There are four “Gascogne” dog breeds: The Basset Bleu de Gascogne, Grand Bleu de Gascogne, Petit Bleu de Gascogne, and Griffon Bleu de Gascogne, but the “daddy” of them all is the Grand Bleu de Gascogne. A descendent of the original scenting dogs of the Gaul and the Phoenician hound trade (likely the now extinct Chien de Courant), the Grand Bleu is an important breed in the ancestry of many other hound breeds (the American Foxhound, the Bluetick Coonhound, and the Catahoula Leopard Dog), and some cynologists think it was the forerunner of the Southern hound known in England during the Middle Ages. That is an old breed.

We sidetrack for a moment to mention that the other three Gascognes that came out of the Grand Blue were hand tailored, so to speak, to fit specific niches in French hunting: The Griffon is distinctive from the other three for its wiry coat. It was likely developed in the 13th century by crossing the Grand Blue with the Griffon Nervais, and possibly the Grand Griffon Vendeen.

The Petit, created in the 1500s to hunt small game (the Grand Blue was put on large game) developed when people chose the smallest Grand Bleus to breed. After a few generations, the Petit Bleu was cemented and rose in popularity with rabbit hunters.

The Basset Blue is a long-backed, short legged dog, and is one of six types of Basset Hounds recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Its roots, however, are debated. One school of thought is that the Basset Blue is the result of a cross between the Grand Bleu with the Saintongeois Basset; another theory is that it is a natural mutation of the Grand combined with selective breeding for shorter legs in order to slow down the breed. 

Three distinct breeds, each created for very specific game and hunting scenarios, with a common denominator in the Grand Bleu.

The Grand Bleu is one of the world’s largest scent hounds with a well deserved reputation as the “coldest nosed” dog (it gives voice long after a “hot” scent has faded). Interestingly, one source writes that there are now more Bleu de Gascognes in the United States than anywhere else in the world, but increasingly, hunters from the rest of the world are beginning to discover this breed. We suspect this pack may be owned by Theunis Botha Big Game Hounds which acquired their dogs in the mid 90s and employs the tradition of French hunting, namely Chasse a courre, Gran La Venerie.

The Grand is recognized by the United Kennel Club and the FCI, but as yet, not by the AKC for reasons we touch upon in this earlier post.

Image: Zentangle Grand Bleu de Gascogne by Joan Williams is available as a fine art print and greeting card here