Field Spaniel vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

The Ariegeois is a fairly new breed, believed to have originated in France in 1912. As a scent hound, it is a blend of 3 French scent hounds - Grand Gascon-Saintongeois, Grand bleu de Gascon and the Briquet.

Just to show you how ancient these breeds are, the Grand bleu were thought to have been brought to France by an ancient civilization, the Phoenicians, who traded wares and dogs. The Briquet is native to southern France but they have been used as hunting dogs as far back as pre-Roman times.

As the breeds mixed, the Ariegeois came about. A popular pack dog emerged with an excellent sense of smell that would stand the dog in good stead for hunting. Today, while still fairly uncommon beyond French borders, the dog is highly regarded for its extraordinary hunting abilities and his loyal, affectionate nature towards his human companions.

The Field Spaniel was developed to retrieve game, being developed in 19th century England as a hunting companion. Today they are still used as hunting dogs but he is essentially a family companion and show dog.

He was developed to be a medium-sized, all-black dog. Until 1901, spaniels were divided by weight, with the Field Spaniel being the bigger dog.With developing the breed, the Basset Hound was introduced and then English Springer Spaniels were also brought into the mix.

Today the Field Spaniel is still a rare breed even in the UK. To promote the breed, the dog has been registered as a Vulnerable Native Breed by the Kennel Club.

The amicable-looking medium-sized Ariegeois dog, also known as the Ariege Hound, has a lean, muscled body. This dog breed isn’t just suitable as as working breed, but his kind face tells you he has a good temperament and he makes for an affectionate family pet and friend as well.

The Kind Child’s Friend

The Ariegeois gets along well with children in the family. Gentle and patient, you want to teach your children to also be gentle, patient and kind around this affectionate canine. Early socialization and training, as with any dog breed, will be important for this energetic dog, and training will make him a wonderful family pet.

With their trim, athletic build, deep chest and slightly forward lean similar to that of a Pointer dog, the scenthound’s white coat with black markings is short and smooth.

One of the more noticeable features of the dog is his long ears which are lovely and soft to touch. With his dark brown, soulful eyes, his black nose and slightly curved tail, the Ariegeois has a deep, throaty bark.

The Field Spaniel is a medium sized dog, standing at 43–46cm in height and weighing between 18–25kg. The single coat of the Field Spaniel is fairly long with the traditional feathering at the legs, belly, chest and tail.

The coat comes in solid colours of black, liver or roan. You might also find some ticked markings of white. The tail of the Field Spaniel is traditionally docked with the ears being long and floppy.

Temperament:

Happy, busy and active, the Field Spaniel makes an excellent family pet. They get on well with children and with other pets in the home. It is the kind of dog, that while friendly with all members of his human family, he forms a strong bond with one member whom he regards as special.

Bright and intelligent, he is also a dog that does well when socialized and trained, being more docile and less excitable than Cocker spaniels. The Field Spaniel is a dog who thrives on being busy and won’t relish lying around with nothing to do. He loves water and where there is a dam or pond, he’ll be there and want you to join him.

Your wonderful Ariegeois wants to be your lifelong companion, and you can expect all the wonderful characteristics to be evident in this canine if you buy him from a reputable breeder. When you bring him home, make sure he has a warm, dry, comfortable sleeping area, and in exchange for this provision he will be your loyal, devoted friend.

Spayed or Neutered saves you from Unwanted Puppies

If you don’t intend your Ariegeois becoming a parent have your dog spayed or neutered by 6 months of age.

Intelligent and Trainable

Your Ariegeois is intelligent and easy to train and can be guaranteed to be your best friend and will be your loyal companion through thick and thin. In exchange for this priceless friendship, you need to be a responsible dog owner to ensure his health and happiness.

Once people have owned any of the Spaniel breeds, they discover what a wonderful friend the dog is. He is loyal, loving, protective, brave, confident, fun-loving and smart. He isn’t aggressive but he may not like a stranger to reach out and pat him.

The Field Spaniel is a wonderful dog and he will adapt to life in the city or in the countryside, just so long as he has his beloved human family close by.

There are a number of illnesses that are common to all dog breeds. Some of the more common dog illnesses are -

• ear infection, arthritis, kennel cough and diarrhea, obesity, cancer and dental problems
• fleas, ticks and parasites
• canine distemper
• canine parvovirus
• lyme disease
• rabies

No Standard Health Problems – Get Puppy Vaccinations

There are no specific health problems linked to the Ariegeois Dog but he will still need to get his regular puppy vaccinations -

• 6 – 8 weeks Distemper, para-influenza and measles
• 10 – 12 weeks DHPP – distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvovirus
• 12 – 24 weeks Rabies
• 14 – 16 weeks DHPP
• 12 – 16 months Rabies, DHPP
• every 1 – 2 years DHPP
• every 1 – 3 years Rabies

The Field Spaniel is a robust dog breed and can live to be 12 – 14 years of age. Apart from watching for ear infections with his long ears, there are some common dog illnesses that are worth knowing about -

Cataracts:

Most older dogs have hardening of the lens and this is when the lens turns a whitish or greyish colour. However if your dog has cloudy eyes, it doesn’t simply mean he can’t see well as he often can. Once a lens has a cataract, some people try nutritional support of the lens which can work to lessen the severity of developing cataracts.

Surgery can help but a veterinary ophthalmologist can determine if cataract surgery is needed as most times it isn’t. If you can’t afford surgery, it is still important to have your dog evaluated by a veterinary ophthalmologist so that you avoid further complications with your pet’s eyes.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is another eye disease, a degenerative disease that affects the photo-receptor cells where they deteriorate over time and can eventually lead to blindness in the affected dog.

The Ariegeois is a relatively low maintenance dog and his short coat will require a good brush at least once a week. You don’t have to bath him often as this strips natural oils away that make his coat shiny and glossy. Check those long ears and make sure that no leaves, grass and dirt are lodged deep within the ears.

Feeding

There are thousands of options for dog foods and the first step is to chat to your veterinarian about the best food for your to meet his nutritional needs during each stage of his life. It is difficult to determine diet quality for you dog from the label.

Wet or dry dog food, it is important to have high quality ingredients from a dog food manufacturing company that has the expertise to produce dog food that meets your pet’s nutritional needs. Protein is highly important for your pet and many dog owners make their own dog food. Raw meat is imperative for the health of your dog, but before switching to a raw diet, chat to your veterinarian. Do research on different brands - there are good and bad brands and your pet needs to be protected from false claims. Always make sure your pet has access to fresh, cool, clean drinking water.

Exercise

Your Ariegeois will need some exercise if you want him to maintain his lean, muscular shape. In order for him to stay in shape and to avoid boredom, take him on walks, throw a ball for him, and your reward will be his bright eyes and wagging tail.

Grooming:

The Field Spaniel has medium-length to long hair and to avoid matting of the hair, the coat will need to be brushed a least twice a week. Many Spaniel owners take their pets to professional groomers to get the coat and ears trimmed.

Check your Spaniels ears inside and out regularly, because loving water the way he does, the ears inside can remain damp and become a breeding spot for infection.

Remember to also check your Field Spaniel’s teeth as dental disease can be the root cause of many diseases.

Diet:

Your Field Spaniel is an active breed and you want to be sure to feed him a high-quality commercially manufactured dog food which has been formulated for his activity level. Every now and again mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken and also add in a bit of raw meat from time to time. Ensure cool, fresh water is always available.