Monastic dogs, or Saint-Huers, as they were dubbed in Europe, had a textured appearance. Gigantic physique, with massive heads, weighed down with multiple wrinkles and giant flews, they perfectly chased the big game, for which they were loved by the Belgian nobility. Since the Ardennes carefully guarded the secret of the origin of their wards, hounds like them were not bred anywhere else. However, the forced isolation did not prevent the breed’s popularity and spread, as the Belgian clergy shared their pets with the French royal family, who used animals for hunting deer.