Basset Bleu de Gascogne
- Origin
- France
- Type
- Scenthound
- Size
- Medium
- Height
- 34–42 cm (13–17 in)
- Weight
- 16–18 kg (35–40 lb)
- Coat
- Short, dense and smooth
- Colors
- White ticked with black to look blue, with tan markings
- Status
- Recognised by the FCI, The Kennel Club and UKC
The Basset Bleu de Gascogne, or Blue Gascony Basset, is a long-backed, short-legged hound from France. The bleu in its name describes the coat, which is ticked so finely that it looks blue. It is rare outside its home country.
History
The breed goes back to the Middle Ages and descends directly from the old Grand Bleu de Gascogne. Gaston III of Foix-Béarn, author of the medieval hunting treatise Livre de chasse, is thought to have kept a pack of these hounds for hunting wild boar and wolves.
In the early 19th century, as its use in hunting declined, the breed came close to dying out. It was saved and revived through the work of Alain Bourbon.
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognises it as one of six basset breeds and places it among the scenthounds, as does the United Kennel Club, which recognised it in 1991. In the UK The Kennel Club lists it in the Hound Group on its imported breed register. It is not recognised by the American Kennel Club or the Canadian Kennel Club.
Appearance
The coat is smooth and mostly white, ticked to give a bluish look, with tan markings above the eyes and on the ears. The eyes are dark brown, and the low-set ears are long enough to reach at least the end of the muzzle. The dog is not heavily built. Height at the withers is usually 34–42 cm (13–17 in), though the Kennel Club standard gives 30–38 cm (12–15 in), and weight is 16–18 kg (35–40 lb).
Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.