Overview
The Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noir is a large French scenthound of the Anglo-French group, made by crossing French hounds with English Foxhounds. It is a big, powerful hound with long legs, drop ears and a long tail.
It is bred and kept as a working pack hunter in France, with some twenty or more working packs and around 2000 registered dogs as of 2009.
History
The breed comes from crosses between the old Saintongeois hound and Foxhounds, a type once called the Bâtard Anglo-Saintongeois. The Anglo-Français name was officially applied to all the Anglo-French hound breeds in 1957.
It is used in packs for large game such as roe deer and boar, and also for fox. Grand in the name is often just a label for a pack used on larger quarry rather than a statement about size. The FCI recognises it in Group 6.
Appearance
A big, powerful hound standing about 62 to 72 cm at the withers, with long legs, long drop ears and a long tail. The short, double coat is white with a black mantle and black markings, with black or blue ticking on the body and tan ticking on the lower legs.
A tan mark at the base of the upper thigh, called the roe buck mark, is frequently seen.
Temperament
The FCI standard describes the breed as friendly, close to people and easy to manage in the kennel. Even so, dogs bred for pack hunting rarely make good pets and do best with other hounds and a working life.
Care and exercise
These hounds need a great deal of exercise and space and are best placed with hunters or experienced owners. Secure fencing and careful supervision off the lead are important because of their scenting drive.
The short coat is easy to maintain with occasional brushing.
Health
No unusual health problems have been documented for the breed.
