Basset Bleu de Gascogne Dog

The namesake of basset bleu de Gascogne is the province of Gascony in southwestern France. This type of hound has been bred here for a long time, and after the French Revolution the breed survived in three sizes: Grand Chien, Briquet and Basset.

Around 1910 Monsieur Bourbon’s efforts at breeding saved the bleu de Gascogne from disappearing. To stabilize it, he intersected the breed with Saintongeois grand basset bleus. The appearance and size of today’s bleu de Gascogne has been achieved through targeted recruitment.

The basset bleu de Gascogne is a hunting dog for small game. It is used both individually as well as for hunting in a pack. Lovers appreciate their gentle, quiet way, their painstaking work in the hunting of hares and rabbits, their color, and their spurlaut.

Description

A basset bleu de Gascogne should be fairly stout, about 38 inches tall, but not be too heavy. The coat is short, medium thick and dense. The color of basset bleu de Gascogne should be completely black and white speckled. This gives him a slate blue shimmer, with or without more or less extended black patches. The ears are thin, folded, and end sharply. Put forward, they should extend beyond the tip of the nose.