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Grand Bleu de Gascogne: Breed Information

He is fond of children, charming, and obedient with skillful leadership. However, the intelligence and love of freedom as well as a certain sensitivity always have to be taken into account in the upbringing and further training of the dog – a demanding task for the owner. The hunting dog experience is invaluable in this context and helps to do justice to the proud personality of the four-legged friend.

Characteristics

  • FCI Standard No. 22
  • Patronage: France
  • Height at the withers: Males: 65-72 cm | Female: 62-68cm
  • Weight: 32-35kg
  • Life expectancy: 12 years +
  • obedient, sensitive
  • strong hunting instinct
  • needs a lot of exercises
  • Pack dog feels most comfortable with several dogs
  • belongs in experienced hands
  • ideally hunted
  • Diseases: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, ear infections, allergies, and dental problems.

Grand Bleu de Gascony Essence

As can be expected from the nature of a hunting dog, the hunting instinct is strong and omnipresent. Also not surprisingly, living in an apartment and without hunting work is hardly compatible with this nature.

The attentive companion who is willing to work needs a lot of space – both literally and figuratively. The Grand Bleu de Gascogne loves an environment that corresponds to its nature – clearly rural, varied, and its instincts appealing.

In addition to considerable exercise, this also includes the demanding use of the dog. Always alert, the animal boldly and perseveringly completes the tasks assigned to it. With a strong and deep voice, the dog keeps in touch with its human. A dog owner who wants to give his Grand Bleu de Gascogne more joie de vivre does not leave it at a loner. Nothing really replaces life in a pack.

Fur

The eyes of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne look slightly sad. Its ears hang long and taper to a point. The coat covers a strong, muscular yet slender body with long legs and stocky forelegs. The coat is robust like the whole dog and consists of short, dense, and rather coarse hair.

This coat is stippled black and white all over the body giving the appearance of a slate blue tinge. The FCI standard no. 22 also requires black plates of different sizes. In general, the grooming of the coat remains fairly moderate for hunting dogs, and the Large Blue Gascon Hound is no exception. He calls a well-protected and at the same time easy-care coat his own. Regular brushing, especially after work in the field to avoid possible parasites, is sufficient.

Story

Gascony is home to good wines, fine Brandy Armagnac, and the fictional character of the musketeer D’Artagnan. The province in southwest France, on the border with Spain, is also the place of origin of the no less noble Grand Bleu de Gascogne dog breed.

In German: Big Blue Gascon hound. “Large” in this case means 65 to 72 centimeters at the withers for males and 32 to 35 kilograms in weight. The bitch is on average 62 to 68 centimeters tall and weighs slightly less.

The game, which the big hound was used to hunt in the past, is also large. Wolves, wild boars, deer, and even bears are hunted down by the huntsmen – at the time of the French aristocracy. The traces of these old dog breeds in France go back to the 14th century.

Later, in historical descriptions, the French King Henry IV and the American President George Washington were mentioned in the same breath as the Grand Bleu de Gascogne. Both are said to have hunted with the help of a pack of blues. At present, the Grand Bleu de Gascogne, which is rare in Germany but more common in the south of France, is still used as a hunting and pack dog.

French hunters are full of praise for this breed. She has an excellent nose, is highly concentrated when tracking, and will not be distracted by a track. They call her effusively august and aristocratic. The socially acceptable and very peaceful hunting dog has meanwhile gained a good reputation as a member of the family.

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