Large
12 Years
35 Kg
Hound Dogs
Intelligent, Lively, Responsive
The Grand Bleu De Gascogne is a magnificent French scent hound with a well-refined build of ancient lineage. It is one of the largest scent hounds alive today. It has a domed head with loose skin coverings that form wrinkles on both cheeks. The long, slightly aquiline muzzle is complimented by well-pronounced occiput and prominent frontal skull bones with barely defined stop. The lips are hanging down loosely covering the lower jaw. It has strong scissors bite teeth, a nose that is black in colour and deep eyes of a dark chestnut brown colour with surrounding black patches on both sides of the head. The long ears are one of the characteristic identifying features of the Grand Bleu – covered in black patches, reaching up to the tip of the nose or longer and attached very low to the head, well twisted inward, thin, and tapers to a point. The head is supported by a strong, slightly arched neck with well developed dewlap. The body’s outline is rather long but firm with short and broad loin and sloping croup that emphasizes the hipbones. It has a rather thick, brushed tip tail that is carried in a saber fashion and is long enough to reach the hock. The front legs are long and straight with elbows close to the body. The coat of the Grand Bleu is also one of the identifying marks of the breed – short, thick and dense, mainly white in colour with speckles of black dots that gives the breed the slate blue effect. An adult male stands between 65 cm to 72 cm from withers while an adult female has a height of 62 cm to 68 cm. Weight varies between 36 kg and 54 kgs.
All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is one of the ancient breeds of dogs with French origin. It is believed to have descended from the scenting dogs of Gaul and those brought by Phoenician traders to the south-western coast of France in Gascony near the present-day Spanish border. It is thought that the Grand Bleu is a descendant of the now extinct breed Southern Hound and the St. Hubert Hound. The Grand Bleu was originally used to hunt wolves and then for wild boar and deer when wolves were no longer abundant in the region. When wild boars and deer became limited, the breed was used to chase hares to waiting hunters. King Henry IV of France (1553-1610) had a pack of Grand Bleus which were also used for hunting. In 1785, General Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette gave a pack of seven Grand Bleu de Gascogne to General George Washington who was said to have remarked that the breed’s voices were as harmonious as the bells of Moscow. Today, the Grand Bleu is more popular as a show dog and is still considered a rare breed in the UK.
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is the largest breed of scent hound and is remarkable at tracking anything even when the trail has gone cold. Temperament can vary from dog to dog but in general, the Grand Bleu can be a handful but a great delight to a family who loves hound dogs. It is gentle, friendly and loving but can be stubborn and downright mischievous at times. Grand Bleu puppies have an enormous amount of energy and can be destructive, so they should not be left alone unsupervised. And adult Grand Bleu can be quite vocal and can let out a hound-like bay to a hair-raising howl particularly if it detects a scent to alert other pack members and its handlers.
The breed will benefit from training at an early age, particularly as a puppy. Socialisation and training should be done through gentle but firm and positive reinforcements and by someone who knows how to handle an active, intelligent scent hound. It will benefit the most to an owner who loves spending time in the great outdoors.
The Grand Bleu De Gascogne is a very easy dog to maintain because it has an almost groom-free coat, with no trimming or stripping required. The soft and smooth coat readily wards off dirt but weekly brushing will help remove dead hair. Check and clean the ears regularly as they are prone to infections because of their length and proximity to the ground where they might get injured in brushes.
There are no known major health issues associated with the Grand Bleu De Gascogne. It is a generally healthy breed that typically lives between 10 to 12 years.
It is fairly inactive indoors and will do good in an apartment setting provided that it gets enough exercise on a daily basis. An hour or two of daily long walks is ideal for this breed. It will do best in a large house with a large fenced garden where it can play all day. The Grand Blue most not be allowed to wander on its own particularly in an urban setting or it will follow any interesting smell it might encounter. A dormant Grand Bleu De Gascogne can have a tendency to become destructive and will channel its boredom into other activities.
The Grand Bleu is a pack dog and is good with other dogs in the home but its instinct to hunt hares and other game may not be a good combination with other small animals such as guinea pigs, hamsters, and similar pets. It has a loving and caring personality so it does well with children.
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