There are those breeds, we concede, that have a “hang dog” expression (pardon our pun), and the Grand Bleu De Gascogne must be one of them to have inspired one French canine authority to describe the dog’s “majestic allure and aristocratic melancholy.” To be fair, what preceded this description by De Castets in the book, ‘Les Cheins Courant’ is as follows:

“There is not among the breeds of hounds a  more noble beast than the Bleu de Gascogne.
With its majestic allure, height, shimmering coat, powering voice,
majestic and aristocratic melancholy.”

If you are predisposed to large hounds, this is a breed you should consider (though you will have to work at finding one, rare as they are in the United States). These aren’t “sad” dogs, of course, that impression sometimes given by a droopy (and wonderful) face, but they are calm, get along well with other dogs, have a superb “cold” nose and melodious voice. They retain a puppy mindset and thrive in an active household.

Wanna “die” a little? Below is a litter of loquacious Bleus wanting: 1) To get out of the whelping box; 2) To be fed; 3) All of the above. Fair warning – they have a lot to say, so turn your volume down:

There’a another reason to consider a Bleu: You would be the steward of an important breed in the ancestry of many other hounds. You would own a piece of history since the Bleu’s ancestors were contemporaries of St. Hubert Hounds and hunted in packs by the 14th century Comte de Foix, a breed that was the forerunner of the southern hound known in England during the Middle Ages.

Photo found on Pinterest happily credited upon receipt of information