THE ART OF VENERY

Venery in simple terms means hunting. It is hunting with the hound for food and sport; the art of hunting. It began in France centuries ago for man to provide food for himself and also for Royalty and aristocracy in the pursuit of game. At the height of Venery (around the mid 17th century) there wer close to 40 hound breeds that had been developed to hunt various types of game. This included roe deer, wild boar, wolves, fox, hare, and rabbit. Today in France the sport of hunting is as popular as ever. So is the PBGV. These hounds are still being bred to perform thier original function--to follow game by scent. It is important for hounds to possess "hound qualities," such as freely used voice, a good nose, independence, and perseverance.