Grand Blue de Gascogne Picture Gallery

Grand Blue de Gascogne Breeders

Grand Blue de Gascogne Clubs/Associations

The Full Grand Blue de Gascogne Description

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

One of the larger French hunting hounds with aristocratic long head, characteristic head markings and distinctive colour.

Characteristics

Highly developed sense of smell and deep bay.

Temperament

Gentle and kind.

Head and Skull

Large, long and distinguished. Occiput pronounced. Slight stop, loose skin covering head and forming one or two wrinkles along cheeks, lips pendulous and well pigmented. Black palate.

Eyes

Dark chestnut colour, not prominent. Sad, trusting expression.

Ears

Set low, fine, curled inward reaching at least to tip of nose.

Mouth

Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Medium length, rounded, carrying dewlap.

Forequarters

Strong, straight and well boned. Elbows close to body, shoulders well laid and muscular.

Body

Chest well developed, being long, wide and deep. Ribs moderately rounded; back rather long and muscular. Flanks deep and wide.

Hindquarters

Broad and well muscled. Hocks low to ground, set wide apart and parallel. Sloping croup. Prominent hip bones.

Feet

Long, oval, deep and well padded.

Tail

(Stern) Well set on, rather thick, fairly long and carried sickle fashion.

Gait/Movement

Loose limbed and long striding.

Coat

Smooth, weather resistant and not too short.

Colour

Black marked on a white base but covered entirely with black mottling which gives a blue appearance. Two black marks are found on head, covering each ear, enveloping eyes and stopping at cheeks. Blaze also mottled, but a small black mark is often found on skull, a characteristic of the breed. Above each eye a spot of tan gives breed ‘four-eyed’ effect. Tan marks also found on cheeks, lips, inside ears, on legs and under tail. Some hounds completely mottled, but always have required tan marks.

Size

Height: dogs: 64-70 cms (25-271/2 ins); bitches: 60-65 cms (231/2-251/2 ins).