Grand Bleu de Gascogne

The Grand Bleu de Gascogne originating from Gascony province on the south western coast of France is of the scenthound type and is most commonly used for the purpose of hunting in packs. Wolves, wild boars, hares were their normal targets. It is also known as the Large Blue Gascony Hound.

The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is a large dog. It has a lean and a muscular body with long legs, a slightly domed head with drooping lips. The ears are thin, long, and pendulous. The ears are low set which helps push the scent to the dog’s nose. The neck is of medium length, with much throatiness. The body is lengthy, with a deep, broad chest. Legs are thick, well boned and have fully exposed claws which helps the dog in running swiftly. The tail is long, and held upright when alert. The eyes are large and usually dark brown in colour. This dog has a melancholy, yet gentle expression.

Its size ranges from 65 to 72cm at the withers, females are normally slightly smaller. They are also solidly built which goes up till 75pounds. Dogs of this breed are known for their calm strength and nobleness. Their scenting is highly developed and their single-mindedness when on a trail will make him deaf to outside interruptions. The Grand Bleu de Gascogne has lots of stamina, even though it’s slow when it comes to running as compared to the other breeds. As with most gundogs, these characters can cover great distances before tiring.

The Grand Bleu de Gascogne sports a slate blue overall appearance due to its white coat mottled with black. Their coat is smooth, not too short and weather resistant. It has got black patches on the either sides of its head and a white area on the top of the head which has a small black oval, it has also got tan “eyebrow” marks over each eye. There are also shades of fiery tones on the cheeks, inside the ears, under the tail and on the legs and feet.

The faults of the dog are said to be aggression, deviations in appearance that have quite a remarkable effect on the working ability and the health of the dog, anatomical malformation.

As the dog is used for hunting, it is noted for its good nose, focus on the hunt and a deep howl. Other than this, it is also known to be mild mannered and patient with children, very affectionate and loyal and thus also makes a good pet. They love to be out in the fields, but then they can easily get adjusted to life indoors. They like to socialize with other dogs and are friendly with other non canine pets too. These dogs are easy to train As long as you start with it early in the dog’s life. Their life expectancy is 10-13 years. Fairly robust, the Grand Bleu is a healthy breed. After World War II, the Grand Bleu population was wiped out. Numbers still remain small, and this breed is extremely rare.