The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is a breed of dog of the scenthound type,
originating in France and used for hunting in packs. Today's breed is the
descendant of a very old type of large hunting dog, and is an important breed
in the ancestry of many other hounds.
Description
The
Grand Bleu de Gascogne is an imposing large dog, a typical hunting pack hound
of the oldest type, with a lean and muscular body, long legs, slightly domed
head, long drop ears, and drooping lips. Size is 65 to 72 cm at the withers, females slightly smaller. Dogs
of this breed should show an attitude of calm strength and nobleness.
The
colour of the coat is white mottled with black, giving a slate blue overall
appearance. There are black patches on either side of the head, with a white
area on top of the head which has in it a small black oval. Tan
"eyebrow" marks are over each eye. Faults are deviations in
appearance that have an effect on the health and working ability of the dog, as
well as an absence of expected features of colour, structure, and size,
indicating that a dog with such faults should not be bred. Faults include
aggression or fearfulness, anatomical malformation, and lack of type.
Although
these are large dogs, "Grand" does not necessarily refer to the size
of the dogs. "In most cases it is simply a label for a pack that is used
for larger game". Today. the breed is used in hunting boar, deer, and
other game. The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is a very large dog weighing 80-120 lbs
Health and temperament
No unusual
health problems or claims of extraordinary health have been documented for this
breed. Temperament of individual dogs may vary.
History and use
The
Grand Bleu de Gascogne may descend from dogs left by Phoenician traders, its
ancestors were contemporaries with the St Hubert Hound and English Southern
Hound, Comte de Foix kept a pack in the 14th century and Henry IV of France
kept a pack in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
The
Grand Bleu de Gascogne has a long history in the US, the first dogs were bred
there in the 18th century; more Grand Bleus are now in the US than France.
General Lafayette presented a pack of seven Grand Bleus to George Washington in
1785, who compared their melodious voices to the bells of Moscow.
The Grand
Bleu de Gascogne is noted for its focus on the hunt, as well as a good nose and
distinctive, sonorous, deep howl, the breed is "instinctively a pack hound".
In the past, it was used to hunt deer, wolves, and boar; in the field it is
considered a rather slow and ponderous worker and today is predominantly used
to hunt hares.
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