Grand Bleu de Gascogne
"grahn bler duh gas-KOHN"
France· Gascony, south-west France
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne is a large, deep-voiced scenthound from south-west France, bred for centuries to hunt wolves and later wild boar and deer in packs across rough countryside.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Large
Exercise needs
1.5-2 hours daily, ideally off lead in safe areas
Home size suited to
Medium to large home
Grooming frequency
Weekly brush
Coat length
Short
Sheds
Yes, heavily when moulting
Lifespan
10-12 years
Town or country
Happiest in the country
Garden size needed
Medium or larger
Where it comes from
Origins of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne
Bred for centuries in Gascony, in the hilly, wooded south-west of France, where packs of hounds were needed to track wolves and boar across long distances. The terrain favoured stamina and a powerful voice to keep the pack together.
- Region
- Gascony, south-west France
- Climate it was bred for
- Mild, hilly southern French countryside
- Original job
- Pack hunting of wolf, boar and deer
The long read
About the breed
Its origins trace to hounds kept by the counts of Foix and Gascony in the medieval period, refined over generations in the Gascony region to hunt in cry-following packs across long distances. It is considered one of the ancestor breeds behind several French and American scenthounds, including a documented influence on the American Bloodhound-type packs taken to the United States.
Living with a Grand Bleu suits a rural household with space and patience, as it is a working pack hound at heart: it has a loud, resonant bay, a powerful nose that will follow any interesting scent regardless of instruction, and a laid-back, affectionate character at home once exercise needs are met. It is not a breed suited to town life or households wanting a quiet dog.
Today it survives mainly in French hunting circles and among a small number of enthusiasts elsewhere in Europe, remaining rare outside its homeland and largely unchanged from its working pack origins.
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Friendliness
4/5
How openly the Grand Bleu de Gascogne greets people it does not know.
Trainability
2/5
Independent hound instincts make recall difficult.
Energy
4/5
Needs plenty of exercise but relaxed once settled.
Barking
5/5
Loud, resonant baying is characteristic.
Grooming
2/5
Short coat needs minimal grooming.
Suits a first-time owner
2/5
How forgiving the Grand Bleu de Gascogne is for someone taking on their first dog.
Sociability
4/5
Sociable, especially with other hounds.
Independence
5/5
Bred to work scent independently of handlers.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Skull
The Grand Bleu de Gascogne's skull is judged on balance rather than size — proportionate to the body, with a clean cheek and a stop typical of the breed. Coarseness or an over-refined head are both faulted.
Colours & patterns
Recognised coats
Which coats the standard accepts — and which are simply popular.
Blue mottled
Standard colour
The signature mottled blue-black-and-white ticking that gives the breed its name.
Black patched with tan
Standard colour
Large black patches over the mottled base with tan points.
Timeline
History & development
Medieval period
Early pack hounds
Hounds resembling the modern breed were kept by nobility in Gascony to hunt wolves.
16th century
Refinement
French hunting families developed a consistent blue-mottled type for boar and deer.
1785
Export to America
General Lafayette gifted hounds of this type to George Washington, influencing American scenthound breeding.
20th century
Formal standard
The French kennel club established a written standard for the breed.
1950s onward
The breed today
Kennel club registrations settled into a steady pattern and the Grand Bleu de Gascogne moved from a working specialist to a family companion, with breed clubs in the UK and abroad now focused on health testing and keeping true type alive.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Long, muscular, deep chest
- coat
- Short, weatherproof, close-lying
- ears
- Long, thin, set low and rolled inward
- eyes
- Dark, gentle expression
- gait
- Long, effortless stride suited to distance work
- head
- Long, narrow, with a pronounced occiput
- size
- Large
- tail
- Long, carried in a sabre curve
- colour
- Blue mottled, Black patched with tan. Colours outside this list are seen but are not accepted by the kennel clubs.
- temperament
- Typical of the breed: strongest in independence, barking, energy. Nervousness or aggression are serious faults in the show ring and in the home.
- general appearance
- Large, elegant hound of noble bearing
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
Hip dysplasia
Screen for it
Ask for hip scores given the breed's size.
Ear infections
Low concern
Long, low-set ears need regular checking.
Bloat
Watch closely
Feed smaller meals and rest after eating in this deep-chested breed.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
Dogs like this
Grand Bleu de Gascognes added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
Loading the wall…
Made for the Grand Bleu de Gascogne
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Grand Bleu de Gascogne illustration — and one everyday accessory that suits any dog.
The book
Pawpoint: The Complete Dog Breed Book
Every officially recognised breed plus the unofficial ones nobody else documents. 400+ pages, hardback, printed and shipped from the UK.
Own stock — shipped by us
Framed poster
Grand Bleu de Gascogne Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Grand Bleu de Gascogne illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Grand Bleu de Gascogne Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Grand Bleu de Gascogne illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Grand Bleu de Gascogne Mug
Ceramic mug with the Grand Bleu de Gascogne illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
Car Seatbelt Restraint
Clips any harness to a standard seatbelt buckle.
Fits any dog
Pawpoint on YouTube
Watch the full Grand Bleu de Gascogne video
Breed deep-dives, history and honest ownership talk. New film every week.
Watch now