The Basset Bleu De Gascogne Shop
Basset Bleu De Gascogne Breed Summary
Friendly, Out-going, Energetic, Playful and Calm
This breed is thought to date back to the 14th century in Gascony, a region in South-West France. They were bred down from the larger sized Grand Bleu de Gascogne and originally used to hunt small furry mammals, namely rabbits due to their fantastic noses! The breed nearly suffered a complete extinction in the 1890s and it is only because of a man named Alain Bourbon that they still exist today. In the early 20th century, he bred a few of the remaining dogs with other Bassets to instill a new era of the breed! These dogs, although fairly well-known in France, are essentially unknown elsewhere, with only a handful of people breeding them out of their native country. They are one of several breeds of Basset, of which the name refers to their short build.
| Kennel Club Group | Hound |
| Lifespan | 12 - 14 years |
| Height (at the withers) | Males and Females 12in- 15in |
| Weight | Males and Females 35lb- 39.5lb |
| Coat | Dense, Short coat that is Thick |
| Color | Blue |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Common health issues | Obesity, Skin Infections, Inverterbral Disc Degeneration |
| Other Names | Blue Gascony Basset, Bleus de Gascogne |
These little guys are well-known for their friendly and outgoing personalities. They rarely act aggressively towards anyone! During the day they can often be found sniffing out prey with their hunter owners but are more than happy to take a nap and chill out on the sofa once the work is over! For this reason, they make excellent family dogs for those who enjoy hunting – and especially enjoy his ability to bark a lot! They don't, however, suit apartment living or houses with close-by neighbors. They normally get on with other animals, such as cats and dogs and also get on very well with children! Other than this, the Basset Bleu's have fairly different personalities; many will enjoy playing and running around whilst others will prefer to nap on your lap.
The Basset Bleu de Gascogne is a very old breed that directly descended from an even older breed. His history can be traced back to the 14th century where he originated in the region of Gascony located in southwest France. He was developed by breeding down the Grand Bleu de Gascogne. The Grand Bleu de Gascogne was too large to hunt the smaller game that would escape into thick underbrush, so the Basset Bleu de Gascogne was created for the purpose of going into the thick underbrush and flushing out small game such as rabbits.
In the 1890s the Basset Bleu de Gascogne was almost extinct because of the sharp decline in hunting and the need for hunting dogs. There were very few to be found until Alain Bourbon began resurrecting the breed in the early 20th century. Bourbon did not fully document his breeding practices and therefore, nobody knows exactly how he was able to revive the breed. One theory is that Bourbon was able to breed a few of the original Basset Bleu de Gascogne's with the Grand Bleu de Gascogne and the Basset Saintongeois. Another theory is that the Basset Bleu de Gascogne simply came from a mutation of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne and both breeds are the same, except for the size. The overall look of the Basset Bleu de Gascogne did change slightly in appearance and more closely resembled the stereotypical Basset Hound.
The Basset Bleu de Gascogne has been recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale and as well in 1991, the United Kennel Club, even though there are very few located in the United States. He is rarely found anywhere outside of France and there are only a few breed-specific clubs for the Basset Bleu de Gascogne.