Gascon Saintongeois
A tall, noble French scent hound from south-west France, calm at home and steady and musical on the trail.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 56–72 cm · Females 54–68 cm
- Weight
- Males 28–32 kg · Females 25–30 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Tricolour, White, Black
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent
- Country of origin
- France
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 21 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 2/5 – Low |
| Good for first-time owners | 1/5 – Very low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 3/5 – Moderate |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- live rurally and enjoy long walks
- have experience with hounds
- want a calm, gentle large dog at home
Think twice if you …
- live in a flat or town centre
- need a dog to be reliable off lead
- have cats or small animals
Care
Temperament
Calm, gentle and friendly with people, sociable with dogs, and persistent and vocal when following a trail.
Exercise
Needs plenty of daily exercise, ideally long walks and runs in secure open ground; tracking and mantrailing make good outlets.
Grooming
The short coat needs a weekly brush; keep the long ears clean and dry.
Training
Gentle but independent; consistent, reward-based training and early recall work are important.
Health
A healthy working hound overall; hip dysplasia, ear infections and bloat can occur, as in many large hounds. Hip and elbow screening is sensible, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Gascon Saintongeois was created in the 19th century when Baron de Virelade crossed the last Saintongeois hounds with the Grand Bleu de Gascogne. The result was a large, elegant pack hound for deer and boar, and a smaller variety was later developed for hare.
It is mostly white with black patches and tan markings, and it carries itself with dignity. With people it tends to be gentle and easy-going, and it gets along well with other dogs. Its size, voice and strong hunting drive make it best suited to rural homes with experienced owners and room to move.
Did you know?
The breed comes in two sizes, the Grand and the Petit Gascon Saintongeois, both under one FCI standard.