Poitevin Dog Breed Information - All You Need To Know

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Poitevin is a French scenthound bred to hunt bears, wolves, and other large games. It is a medium-large, fairly lightly-built dog, with an average 65-75 lbs weight and 24-28 inches height at the withers. It has an excellent tracking reputation with enormous strength and intelligence.

This athletic and active breed is loyal and affectionate with family and does well with children when properly trained and socialized. If you are looking for a smart, trainable canine that does well as both a hunter and a family pet, Poitevin would be the best choice.

Poitevin History

The Poitevin dog, also known as the Chien de Haut-Poitou, dates back to the 17th century. It is a breed of French scenthound named after the area of its origin, the province of Poitou. A breeder named Marquis de Layrre produced this dog by the interbreeding of the Chien Ceris and the Montemboeuf, Greyhounds, and Irish scent hounds.

As a result of this breeding, the dogs were strong and athletic, with sniffing prowess and inexhaustible energy. They assisted hunters in hunting wolves and other large games. This breed decrease in number after the French Revolution and was nearly extinct when two brothers from Poitou sought to revive the breed. Breeders imported English Foxhounds to their line to reconstitute the breed.

Poitevin Characteristics

Poitevin is a medium-large, fairly lightly-built dog with pointed snouts. The breed is considered to have an excellent tracking reputation with enormous strength and intelligence. It has long, muscular legs built for speed and strength. Its coat tends to be short, with sheen, and easily maintained. This hybrid comes in varying shades of golden, roan, red, and brown. It may also have small white or black markings on its chest or feet and possibly black face masks.

How Big to Poitevin Get

A fully grown-up Poitevin, on average, weighs around 65-75 lbs, and it stands around 24-28 inches at the shoulders. Thus, the female dog tends to be marginally smaller than the male counterpart.

How Long Does Poitevin Live

Expect your Poitevin to live for around 12 and 15 years. However, you can increase this lifespan with proper care and suitable living conditions.

How Much Does a Poitevin Cost

Poitevin is a difficult dog to track down as it is not a common breed and hasn’t had any popularity surge. If you are lucky enough to find one of these pups, be ready to budget anywhere from $600 to $6000. Ask to see health certificates and living conditions before buying.

Poitevin Temperament/Personality

Early versions of the Poitevin were described as less than friendly and vicious as it was bred to hunt. Later it became famous as a family companion and guard after these sports were outlawed. Today’s Poitevin is known to be an affectionate, polite, and mild-mannered canine that is easy-going and well-rounded.

Its high energy, intelligence, and loyalty make it an extremely hard-working, responsive, and protective companion who is good with kids and other animals. However, the high exercise demands of this dog mean that he is not a suitable breed for every household and will do best when provided with an active lifestyle in a rural setting.

The Poitevin’s first nature is to sniff up a cold trail and follow it to the end. You must leash train this dog and keep it on a leash while taking outside, or otherwise it will be running on-road chasing after cars and smaller animals. Neither overly aggressive nor shy, it is best suited for active families and homes with yards.

Caring for Poitevin

Poitevin has high energy needs, and intelligence means that he is unsuitable for all families and living situations. Before buying this dog, you must know about its diet, exercise, and grooming needs. The following guide will help you a lot in this regard.

Poitevin Nutrition

When shopping for food, you must keep your dog’s age, size, and activity level in mind. For example, a Poitevin needs 4 cups of good quality kibble daily for its high activity needs and athletic body. The best dog food brands you can trust are Natural Balance Dog Food, Diamond Naturals Dog Food, and Pedigree Dog Food.

How to Groom a Poitevin

Poitevin needs weekly brushing to maintain its coat’s sheen and health. You will need to check your dog’s ears a few times a month and give them a good cleaning. Also, clip its toenails every 10 to 14 days if they don’t wear out running and walking. Finally, don’t bat this canine unless it gets into something dirty or messy.

Poitevin Activity Levels

Poitevin is an energetic dog that enjoys daily walks, exercise, play and agility sessions, swimming, and visits t dog parks. However, it needs an hour or two of hectic exercise to pent up his energy. Not ideal for an apartment dwelling, a home with a fenced yard is the optimal place for this canine to explore.

Caring for Poitevin

Food that is high in chondroitin and glucosamine is best for your Poitevin to maintain good joint health. It is important in active dogs because they can put a lot of strain on the joints while running and jumping. You can also give Dog Joint Supplement with a doctor’s recommendation.

Give an early age training and socialization to this canine. Many obedience schools offer puppy socialization classes for a great start. In addition, training your furry buddy for a Dog Crate at a young age will help him accepting confinement if he ever needs to be boarded or hospitalized.

Poitevin Health

The health issues of your Poitevin may include Hip and Elbow Dysplasia, skin and ear infections. It is usually a very healthy breed. Ask to see health clearances for the puppy before buying and ensure the credibility of the breeder as well. Buying from an irresponsible breeder is a great risk as you will end up having sick puppies.

Breeds Similar to Poitevin

Best Dog Food For Poitevin Hounds

The best dog food for Poitevin is Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe. Packed with guaranteed prebiotics, the dog food contains pea protein, carrots, sweet potatoes, turmeric, dehydrated alfalfa meal, etc. The mineral-rich dog food removes toxic elements from the body and contributes to steady growth.

The low-calorie diet is free from grains, and it can control the weight of dogs.
The savory dog food is good for healthy skin as it contains both omega three and omega-six fatty acids.
The dry food has a lot of fiber in it, and so it produces odor-free stool.

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Best Puppy Food For Poitevin Hounds

The best puppy food for Poitevin is Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Chicken Meal & Oat Recipe. The savory puppy meal includes oats, chicken, fish oil, apples, cranberries, etc., and it controls blood sugar. Designed for fast growth, puppy food has healing properties; that is why sick dogs can eat this special dry food.

It contains chicken liver flavor and other natural flavors which boost the appetite of the puppy.
Packed with garden veggies and real fruits, the kibbles are exceptionally crunchy.
The moisture mixed puppy recipe has metabolizable energy of 394 kcal/cup.

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Best Dog Bed For Poitevin Hounds

The best dog bed for Poitevin is FurHaven Two-Tone Deluxe Chaise Orthopedic Dog Bed. The rectangular pet bed has an L-shaped bolster, and its top sleeping surface is made of soft faux fur. The medical-grade dog bed comes with a polyester zippered cover.

The supportive napping zone lets your Poitevin cuddle with the bolsters.
The orthopedic dog bed is made of recycled fillers, and it ensures deep cleaning.
The multi-colored dog bed reduces the pain of the neck and spine.

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Best Dog Crate For Poitevin Hounds

The best dog crate for Poitevin is MidWest Solutions Series XX-Large Heavy Duty Double Door Wire Dog Crate. The heavy-duty pet home is made with highly durable metal wires, which are black in color. The sturdy configuration of the crate features a matching tray, puppy divider, etc.

It has two doors for easy entrance.
The crate comes in only XX-Large size, and it has an E-coat all over the exterior part of the body.
The 45 inches high crate lets the Poitevin jump inside it, and it controls the anxiety level of dogs.

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Best Dog Harness For Poitevin Hounds

The best dog harness for Poitevin is OneTigris Tactical Vest Nylon Front Clip Dog Harness. The extraordinary harness features MOLLE webbing, which keeps the Poitevin comfortable in all the seasons. The water-resistant harness has soft interior padding.