Dog
Group:
Hound 
Grand Bleu de Gascogne Champions
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Pronunciation:
grand bloo de gaskɔɲ
Breed Description:
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne breed of dog is a large sized breed of dog that should not appear overweight or massive. They should have a sturdy appearance but they should have moderate bone with an athletic appearance. The top line of the dog should be level and slightly longer than they are tall. The head should be slightly elongated but it should still appear strong. The ears should be long and should hang down the side of the head. The tail of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne should be long and carried in a saber like fashion.
The coat should be short and smooth. It should be thick and should cover the dog completely. The color should be very specific and should be a mottled black and white, which creates a blue effect to the coat. The coat can be marked with black patches on either side of the head, which covers the ears, cheeks and eyes, and black patches on the body. They often have a blaze between the black patches on the head and they should have tan markings on the cheeks, under the tail, inside the ears, above the eyes, and on the legs.
Temperament:
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne breed of dog is a hunting breed and because of this, you should expect a lot of the traits that are common for hunting breeds. They usually have a stubborn temperament and do need a firm owner. The breed should be calm and have an even temper. They are not known for being agressive and will usually be quite friendly with everyone. They can be patient with children and usually get along well with other pets and dogs. The breed is known for being very confident.
Height:
The average height of the Grand Bleu de Gasconge is between 23.5 to 25.5 inches for a female and 25.5 to 27.5 inches for a male.
Weight:
The weight of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne should be in proportion to the height. In general, the Grand Bleu de Gascogne is between 80 to 120 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne breed of dog is considered to be a very hardy breed and has few known health problems at this time.
Living Conditions:
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne breed of dog is not recommended for apartments. This is a hunting breed and does much better in a home with a large yard or acreage.
Exercise:
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne breed of dog is a very active breed and requires 45 to 60 minutes of exercise each day.
Life Expectancy:
12 to 14 years
Grooming:
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne breed of dog is a very easy breed to groom and they require little to no maintenance to keep their coats healthy. On average, you should expect to brush your dog on a weekly basis to remove dead hairs and dirt. A wipe down with a damp cloth will keep them clean and they should only be bathed when it is absolutely necessary. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis and nails should be clipped once or twice a month.
Origin:
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne breed of dog was developed in Gascony Province in France and is considered to be a very ancient breed. In fact, the breed is believed to have been developed from Phoenician and Gaul hounds. Originally used for hunting in packs, the breed still maintains many of the characteristics of its ancestors and is often described as the "King of Hounds". They were commonly used for hunting wolves, but were also used for hunting other large prey. The breed was recognized by the UKC in 1991, but it is an old breed and efforts have been undertaken to preserve the breed and save it from extinction. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
