Grand Bleu de Gascogne
A large, majestic blue-mottled French hound with a deep voice, calm manners and an outstanding nose.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 65–72 cm · Females 62–68 cm
- Weight
- Males 33–40 kg · Females 30–35 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–12 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Tricolour, White, Black, Tan
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent
- Country of origin
- France
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 22 · 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 | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 2/5 – Low |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – High |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 5/5 – Very high |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – 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 …
- have space and a rural home
- want a calm, gentle large hound
- enjoy tracking or mantrailing
Think twice if you …
- have close neighbours
- need a dog to be off lead often
- want a dog that is quick to obey
Care
Temperament
Calm, gentle and affectionate, sociable with dogs, and steady and determined on a trail.
Exercise
Needs long daily walks and regular chances to follow scent; mantrailing and tracking are ideal.
Grooming
The short coat needs a weekly brush; long ears need regular cleaning and drying.
Training
Gentle but independent and slow to respond when scenting; positive, patient training works best.
Health
Large, deep-chested hounds can be prone to bloat, hip dysplasia and ear infections from their long ears. Hip, elbow and eye checks are sensible, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is one of France's oldest scent hounds, kept in Gascony since medieval times and once used on wolf, boar and deer. Its slow, thorough way of working and its deep, ringing voice made it a favourite for pack hunting, and it is still mainly a hunter's dog today.
It is tall and dignified, with long ears and the typical Gascon blue-ticked coat. At home it is calm, gentle and patient, but it needs space, regular long walks and secure fencing. Its voice carries a long way, so close neighbours rarely appreciate it.
Did you know?
The Marquis de Lafayette sent several Grand Bleu de Gascogne hounds to George Washington in the 1780s.