Ariegeois Complete Breed Guide

The Ariegeois has a keen nose and a love for the chase. As a hardworking breed that was developed in the French countryside, these dogs enjoying running around, tracking interesting smells, and coming back at the end of the day to spend time with their favorite humans.

The Ariegeois is a French hunting dog with a big heart and a keen nose. These scenthounds can pick up scents from a mile away, and once they hit the trail, they won’t stop until they find the source. When they're not on the hunt, Ariegeois love being active and spending time with their families. The breed is known to be highly devoted and will often form a close bond with the family member that they deem to be the pack leader. They get along well with children and other dogs, but smaller furry friends are often perceived as prey rather than playmates. Give the Ariegeois plenty of activity and affection, and you’ll have a loyal companion for life.

Lifestyle & Living Conditions

As a scenthound that was bred to drive game to hunters in the countryside, these dogs do best in rural settings where they have ample space to roam and play. Ariegeois need plenty of exercise, so keeping them cooped up in an apartment or small home may cause them to become aggressive and/or destructive. Most of the time, these pups are quite relaxed and very good with kids and other dogs. They can get along well with cats too, but may see smaller animals, like rabbits or rodents, as prey.

Exercise & Activity

Ariegeois are energetic dogs that love being on the move and then relaxing with their families after a long day’s work. They enjoy having big yards or open countryside where they can run around for hours, chase animals, and scout nature’s most interesting and intoxicating scents. A bored Ariegeois could be bad news, so give these pups lots of exercise to avoid coming home to unpleasant surprises.

The Ariegeois is a smart, hardworking dog that loves barking and chasing animals. They’re friendly, loyal, and enjoy being around people, but once they smell something interesting, it’s off to the races. When the Ariegeois isn’t trying to find the source of scent, you can find it cuddling with its family and being their most trusted companion.

The Ariegeois has a short, dense coat of fine hair. Most are white with black markings, and they often have tan fur on their face. Their coats are easy to maintain and don’t require much grooming. All they need is a good brushing every few weeks to keep their hair in good shape.