Griffon Bleu de Gascogne

All blue Gascony hounds are descended from crosses of ancient French scent hounds including the Saint Hubert Hound. The Large Blue Gascony Hound is, however, considered the precursor of the other blue Gascony breeds. Of Pyrenean origin, the Blue Gascony Griffon is the result of a cross between a medium-sized blue Gascony hound and a griffon. After nearly becoming extinct, the breed is currently experiencing a resurgence in its populations, notably thanks to the work of the breed club.

The temperament of the Blue Gascony Griffon is described as alert, even bustling, and very affectionate in the FCI standard. Blue Gascony hounds in general are considered docile and very attached to their master, very gentle with children and sociable with other dogs.

The Blue Gascony Griffon is a griffon-type dog of medium size and rustic, solidly built appearance. The tail is quite hairy, reaching just the point of the hock and carried gaily in a saber-like manner. The skull is slightly domed and not too broad when viewed from the front. Viewed from above, the back of the skull is ogival in shape. The stop is not very pronounced. Oval in shape, the eyes are dark chestnut. Attached just below the eye line, the ears are supple, papilloted without excess and not very pointed and reach the tip of the nose. The coat is hard, rough and hirsute. Somewhat shorter on the head, the eyebrows are full without covering the eyes. The coat is speckled black and white, giving a slate blue reflection, marked or not with black spots of varying sizes. Two black spots are generally placed on each side of the head and cover the ears and the area around the eyes. These spots do not meet on top of the skull: a small oval black spot is frequently found in the white interval. Two tan marks of varying intensity are placed above the eyebrow arch. Tan traces are present on the cheeks, lips, inside of the ear, on the limbs and under the tail.