History
Poitevin originated in west-central part in France. Marquis de Layrre of Poitou in 1692 combined two similar French scent hounds namely Montemboeuf and Chien Ceris to create the Poitevin breed. It can be described as a large scenthound and used for hunting purposes during the 17th century. This breed hunts by its scent rather than its sight. It was originally bred to kill the wolves but later it started to hunt fox, boar, and deer. Due to French Revolution in the 18th century, an epidemic caused due to rabies in the middle of the 19th century and the ravages of World War-2 in the middle of the twentieth century led to the wiping out of this breed. Currently, it is an endangered species and is on the verge of extinction.
Varieties
The varieties are the Montemboeuf, the Chien Ceris breed, Irish Scenthounds and the GreyHounds.
Temperament & Personality
Poitevin likes to mingle with their owners and is always suspicious of outsiders. Leaving them alone for longer duration can cause separation anxiety. They love to stay with their family members or in a kennel with other dogs. This breed possesses a natural guard dog instinct personality. However, they should be held away from small non-canine animals as they have a strong prey drive.
Care
As this type of breed is a hunter, the owner must remove the thorns, clean the dirt from the breed’s coat and toes daily after hunting. As they prefer to stay in the open place, a proper shelter is mandatory during the winter time.
Exercise
They are high energy breed who love to hunt throughout their lifetime. It can travel up to 56 km in a single day for hunting, so they require long walks or tiresome excursions at the dog park for a minimum of 1 hour every day.
Grooming
Unless it gets very filthy, bathing is not a necessity. It has a short coat and they shed less which helps it easy to groom this type of breed. Brushing them twice a week is crucial to remove the dead hair from their body.
Health Problems
Poitevin is a tireless hunter, so they are always healthy. But sometimes they have ear infections, so cleaning of ears at regular intervals is necessary.
Training
As they are very energetic all throughout the day, one should teach them to remain silent and calm. They suffer from separation anxiety hence, leaving them alone for 15 minutes then gradually increasing it helps to adjust when they are alone. Interactive games and puzzles are the best way to keep them busy rather than roaming and barking around or chasing birds and small animals.
Feeding
Poitevin regularly needs three to four cups of high-quality kibbles. Divide the quantity into two main meals for better digestion.
.png)
