A male Poitevin measures up to 72 centimetres at the withers, yet the standard values lightness above all. Its colour description includes an intriguing sentence: wolf-coloured dogs are not uncommon.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.1 Large-sized Hounds, Standard No. 24, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France |
| Size (height at the withers) | Males 62 to 72 cm, females 60 to 70 cm |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | short and glossy |
| Colours in the standard | tricolour with black mantle or large black patches, sometimes white and orange (bicolour); wolf-coloured dogs are not uncommon; white-and-black dogs disqualified |
Built for undergrowth
The Poitevin comes from France and belongs to the FCI’s large scent hounds. Its valid standard was published in 1978; the German translation dates from 1997 and contains no history. It describes an exceptionally noble dog combining power, elegance and lightness: a long, lean head, long, thin neck without dewlap, very deep chest and tough wolf-like feet. It should gallop lightly, jump effortlessly and move nimbly through dense scrub. A 2025 genetic paper names it among French breeds crossed with English Foxhounds to create the large Anglo-French hounds.
Temperament: the standard is silent
The Poitevin standard has no temperament chapter. It sets only the boundary: aggressive or excessively shy dogs are disqualified. Everything else follows from its work. A scent hound this size follows game independently, vocally and over long distances, usually with other dogs, so it often gets on with its own kind. Waiting for your instruction when its nose reports something more exciting comes less naturally.
Where a Poitevin belongs
Preferably in hunting hands, since the FCI lists it with a working trial. Those who hunt or work with a pack can provide what it was bred for. This includes securely fenced grounds and several hours outdoors daily.
Exercise worthy of the name
A circuit of the block is barely a warm-up. Without hunting, you need alternatives involving distance and scent work: tracking on a long line, mantrailing, extended hikes and, with suitable fitness, running beside a bicycle in a harness. Off-lead exercise in wildlife-rich terrain remains risky, as a large hound following a trail quickly moves beyond earshot.
Grooming: short and glossy
The short, glossy hair needs little work; a weekly rubber curry brush suffices. More important is checking after every country outing for ticks, small cuts on legs and issues with the medium-length, slightly turned-in ears.
Health: no breed data
We found no reliable lifespan or breed-related disease study for the Poitevin. McMillan and colleagues list it in their British longevity analysis but do not analyse it because of insufficient data. Europe PMC includes it only as an individual dog, for example in a vaccination study of working hunting dogs with exactly one Poitevin. Ask specifically about the parents’ hip results, eye examinations and how long earlier generations lived.
City life is difficult
A small flat, little time and off-lead park walks do not suit the Poitevin. Anyone averse to loud dogs should also keep looking, as a scent hound voices its trail. A companion without hunting passion would then be the more honest choice for you both.
The breed quiz helps you decide whether a large hunting dog with its own mind suits you; our book explores choosing a dog further: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the first weeks with a young dog, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. If a Poitevin already lives with you, find ideas among our dog portraits or on a magazine-cover canvas.
Further reading
- Weimaraner: the beautiful hunting dog that never clocks off
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
- Calculating dog food portions: how much your dog really needs
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 24 Poitevin (fci.be, German version dated 03.03.1997, English version dated 04.03.1997, valid original standard dated 17.11.1978); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed listed but not analysed); Lin AT et al., A legacy of genetic entanglement with wolves shapes modern dogs, PNAS 2025; Spiri AM et al., Studie zu gesunden Jagdhunden vor und nach Leptospirose-Impfung, BMC Veterinary Research 2017.
The links to our books are affiliate links. Buying through them supports us at no extra cost to you.
