The Chien-gris a.k.a. Gris de Saint-Louis is an extinct breed of dog which originated in Medieval times. Like the Chien de Saint-Hubert, it was a scent hound, and formed part of the royal packs of France, which were composed, from about 1250 till 1470, exclusively of hounds of this type. According to King Charles IX, (1550–1574) they supposedly were introduced to France through Saint Louis, who had encountered these hounds while a prisoner during the Crusades, and subsequently received some as a gift. Old writers on hunting liked to ascribe an ancient and remote origin to their hounds, and these were claimed to be originally from Tartary. They were large, and, even though they did not have such good noses, were preferred by the Kings to the St Huberts, which were said to be only of medium size.
The Chien-gris was typically found in royal kennels and used for hunting in French forests and estates.
The Chien-gris, also known as Gris de Saint-Louis, was an extinct breed of scent hound popular in the royal packs of France during the Medieval period. It was favored by the Kings of France over other breeds like the St. Hubert hounds due to their impressive size, though their scenting ability was not as refined. Historical accounts suggest the breed was introduced to France by Saint Louis after the Crusades. It was believed to have originated from Tartary.
Trainability
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