred that their dogs surrounded the prey and drove it out into the open to the pursuers. Anglo-French small hounds became highly skilled workers in the performance of their assigned tasks.
Such "virtuosos" were in demand by hunters. The species' relatively small size and its ability to work alone when needed meant that the animal was more accessible than many other French hounds. This is probably why the representatives of the breed managed to survive the French Revolution and both world wars much better than many similar dogs.
Popularization of the Anglo-French Small Hound in other countries
During the twentieth century, the Anglo-French small hounds held the status of a relatively popular hunting dog in the French state. However, until recently, the species remained virtually unknown outside the borders of its home country.
Over the past few decades in Spain, and especially in Italy, several packs of Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie have been found, where they proved to be perfectly adapted to work in local climatic and terrain conditions and to national hunting.
In addition, a very small number of individual dogs went to England and the United States of America. Most of the breed members living in the English-speaking world have been imported as rare pets by sale, but a few dogs have been brought to America to fulfill their true destiny as four-legged hunting assistants.
Entry of the Anglo-French small hound on the world stage and its renaming in America
The breed was recognized in 1983, in its country of origin, by the French Kennel Club (Soci? T? Centrale Canine). And since January 1, 1996, internationally by the United Kennel Club (UKC), which has given full recognition to Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie as a member of the Scenthound group. American (and to a lesser extent British) lovers of the breed were very confused about its name.
Admirers of the species believed that the French word petite, translated into Russian "small", has the meaning of the physical characteristics of the animal. That is, it denotes a dog of small size, and not belonging to a particular type of hunting for small animals. For this reason, many pet traders in America have changed the breed's name to Anglo-Francais de Moyen Venerie, where moyen can be translated into Russian as “average”.
The name Anglo-Francais de Moyen V? Nerie is sometimes found in North America, although no breed under this name is listed in any French Kennel Club or Fédération Cynologique Internationale. This breed is registered under this name in various small kennel clubs in the United States of America.
The state of the breed of the Anglo-French small hound in the modern world
This canine species is currently not registered with the American Kennel Club and is unlikely to change anytime soon. Unlike many of the current varieties, the Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie remains almost exclusively a working dog, and the vast majority of its breed members are active working or hunting dogs that have retired due to old age. An increasing number of people are adopting and keeping Anglo-French Small Hounds primarily as companion dogs, with apparently some success. Since these pets are active hunting dogs that are housed in packs in rural areas, they may not be suitable for urban or family life.
Interesting facts about the Anglo-French small hounds
The Anglo-French Small Hounds are registered in numerous small registries and online dog registers and are also advertised as a rare breed for those looking for a unique pet. But, the territory of Italy, representatives of the breed are used for hunting wild boar in the mountains of Liguria, and they have demonstrated excellent results.
