Basset Bleu De Gascogne Dogs

A Basset Bleu De Gascogne with a sleek long body and short legs

A gorgeous Basset Bleu De Gascogne with floppy ears

A handsome Basset Bleu De Gascogne with a lovely mottled coat

History

The Basset Bleu de Gascogne is a French hunting breed belonging to the Hound group of dogs. It descends from the Grand Basset de Gascogne which has been around for centuries. The breed was used by commoners who were allowed to hunt after the French Revolution; prior to this it was only nobility allowed to hunt. Being on foot, they needed a slower dog that could track and hunt, but one they could also keep up with. The breed became very rare until a concerted effort was made to bring it back from the brink of extinction. The breed is rarely seen outside of it's native France.

Behaviour

The BBDG is a laid back breed when in the home but an excitable one when out on walks. They have an excellent nose for tracking and will dash off in search of quarry given half a chance. They are good around children and generally very chilled out when surrounded by their family. They have a need to be around people but can be left for short periods without any problems. They get on well with other dogs and cats and are fine with strangers if properly socialised at at early age. If bored, they can be very destructive.

When it comes to training, they can be slow to learn, but this is more down to stubbornness, rather than lack of intelligence. They need a firm , yet fair hand with consistent training. Food is a good motivator as they can be greedy. Walking on a long lead is best as once they get a scent they can disappear with surprising speed, or in a secure area to prevent them wandering off. Recall can be hit and miss when it comes to an interesting smell, although with proper training it should be quite good. When at home, the BBDG is lazy and will happily sleep all day, somewhere comfortable like your bed or the sofa. They are very relaxed, but do need a fair amount of exercise to prevent then becoming too fat. When out walking they seem to come alive and have lots of energy. Their bark is low and almost melodic, baying is common with the breed and it is loud!

Their coat is very low maintenance, being so short, it only requires a weekly brush to get rid of loose fur.

Health wise, they seem to cope well with most issues, but their backs can cause them problems later in life. Lots of stair climbing should be avoided as this puts unnecessary strain on their spine. The same is said for jumping off furniture. They can sometimes get ear infections and Gastric Torsion (Bloat) is more common in the breed.

Temperament

Basset Bleu De Gascognes have a sociable and easy going temperament. They are very companionable and love to spend as much time with you as possible. When out they love to search and hunt following their nose wherever it takes them. They are sociable dogs who will usually enjoy meeting new people and animals but early socialisation will help them become rounded and confident rather than shy or timid.

Health Problems

Health problems that may affect Basset Bleu De Gascognes include canine hip dysplasia (CHD), luxating patella (dislocation of the kneecap), intervertebral disc disease (pressure on spinal cord that can cause blindness, elbow dysplasia and allergies.