Griffon Bleu de Gascogne

The Griffon Bleu de Gascogne became very rare at a certain time, but the beautiful qualities and great aptitudes of this hunter in the soul seem to be winning back the hearts of amateurs, because the breed is now experiencing a considerable expansion.

Height 48 to 57 cm
Weight 20 to 25 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 13 years
Home country France

Quick Overview of the Griffon Bleu de Gascogne

Temperament

  • Awakened and full of ardor
  • Gentle and loving
  • Compatible with family
  • Prefers hunting and exercise

Appearance

  • Very hardy appearance
  • Hard and rough coat
  • Curled ears
  • Saber-shaped tail

Health

  • Hardy and robust
  • Rarely ill
  • No genetic disease
  • No particular pathology

Temperament of the Griffon Bleu de Gascogne

Awake, full of ardor, diligent, gentle and affectionate, the Griffon Bleu de Gascogne is a hunting dog at heart.

Although he is compatible with family life, he prefers hunting and exercising to idleness.

He needs to be trained firmly and early, as well as socialized.

In the family, he is very sweet and alert. He is not sedentary and prefers to roam rather than wait for the family's attention.

Breed Appearance

gascony blue griffin

The Griffon Bleu de Gascogne is a happy canine blend.

With a very hardy appearance, he is solidly built, showing off his great tenacity at work.

His physique makes him fit for sustained and diligent work.

Height

Between 50 and 57 cm (19.69 to 22.44 inches) for the male
Between 48 and 55 cm (18.90 to 21.65 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 20 and 25 kg (44.09 to 55.12 pounds) for the male
Between 20 and 25 kg (44.09 to 55.12 pounds) for the female

Color

The color of his robe is entirely speckled with black and white, giving a pretty slate blue reflection.

Hair

His coat hair is hard, shaggy and very rough.

Morphology

His skull is slightly domed, and the stop is lightly accentuated.

His eyes are oval and brown. His ears are curled and flexible and usually reach the base of the nose.

His nose is all black. His tail is carried as a sword blade.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 6, section 1 and is #32

Griffon Bleu de Gascogne puppies near me

Tips About this breed

This extremely versatile hunting dog is a little slower than other hounds, but he is very hardy, which leads him to perform his work in a very diligent manner.

He is a hard worker and very tenacious, greatly appreciated by many hunters.

It is easy for him to work alone or in a pack, but he must learn to socialize very early to work and live with his peers. Some subjects are sometimes quarrelsome when they live in pack.

As the Griffon Bleu de Gascogne is intended to hunt in packs, it is preferable that he lives in kennels.

His education must be firm and precocious in order to make him obedient. His socialization must also be undertaken very early, especially if he has to live in a pack.

Poorly adapted to city life, wide open spaces are his favourite playground.

His need for exercise is great and he must be able to run at he wishes as often as possible.

Health of the Griffon Bleu de Gascogne

Very hardy and robust, this solid hunting dog is rarely sick, as long as he can exercise daily.

The breed is not affected by any genetic disease or particular pathology.

Some dogs are affected by ear infections, but regular checking of the ears usually avoids this kind of problem. The breed enjoys a good life expectancy.

GROOMING

His large and beautiful ears require regular checking, especially after hunting episodes.

His particularly rough fleece must be brushed regularly and vigorously to keep it clean and healthy.

No other special maintenance is required.

History of this breed

It is a very old breed coming from France and present in the South West of the country for a very long time.

He is found especially in Gascony, where he comes from a cross between a Griffon and medium-sized Bleu de Gascogne hound.

He has retained his French characteristics from pure ancient breeds of the country, remaining close to the old continental hound.

He belongs to the family of hounds from the same region, along with the Ariegeois, Gascon Saintongeois and Bleu de Gascogne.

During the reign of Henry IV, he was highly prized by the king for hunting wild boar and wolves.

After almost disappearing, the Griffon Bleu de Gascogne is once again becoming increasingly popular. The breed is in great demand for puppies and adult dogs in his home country as well as abroad.

This very versatile hound is used a lot for hare gun hunting, but can also be useful for hunting wild boar or roe deer.

As part of the large family of hounds, he can run after unwounded game, as well as chase it by smell.

His fine nose and deep bark make him a much appreciated hunting dog.

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