If you are an active person and enjoy outdoor activities, the Ariegeois dog could just become your new best friend. Coming from the region named Areige in France, this dog is known to be a very good hunter, especially in difficult terrain. While he may appear nice to humans, other dogs will find him rather scary, mainly because he has a very powerful and intimidating voice.
Character
Even if dogs are known to be a mans best friend, an adult Ariegeois will find it difficult to adapt to a family. This is why it is best to adopt him while he is still a puppy and interact with him as much as possible. This is how he becomes extremely attached to his owners.
This lovely companion is a loyal dog, but also a great scent hound - one of the qualities that made him an excellent hunting partner. He is great at carrying out commands, because of his docile character and the constant will to please his master. With proper training, this dog can learn discipline, but still be lots of fun and playful when he is around your children.
However, the Ariegeois is not suitable for life inside an apartment. He might become aggressive if he is not wasting his energy outdoors, so you may want to reconsider getting such a dog if you are not able to provide him with a yard for exercise and fun activities.
Appearance
While he is not as heavy as other dogs, the Ariegeois will still reach 55 to 60 pounds in weight and about 22 to 24 inches in height (figure applicable to both males and females). The smooth and fine fur is a delight to the touch, making this dog a lot more lovable and huggable. The predominant colors of its fur are white with some black patches spread along its body (take note that there are some dogs which come with white fur and no other markings). If you have never seen such a dog before, you could mistake him for a large Beagle.
The chestnut brown eyes of this dog will inspire loyalty and trust and the majestic figure given by its wide, oval chest paints the image of a noble dog in our minds. Thanks to its thighs, which are very muscular, this dog runs really fast and comes with great propelling power, thus making him agile while hunting.
Health & Hygiene
Because its hair is quite short, it is really easy to groom the coat of this wonderful dog. It is sufficient to groom it once in a couple of weeks. You need to be careful with its big ears, as they can easily develop infections, because pendulous ears are great hosts for bacteria. If you plan to take this dog out hunting, remember to always check its eyes and ears when returning, just to make sure there are no irritations.
Overall, the Ariegeois is a perfect breed for active people, but also for big families, as this dog is great around kids.
