Grand Bleu De Gascogne Dog Breed

Below are the breed specs and details of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne:

Adult males reach a height of 25 inches to 27 inches and weigh between 80 and 100 lbs. Females will reach a height of 23 inches to 25 inches and a weight between 75 and 85 lbs.

These dogs are intelligent and stubborn; they may take more time to train than usual. However, Grand Bleus are friendly and good with kids and love human contact, making them good for families (especially active ones).

These dogs are low maintenance. They will require a minimal amount of brushing/grooming, and a moderate to high amount of exercise, depending on their living environment.

The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is a scenthound with a long legacy that can be traced back to the original scenting dogs of Gaul and the Phoenicia. This breed is one of the two types from which most modern hound breeds have descended. The Grand Bleu is probably most closely related of the Bleu de Gascogne breeds to the ancient hounds of Gascony Province, located on the southwestern coast of France. Dogs of this breed were commonly engaged as a trail hound for hunting large game including wolves, bears, boars and deer.

It is recorded that a pack of these dogs were owned by the 16th century King of France, Henry IV. Furthermore, this breed has a long history in the United States. They have been bred in the U.S. since the 18th century, and there are now more Grand Bleu's there than in France. After the revolutionary war, the French General Lafayette presented a pack of seven Grand Bleus to George Washington, who admired them for their sonorous howl. The Grand Bleu de Gascogne was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1991.

The Grand Bleu is a dog of noble and refined appearance. It carries itself proudly, and it sports a solid, muscular build. Males are heavier and slightly taller than females. The short, coarse coat is often marked with black patches, and there are usually two black spots on each side of the head that cover the ears and eyes and stop at the cheeks. There are small tan markings above the eyes, on the cheeks, inside the ears, on the legs and under the tail. Their ears are floppy and very large, extending below the muzzle.

A trail hound with a calm and persevering attitude, the Grand Bleu is a dog that is excellent both as a worker and a companion. These dogs were originally used to hunt wolves but have since successfully adapted to hunting other animals such as wild boar, deer, fox and hare. This breed possesses a great amount of confidence, endurance, and exceptional intelligence, though this comes at the cost of its stubbornness. These dogs may be difficult to train and may not always want to do exactly what their owner tells them owing to their independence.

Despite this, these dogs are very friendly to humans and other dogs. Some individuals may be very sociable, and others may be more reserved, but they will never be very shy or aggressive. As a hunting and working breed that has long worked alongside other hounds and their handlers, aggression towards other dogs and people is almost unheard of, though they may take chase to small animals. If these dogs are to be living with cats or other pets, it is very important to socialize at a young age.

These dogs are not known to have any hereditary issues and should live between 10 and 12 years. It is important to check these dog's ears regularly for signs of infection.