The Great Anglo-French Tricolour Hound standard explicitly permits mixed-colour hair called louvard, without mentioning wolves. Yet a 2025 genomic study found wolf ancestry in two of these dogs. Unrelated to the coat, it is nevertheless the breed’s most surprising research finding.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.1 Large-sized hounds, Standard No. 322, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France |
| Size (height at the withers) | 60 to 70 cm, without distinction between sexes |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | short, more or less coarse |
| Colours in the standard | tricolour, usually with a black mantle or variably sized black patches, vivid tan or copper markings without black overlay; mixed hair (louvard) not prohibited, heavy ticking undesirable |
French, with English influence
Strong, predominantly French in origin, with some distinction: the standard’s description adds that Foxhound ancestry remains visible to varying degrees. The name says the same. See the English Foxhound entry for comparison. The FCI definitively recognised the Tricolour in 1983; the German standard dates from 1996.
What appeared in the genome in 2025
Lin and colleagues examined wolf ancestry across many dog genomes in PNAS. Two dogs of this breed stood out, with 5.7 and 4.7% wolf ancestry and long segments suggesting admixture around 24 and 17 generations ago. The authors could not establish its source. The finding says nothing about temperament or disease. Health studies and lifespan figures are lacking; McMillan and colleagues list the breed without analysing it.
Tan without black overlay
The colour aim is clear: three colours, a black mantle or patches, and vivid tan or copper. Washed-out red markings are faults, as is patchy depigmentation. Skin is white and black. Sister breeds have other colours: the Great Anglo-French White and Black Hound is white and black, the White and Orange white and orange.
Fitness for work matters
Notably, the standard faults structural defects limiting working ability. It therefore seeks a capable worker with a firm topline, broad loin, well-let-down chest and flowing, sound movement. Provide hours of exercise, preferably with scent work, and use a long line in woodland.
Short coat, long ears
A rubber grooming mitt cares for the short coat in minutes. Regularly check the medium-length, broadly set ears, especially after roaming through grass and scrub. The well-coated tail is carried elegantly and indicates the dog’s feelings.
A housemate only with a job
There is no temperament chapter, only exclusion of aggression and excessive fear. The breed is made for pack work, canine company and distance. Suitable for hunting homes or people with abundant time, space and hound experience. Not intended for flats, beginners or off-lead freedom. With the right job, the dog displays both English and French roots.
A large pack hound needs careful thought: the breed quiz checks whether your routine fits; “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) explores the questions thoroughly. For early puppyhood, there is the Puppy Starter Pack. Three coat colours suit a large format such as the magazine-cover canvas; explore more choice among our dog portraits.
Further reading
- Beagle: a nose with a dog attached, and what that means day to day
- The socialisation period: why “as much as possible” is the wrong advice
- Calculating your dog’s food portions: how much your dog really needs
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 322 Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore (fci.be, German and English versions dated 18.06.1996, valid original standard dated 27.01.1983); 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.
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