Petit Bleu de Gascogne

Petit Bleu de Gascogne

Petit Bleu de Gascogne (31)
Country of origin	France
Traits Height Male 52–58 cm (20–23 in) Female 50–56 cm (20–22 in) Coat Short and thick Colour Mottled black and white
Classification / standards FCI Group 6:Scenthounds. Section 1.2: Medium sized hounds #31 standard UKC Scenthound standard
Dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Petit Bleu de Gascogne (FCI No.31) Is a breed of dog of the scenthound type, originating in France and used for hunting in packs. Today's breed is the descendant of a very old type of large hunting dog. The Petit Bleu de Gascogne is not a small (petite) dog, the name comes from its use on small game.

Appearance

The Petit Bleu de Gascogne is directly descended from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne, a hound of ancient type. Smaller examples of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne were selected for hunting small game such as hare (the Grand Bleu de Gascogne was developed to hunt wolves, bears and boars) and eventually became a separate breed. It is a medium-large size dog, not a small dog, standing 52 to 58 cm (20.5 to 23 ins) at the withers, with females slightly smaller.^[1]

The colour of the coat is the same as the Grand Bleu de Gascogne, white mottled with black, giving a slate blue overall appearance. There are black patches on either side of the head, with a white area on top of the head which has in it a small black oval. Tan "eyebrow" marks are over each eye give a 'quatreoeuillé' (four-eyed) effect. Faults are deviations in appearance that have an effect on the health and working ability of the dog, as well as an absence of expected features of colour, structure, and size, indicating that a dog with such faults should not be bred. Faults include aggression or fearfulness, anatomical malformation, and lack of type.^[1]

The Petite Bleu de Gascogne is noted for working well in a pack and being calm and easy to handle.^[1]

History

The Grand Bleu de Gascogne's ancestors were contemporary with the St.Hubert Hounds, dogs that were hunted in packs by the 14th century Comte de Foix on wolves, bears and boars. The slightly smaller Petit Bleu de Gascogne used on small game may have existed along with the boar hunting dog for centuries.^[1]

"Petite" does not necessarily refer to the size of the dogs, but refers to the French expression for hounds used for smaller game.^[2]

Health and temperament

No unusual health problems or claims of extraordinary health have been documented for this breed. Temperament of individual dogs may vary, but in general dogs bred to be pack hunting dogs do not make good pets.

See also

• Anglo French and French Hounds
• Dog terminology
• Grand Bleu de Gascogne
• Griffon Bleu de Gascogne
• Basset Bleu de Gascogne

References

External links

• Search The Open Directory Project (DMOZ) links for clubs and information about the Petite Bleu de Gascogne

Dogs originating in France Hounds Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie Ariegeois Artois Hound Basset Artésien Normand Basset Bleu de Gascogne Basset Fauve de Bretagne Beagle-Harrier Billy Briquet Griffon Vendéen Gascon Saintongeois Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noir Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen Grand Bleu de Gascogne Grand Griffon Vendéen Griffon Bleu de Gascogne Griffon Fauve de Bretagne Griffon Nivernais Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Petit Bleu de Gascogne Poitevin Porcelaine Gun dogs Ariege Pointer Barbet Blue Picardy Spaniel Braque d'Auvergne Braque du Bourbonnais Braque Francais Braque Saint-Germain Brittany French Spaniel Picardy Spaniel Pont-Audemer Spaniel Saint-Usuge Spaniel Pastoral dogs Beauceron Berger Picard Briard Great Pyrenees Pyrenean Shepherd Other Cursinu Dogue de Bordeaux Papillon Extinct Braque du Puy Chien-gris Talbot