Origin
The Basset Bleu de Gascogne is a long-backed, short-legged breed of hounds type. As his name suggests, the Basset Bleu de Gascogne came from a place called Gascony in southwest France during the Middle Ages. Grand Bleu de Gascogne, a Scenthound of ancient lineage, is said to be the oldest ancestor of these dogs.
It is believed that the Basset Bleu de Gascogne was developed following the French Revolution so that it can be used by the common people who would hunt on foot.
Before that era, hunting was not open for everyone and was only reserved for the royal families who generally hunted on horseback.
France has many breeds of hounds, several of which have been imported to Britain. The Basset Bleu de Gascogne is the most recent of these native breeds.
Today, it is still considered rare outside of its homeland. It almost became extinct in the early 20th century but was recreated using some larger Bleu de Gascogne.
It was not officially recognized internationally by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale until the 1990s.
Traits and Behavior
The Basset Bleu De Gascogne is a nice and active breed, which is very suitable as a hunting dog rather than a companion dog. Basset Bleu de Gascogne socializes with children very well and rarely causes problems with other dogs. The breed can, however, be difficult in the company of cats and other small animals.
The dog breed is not quite easy to train, as it can be both stubborn and headstrong. But a dog owner can eventually activate the Basset Blue de Gascogne with the right, friendly approach and extreme patience. As a hunting dog, a Basset Bleu de Gascogne is not suited to a life in an apartment.
It is necessary to have the lawn be fenced because the Basset Bleu de Gascogne might run away.
Pet Care and Diseases
Basset Bleu de Gascogne is not known to suffer any major hereditary diseases. Food allergies have been reported and may be prone to suffer from gastric torsion, a painful and sometimes fatal volvulus.
A volvulus is a bowel obstruction of a loop of the bowel whose nose has completely twisted around its site of mesenteric attachment.
Because of this, two smaller meals a day may be advisable instead of one large meal.
The hair on the Basset Bleu de Gascogne does not require much care. To remove loose and dead hair, frequent combing is advised with a rubber brush. Also, always check for the ears in case there is a presence of infection.
The Basset Blue de Gascogne finds it very difficult to adapt to the cold climate so provide it with some protective clothing or blanket to keep it warm during winter. Also, they need continual physical training to maintain good health.
Appearance
The Basset Blue de Gascone is a short-haired breed, with a shoulder height that is typically between 34-42 centimeters. This dog usually not heavy and they weigh between 16-18 kg. The body is longer horizontally. The chest is roomy and long, extending below the elbows. The sternum is prominent and the ribs are well sprung.
The back is long and well supported. The loin is short and sometimes arched, and the croup is slightly sloping. The body is deep at the flank. These dogs have dark brown eyes and low-hanging ears.
The term ‘Bleu’ in its name refers to its coat. The black markings on the white base produce the ‘blue’ color. There is also the presence of brown spots and tan markings above the eyes and on the ears.
General Information
The estimated lifespan of this dog is 10-14 years. The average litter size is 4-7 puppies. Other names include Blue Gascony Basset and Bleus de Gascogne.
Breed Club
Visit this dog club website dedicated to Basset Bleu de Gascogne. Click this link: http://bleudegascogne.lebonforum.com/