Griffon Bleu de Gascogne

Grand Griffon VendéenGriffon Fauve de Bretagne

Griffon Bleu de Gascogne – General Description

The Griffon Bleu de Gascogne is a breed of dog of the scenthound type, originating in France, and is a versatile hunting dog, used on small and large game, in packs or individually. The Griffon Bleu de Gascogne has a speckled, rough coat.

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Classification and Standards

• FCI Group 6, Section 1.2, #32
• UKC Scenthound Group

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Character & Temperament

The breed’s temperament is described in the breed standard as being highly excitable, but affectionate. Temperament of individual dogs may vary.

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History

The Griffon Bleu de Gascogne is descended from crosses between the Bleu de Gascogne and the Griffon Nervais, and possibly the Grand Griffon Vendéen as well.[2] The breed declined for many years, but is now experiencing a revival.[1]

The breed has a good nose and a good voice, and is a good and very alert hunting dog for all kinds of hunting, not just as a pack hound for large game.[2] Examples of the Griffon Bleu de Gascogne have been exported to other countries, where they are promoted as a rare breed for those seeking a unique pet.

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Size & Appearance

The Griffon Bleu de Gascogne is a medium-large dog, 10.5-22.4 inches (50 to 57 cm) at the withers, with a distinctive rough (shaggy) blue speckled coat, drop ears that are not as long as those on other hounds, and a tail carried up and in a slight curve.

The color of the Griffon Bleu de Gascogne’s coat is the same as the Grand Bleu de Gascogne, white mottled with black, giving a slate blue overall appearance. There are black patches on either side of the head, with a white area on top of the head which has in it a small black oval. Tan “eyebrow” marks are over each eye give a ‘quatreoeuillé’ (four-eyed) effect, and tan is found on the cheeks, inside the ears, on the legs, and under the tail. Texture of the coat should be hard and rough, a little shorter on the head than on the body.Faults are deviations in appearance or temperament that have an effect on the health and working ability of the dog, as well as an absence of expected features of color, structure, and size, indicating that a dog with such faults should not be bred. Faults include timidity, soft topline, snipey muzzle, cowhocked, splayed feet, and a wolley coat.

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Health & Maintenance

No unusual health problems or claims of extraordinary health have been documented for this breed.

References

1. Breed Standard – http://www.fci.be/uploaded_files/031gb96_en.doc
2. Clark, Anne Rogers; Andrew H. Brace (1995). The International Encyclopedia of Dogs. Howell Book House. pp. 252. ISBN 0-87605-624-9. – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Rogers_Clark

Photo Credits

1. Alephalpha (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

This article is licensed (except where noted) under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia article Griffon Bleu de Gascogne

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Breed Standard

Griffon Bleu de Gascogne

FCI-Standard N° 32 / 25. 11. 1996 /GB

TRANSLATION : Mrs. Peggy Davis.

ORIGIN : France.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 24.01.1996.

UTILIZATION :

Multipurpose hound used for hunting the hare with the gun. His keenness and fine nose make of him also a precious assistant in the tracking of the wild boar.

F.C.I. CLASSIFICATION :

• Group 6 Scenthounds.
• Section 1.2 Medium sized hounds.

With working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY :

Of very ancient Pyrenean origin, he is the offspring of the crossing of a medium sized Gascony Blue with a Griffon. After having practically disappeared from the official dog fancy, the breed is actually experiencing an important revival.

GENERAL APPEARANCE :

Griffon of rustic appearance, solidly built, being halfway between the two breeds from which he is issued.

BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT :

Fine nose, good voice, intent in his way of hunting, but also full of keenness and enterprise. Temperament alert, even overwhelmingly agitated but yet affectionate.

HEAD :

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Seen from the front, slightly domed and not too broad; the occipital protuberance is lightly marked. Seen from above, the back of the skull is ogival in shape. The forehead is full.
Stop : Not very accentuated.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Black, large, nostrils well open.
Muzzle : Practically the same length as that of the skull. Nasal bridge straight or slightly arched.
Lips : Lightly developed but covering the lower jaw.
Jaws/Teeth : Scissor bite. Incisors set square to the jaws.
Cheeks : Lean.
Eyes : Oval shape; dark chestnut. Very expressive and lively.
Leathers : Supple, curled in without excess, very slightly pointed; must reach the beginning of the nose without going beyond its extremity. Set just below the eyeline.

NECK :

Rather slender, with a little dewlap.

BODY :

Back : Well supported, firm; short.
Loin : Muscled, slightly arched.
Croup : Very slightly oblique.
Chest : Well developed. Ribs rounded without exaggeration.
Flank : Full; underline slightly tucked up towards the back.

TAIL :

Quite hairy; just reaching the point of the hock; well set; carried gaily sabre fashion.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :

View of the ensemble : Strong and vertical legs, the whole without heaviness.
Shoulders : Quite oblique and muscled.
Elbow: Close to body.
Forearm : Strong.

HINDQUARTERS :

View of the ensemble : Vertical and parallel legs. Hindquarters well developed.
Thigh : Well muscled.
Hock : Well let down.
Feet : Oval shape, toes lean and tight. Pads and nails black.

GAIT / MOVEMENT :

Supple and lively.

SKIN :

Quite thick, supple. Black or strongly marbled with black patches, never entirely white. Mucous membranes (hairless zones) black.

COAT

HAIR :

Hard, rough and shaggy. A little shorter on the head where the eyebrows, quite bushy, do not cover the eyes. Much shorter and flat on the leathers.

COLOR :

Entirely mottled (black and white) giving a slate blue effect; marked or not with more or less extended black patches. Two black patches are generally placed at either side of the head, covering the leathers, surrounding the eyes and stopping at the cheeks. They do not meet on top of the skull, they leave a white interval in the middle of which is frequently found a little black oval shaped spot, typical of the breed. There are two more or less bright tan markings above the superciliary arches giving a “quatroeuillé” effect to the eyes. Equally one finds traces of tan on the cheeks, the lips, the inner face of the leathers, on the legs and under the tail.

SIZE :

Height at the withers : Males : 50 to 57 cm.
Females : 48 to 55 cm.

FAULTS :

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Head :

• Head too short.
• Skull too broad.
• Muzzle snipey.
• Leathers too long, too hairy.
• Eye light brown.
• Conjunctiva visible.

Body :

• Long; soft topline.
• Croup falling away.

Tail :

• Deviated or too short.

Limbs :

• Cowhocks seen from behind.
• Splayed feet.

Behavior :

• Timid subject.

ELIMINATING FAULTS :

• Frightened or aggressive subject.
• Lack of type.
• Serious anatomical malformation.
• Visibly disabling defect.
• Over- or undershot mouth.
• Light eye.
• Wolly or curly coat.
• Any other coat than that indicated in the standard.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

© Fédération Cynologique Internationale