Everything about your Basset Bleu de Gascogne

  The Basset Bleu de Gascogne is a medium French purebred also called the Blue Gascony Basset and the Bleus de Gascogne. It is a hound and the Basset part of its name refers to it being short legged and long bodied. The bleu part of its name refers to the ticked appearance it has and Gascogne is the region of France it comes from. 
  Descendent of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne it is an ancient breed and was bred to be a scent hound tracking larger prey like boar and wolf but also used as well as to track rabbits and hare.

Overview

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  The Basset Bleu de Gascogne is one of the oldest breeds of French Basset and is descended from the large Grand Bleu de Gascogne and the Petit Bleu de Gascogne.  It is not known whether the Basset Bleu de Gascogne is a natural mutation of the larger Bleu de Gascognes or whether the breed was created by crossing a larger Bleu de Gascogne with another breed of Basset, most likely the Saintongeois Basset.
   As the breed was created well-before the keeping of records of dog breeding, the true origin of the breed may never be known.  What is known is that the breed originated in the Gascony region of France, and that the first appearance of what may be a Basset Bleu de Gascogne comes from paintings made in Gascony in the 1300’s.  It is widely believed that Gaston III of Fox-Bearn, the writer of what is considered the classic treatise on medieval hunting, The Livre de Chasse, kept a pack of Basset Bleu de Gascognes.

Quick Facts

  • How can you tell the difference between the Basset Bleu and the Basset Hound? The Basset Bleu has a lighter build, his skin fits more tightly to the body and his legs appear slightly longer. In height, he reaches a maximum of 15 inches at the shoulder, rather than the 14 inches called for by the Basset Hound standard. 
  • The Basset Bleu’s mottled black-and-white coat gives a slate-blue effect, hence the word “bleu” in his name. The coat usually has black patches, plus tan markings above the eyes, on the cheeks and lips, inside the ears, on the legs and beneath the tail. A white blaze on top of the head may include an oval black spot in the center.
  • The Basset Bleu has a narrow, elegant head with very long ears that fold inward. The ears contribute to the Basset Bleu’s scenting ability by sweeping scent up toward the nose.
Breed standards
basset2bbleu2bde2bgascogne-4703700UKC group: Scenthounds

Average lifespan: 12-13 years

Average size: 30-45 lb

Coat appearance: Dense and Short

Coloration:White, black, blue
Hypoallergenic: No
Best Suited For: active singles, apartment or condo, house with a yard, hunting
Temperament: friendly, affectionate, mild, adaptable, social, active
Comparable Breeds: Basset Hound, Grand Bleu de Gascogne
History
  The Basset Bleu is an old breed, dating to the 14th century. He hails from the region of Gascony in southwest France, where he was bred down in size from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne and used to hunt small game, such as rabbits.
  The breed faced extinction by the 1890s, but in the early 20th century, a man named Alain Bourbon came to the breed’s rescue. It’s likely that he ensured its survival by crossing the few remaining dogs with the Basset Saintongeois and the Grand Bleu de Gascogne.
In Europe, the Basset Bleu is recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale. The United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1991. A few people in the United States have the breed, but it is rarely seen outside of France.

Recognition and categorisation
  The Kennel Club of the UK recognizes the Basset Bleu De Gascogne in the imported breed register and in the Hound Group. The United Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1991, and both they and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) list the Basset Bleu De Gascogne in the Scenthound Group. The breed is also known as the Blue Gascony Basset in the FCI. The Basset Bleu De Gascogne is not recognized by the American Kennel Club or the Canadian Kennel Club. In addition to the major registries, the Basset Bleu De Gascogne is also recognized by many minor registries and specialty registries, including as a rare breed under the American Rare Breed Association which uses the FCI standard.

Personality

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  Basset Bleu de Gascognes tend to be lively, happy, active and affectionate dogs. When outside in a hunt they are very agile, focused, full of vigor and stamina. In the home it is more laid back, friendly and social and steady. It wants to be a part of family activities and it can be a loud dog, barking, howling and so on. Training will be needed to stop that on command and understanding neighbors or no close neighbors would be best! It has a very curious nature and will want to explore everything. It is a pack dog though and enjoys having other Bassets around it especially for times when you are out as it does not like to be left alone for long periods.
  This dog tends to be quite friendly with everyone even strangers so it is not the best option if you want a dog that can act as a watchdog. As mentioned in most cases they are an affectionate dog but there are some that a bit more reserved, but a well bred and raised one should never by shy or aggressive. It will be devoted to its owners but can suffer from separation anxiety so is best in a home where someone is there more often than not. It can be stubborn and independent sometimes but is fairly adaptable too.

Health
  The Basset Bleu de Gascogne is generally a healthy and hardy breed not prone to any major inherited conditions. Like all dogs, however, this breed is prone to certain minor health problems which may include bloating, back problems, hip dysplasia, ear infections, and gastric torsion.

Training

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  The Basset Bleu de Gascogne is an intelligent breed that excels in hunting so they are fairly easy to train. The best way to train this breed is to use positive reinforcement training methods and to maintain a firm and consistent hand in leadership. This breed does have a bit of an independent streak due to its hunting background, so be sure to maintain a position of authority in the home. This dog is not meant to be kept solely as a family pet, so be prepared to train your Basset Bleu de Gascogne for hunting or for other dog sports. Generally, they are happen when given a job to do, even if it is not hunting.

Exercise Requirements
  As a hunting breed, the Basset Bleu de Gascogne has moderate needs for exercise. They generally do well with 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily and much of their exercise needs can be met with active playtime or tracking games. These dogs do not do well when left alone for long periods of time.

Grooming
  The Basset Bleu has a short, thick coat that is easy to groom. Give it a good brushing once or twice a week to help remove dead hair and keep the coat shiny.
He may also be prone to ear infections. Keep his ears dry and check them weekly to make sure they’re not red or smelly. If they look dirty, wipe them out with a cleanser recommended by your veterinarian.
  Bathe your dog as needed. That may be weekly, monthly or quarterly, depending on how dirty he gets and your toleration of the houndy odor, often described as musty.
The rest is basic care. Trim the nails every week or two or as needed. Brush the teeth often — with a vet-approved pet toothpaste — for good overall health and fresh breath.

Is the Basset Bleu de Gascogne the Right Breed for you?

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Low Maintenance: Infrequent grooming is required to maintain upkeep.
Moderate Shedding: Routine brushing will help. Be prepared to vacuum often!
Difficult Training: The Basset Bleu de Gascogne isn’t deal for a first time dog owner. Patience and perseverance are required to adequately train it.
Very Active: It will need daily exercise to maintain its shape. Committed and active owners will enjoy performing fitness activities with this breed.
Good with Kids: This is a suitable breed for kids and is known to be playful, energetic, and affectionate around them.

Did You Know?
  The Basset Bleu is one of the rarest, if not the rarest, of the French hound breeds. In English, his name translates to Blue Gascony Basset.

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