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Your Pet, Our Passion.

Basset Bleu de Gascogne

Athletic and aristocratic, the Basset Bleu de Gascogne is a powerful hound without the heaviness of some basset types. The body is long and low, but also lean and dry, without excess skin or exaggerated ears.

Lifespan
10 years
Weight
15 – 18kg
Height
30 – 38cm
Colours
A mottled black and white that appears slightly blue. Tan markings may also be seen
Size
Medium
Kennel Club Groups
Hound
The need-to-know
  • Dogs suitable for experienced owners
  • Extra training required
  • Generally healthy breed
  • Enjoys vigorous walks
  • Enjoys more than two hours of walking a day
  • Large dog
  • Some drool
  • Requires grooming once a week
  • Chatty and vocal dog
  • Barks and alerts to visitors/anything unusual
  • Generally friendly with other dogs
  • May need additional training to live with other pets
  • Great family dog
  • Needs a large garden
  • Best suited to countryside
  • Cannot be left alone
Generally healthy breed

The Basset Bleu have long backs and short legs and, like other breeds with this body shape, are likely to suffer from spinal disorders and joint problems as a result;
- Intervertebral disc disease: a condition where there is abnormality in the discs which act to cushion the bones in the spine. The discs can dislodge or burst, which puts pressure on the nerves in the spinal cord leading to back pain and weakness or paralysis of the limbs.
- Angular limb deformities: caused by asynchronous growth of a pair of bones, which appear bowed or rotated and may result in pain and lameness.

The breed can also suffer from:
- Ear infections

Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing: 
None but there are several recommended schemes that the Kennel Club recommends which can be found here.

Personality

Described as sagacious and audacious, the Basset Bleu de Gascogne is very much a working hound. Never happier than when their noses is to the ground, tail up in the air following a scent. Reserved with strangers but affectionate to the point of comical with loved ones, this is a hound-lovers hound, suited to those who expect a dog to check all available options and consult a higher power before complying with a request! Provided the opportunity to follow scent, run and find hidden toys or treats, this is a happy, highly amusing dog to live with.

Did You Know?

  • France takes its scent-hounds very seriously, there is almost a type for each region, available in a variety of sizes, coat types and colours. The names are usefully descriptive, unlike many of the UK hounds who are named for some obscure gentleman or historic mansion.
  • The Basset Bleu de Gascogne translates to ‘low, blue, from Gascogny’; the Grand Bleu de Gascogne translates to ‘large, blue, from Gascogny’. When it comes to French hounds, a grasp of the language gives you all the physical descriptions you need. Petit means small, Briquet means middle sized, Grand means large, Basset means low, Griffon means hairy, Bleu means blue coloured, Fauve means tawny or fawn. If you like hounds, there is sure to be a French hound for you!