Petit Bleu de Gascogne
A medium-sized blue-mottled French hound from Gascony, friendly and sociable, with a superb nose and voice.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 52–60 cm · Females 50–56 cm
- Weight
- Males 18–22 kg · Females 16–20 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 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. 31 · 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 | 1/5 – Very low |
| Barking | 5/5 – Very high |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 2/5 – Low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| 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 …
- love the look and voice of a classic hound
- enjoy long walks and scent sports
- have a dog-friendly household
Think twice if you …
- live in an apartment
- want a quiet dog
- need reliable off-lead control
Care
Temperament
Friendly, sociable and gentle, with a persistent, vocal hunting style.
Exercise
Needs long daily walks and off-lead running in secure areas; tracking and scent work are excellent outlets.
Grooming
A weekly brush keeps the short coat tidy; clean the long ears regularly.
Training
Good-natured but independent; use food rewards and patience, and do not expect perfect recall near game.
Health
Generally healthy; ear infections and occasional hip dysplasia are the main reported issues. Hip and eye checks are sensible, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Petit Bleu de Gascogne was developed in south-west France from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne, selected for a smaller size suited to hunting hare rather than big game. It keeps the classic Gascon look: a white coat heavily ticked with black that appears blue, black patches and tan markings.
It is a friendly, easy-going hound that loves company and is usually good with other dogs. Its nose and its deep voice are its defining features, and it needs a lot of exercise and secure fencing. It suits active people in rural areas who enjoy the hound character.
Did you know?
The 'blue' in its name comes from dense black ticking on a white coat, which gives a slate-blue effect.