Poitevin
Also known as Chien du Haut-Poitou
- Height at the withers
- 60 to 72 cm
- Weight
- 28 to 35 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10 to 13 years
- Daily activity
- 120 minutes
- Origin
- France
- FCI group
- 6 · Scent hounds
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- a sporty owner: running, hiking, canicross
Less suited to
- an apartment: it needs space
- a first dog: it needs an experienced owner
- a sedentary life: plan on 120 minutes of activity a day
- long absences: it struggles when left alone
Overview
A large and very distinguished scent hound that combines strength, elegance and lightness, with a short, glossy coat that is tricolor with a black saddle or large patches, the Poitevin is one of the jewels of French hunting with hounds. Fast, tireless and gifted with an exceptional nose, it is a true pack hound, kept in kennels by the hunts that ride to hounds, and almost never a companion dog.
History and origins
It descends from the scent hounds brought together at the end of the 17th century by the Marquis François de Larye, in Haut-Poitou, to hunt wolves. Nearly wiped out by the Revolution and then by a rabies epidemic in the 19th century, the breed was rebuilt with English Foxhound blood. Recognized by the FCI (standard no. 24), it now hunts mainly roe deer and wild boar with packs of hounds. Because its dogs are raised in packs, they are rarely registered one by one with the French Kennel Club (LOF), hence very irregular figures (110 in 2024, just one in 2025).
Health
Life expectancy is 10 to 13 years, and the breed is hardy. The most common health problems in the breed:
- Hunting injuries (brambles, wild boar)
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastric torsion (bloat)
- Tick-borne diseases (piroplasmosis)
Choose a breeder who has the parents health-screened for this breed, and ask to see the results.
Coat and care
Short, smooth coat. Moderate shedding, minimal coat care. Coat colors: tricolor with a black saddle, tricolor with large black patches, white and orange (rare), wolf-gray coat.
All ratings
Rated from 1 to 5, comparable across breeds. Green marks a strength for most households, orange something to plan for.
Lifestyle
- Energy
- Boundless, 5 out of 5
- Apartment
- Impossible, 1 out of 5
- Home alone
- Very poorly, 1 out of 5
Family and sociability
- With children
- Fair, 3 out of 5
- With other dogs
- Excellent, 5 out of 5
- With cats
- Caution, 2 out of 5
- With strangers
- Polite, 3 out of 5
Training and temperament
- Ease of training
- Hard, 2 out of 5
- For a first-time owner
- Not advised, 1 out of 5
- Guarding instinct
- None, 1 out of 5
- Prey drive
- Very strong, 5 out of 5
- Tendency to roam
- Very high, 5 out of 5
Care and neighbors
- Coat care
- Minimal, 1 out of 5
- Shedding
- Moderate, 3 out of 5
- Drooling
- Never, 1 out of 5
- Barking
- Very vocal, 5 out of 5
Climate and health
- Heat tolerance
- Average, 3 out of 5
- Cold tolerance
- Average, 3 out of 5
- Hardiness
- Good, 4 out of 5
In our lists
Poitevin FAQ
How big does the Poitevin get?
The Poitevin stands 60 to 72 cm at the withers and weighs 28 to 35 kg. It is a large dog.
Does the Poitevin shed a lot?
It sheds moderately and its coat needs minimal care.
Can the Poitevin live in an apartment?
It is not recommended: it needs space, ideally a house with a yard. Mind the neighbors: it barks readily.
How much exercise does the Poitevin need each day?
Allow about 120 minutes of activity a day: its energy is boundless. Add games and training exercises to keep its mind busy too.
Is the Poitevin good with children?
Fairly well, preferably with children old enough to respect its limits. Never leave a young child alone with a dog, whatever the breed.
How long does the Poitevin live?
Life expectancy is 10 to 13 years, and the breed is hardy. The main health problems to watch for are hunting injuries and hip dysplasia.
