Bleu de Gascogne, Petit
Woof!
The Petit Bleu de Gascogne is directly descended from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne, a hound of ancient type. Smaller examples of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne were selected for hunting small game such as hare (the Grand Bleu de Gascogne was developed to hunt wolves, bears and boars) and eventually became a separate breed.
In 5 Words
- Friendly
- Stubborn
- Not a Leader
- Devoted
- Tireless Tracker
SnapShot
Size:
Males – 50 to 60 cm (20 to 23 inches)
Females – 48 to 57 cm (19 to 22 inches)
Weight:
Males – 18 to 22 kg (40 to 48 lb)
Females – 17 to 18 kg (37 to 40 lb)
Origin: France
Life Span: 12 – 14 Years
Colour: White mottled with black, giving a slate blue
Litter Size: 4 to 8 puppies
Characteristics
Learn About the Bleu de Gascogne, Petit
The Petit Bleu de Gascogne is a Scenthound of ancient lineage, eminently French, showing signs of certain distinction. They are descended from the original scenting dogs of Gaul and the Phoenician hound trade; specifically they developed from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne. They are generally used to hunt hare. Gascony Province, the area of their development, is located on the southwestern coast of France. Every point of the Petit Bleu de Gascogne is for a purpose relevant to preserving the breed and its uniqueness. Judges are asked by the sponsoring breed club to keep this fact in mind when evaluating the merits of the individual hound.
The Petit Bleu de Gascogne has a thick, dense coat. The ears are low set, thicker and less curled than its cousin the Grand Bleu de Gascogne. The long head is refined looking. The chest is deep providing ample space for the large lungs. The forelegs are surprisingly strong in relation to the rest of the body. The thighs are flat but have powerful muscles. The feet are oval and fairly long with black pads and tan hair.
The Petit Bleu de Gascogne has a superior nose and is an excellent hound, which can follow the faintest of scents. Resourceful and determined, this breed is usually not easy to obedience train. It gets along extremely well with other dogs. It needs a firm, but calm, confident and consistent pack leader who provides the proper amount of mental and physical exercise and who sets the rules of the home and sticks to them.
Since their coat is short yet dense, a good brushing a week will satisfy this dog. Bathing time is not a problem or issue, and they should be bathed once a month or even less if they are regularly outside. Living for twelve years, they do not have any common health problems to their breed, they just need a daily dose of vigorous walks and a healthy diet to stop them from gaining weight.
The Petit Griffon 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.
