French White and Black Hound

		French White and Black Hound
		FCI standard Nº 220

Origin		France
Translation		Revised by J. Mulholland (2008) in collaboration with R. Triquet
Group		Group 6 Scenthounds and related breeds
Section		Section 1.1 Large sized Hounds
Working		With working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI		Tuesday 15 December 1959
Publication of the official valid standard		Tuesday 04 November 2008
Last update		Monday 12 January 2009
En français, cette race se dit		Français blanc et noir
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar		Französischer Weiss-schwarzer Laufhund
En español, esta raza se dice		Sabueso Francés Blanco Y Negro
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd		Franse zwart en wit

Usage

Pack Hound for big game.

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
Cranial region
Head		Rather long, in harmony with the whole body without ever being heavy or coarse, but expressive and well carried.
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 and belly		Slightly tucked up.

Tail

Quite thick at its root; carried relatively high.

Limbs

Forequarters
Generality		In line with the body; strong and rather flat.
Shoulders		Long, lean and oblique.
Elbows		Close to the body.
Forearm		Upright.
Pastern		Very slightly sloping, seen from the side.
Forefeet		Rather long, lean and resistant.

Hindquarters
Generality		Parallel, seen from behind.
Upper thigh		Long and sufficiently muscled.
Hock		Well let down, wide, powerful and slightly bent.
Hind feet		Rather long, lean and resistant.

Gait and 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.

Size and weight
Height at withers		Males: 65 to 72 cm. Females: 62 to 68 cm. With tolerance of +/- 1 cm.

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 welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

General 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.

Disqualifying faults

Aggressive or overly shy dogs.

Limbs : Frail.

Severe deviation of limbs.

Feet : Round.

Colour : Tricolour coat.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography

https://www.fci.be/

Details: Written by: Francis Vandersteen; Also available:; Last Updated: 26 January 2024; Hits: 522

French White and Black Hound