Gascon Saintongeois Dog Breed

The Gascon Saintongeois is a hunting dog with many applications therein: gun dog, tracker, and retriever. They are not really recommended as the first dog for inexperienced people, but they are fairly easy to train. They make wonderful companions but are best in rural settings. With children and other dogs, they get along fine, but small, non-canine pets are sure to be a problem for them.

Here are some of the things you should know about these fine, specialized hunting dogs if you are looking to adopt one:

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The Gascon Saintongeois is a strong, confident and agile breed of dog. Like most French hunting dogs, they were bred to be versatile. They prefer to work in packs, and this allows them to get along very well with other dogs. Even as they are unflappable in the field when on the scent of game, they are remarkably affable once home before the hearth, master, and family.

Most hounds tend to have a dopey look, and this can be misleading to people who think they are slow. These dogs, in particular, know how to outwit most game animals. They are also quick to learn obedience and tricks as well as have a great memory.

The Gascon Saintongeois is most noted for their amazing sense of smell. They are also very good with kids. They literally have thick skins, and while this skin is meant to protect them once they have quarried their prey, it certainly helps with very playful children too.

These dogs are bred to keep busy throughout the day to track and chase down game. If they are not used as hunting dogs, however, they need a great amount of exercise. Long daily walks and a lot of weekly visits to the dog park are practically mandatory.

There are two varieties of this breed: the Grand Gascon Saintongeois and the Petit Gascon Saintongeois.

The Grand is the larger of the two and was developed in the 1840s. Decades after the French Revolution nearly obliterated the Saintongeois hound breed, there remained only two males and one female. A man named Baron Joseph de Carayon-LaTour (of Chateau Virelade) came into possession of all three dogs, and he crossed them with some Grand Bleu de Gascognes (courtesy of Baron de Ruble's kennel). What they produced was a litter of puppies that were christened Grand Gascon Saintongeois. The fully mature male dogs stand anywhere from 25.5 to 28 inches, and they weigh between 66 and 71 pounds. The females weigh slightly less and stand a tad shorter.

The Petit Gascon Saintongeois is a recently developed variety. In the mid-20th century, hunters in the southwest region of France were responsible for producing a smaller Grand Gascon Saintongeois. They did this by breeding only the small Grands as well as crossing them with Ariegeois (a similar French scent hound) and regional Briquets ("Briquet" in this context being a French colloquialism for "small dog"). Although the term "petit" is in the name, these dogs are not small, just smaller than the Grand Gascon Saintongeois. They stand 18 to 24 inches and weigh 50 to 62 pounds.

Both varieties are good gun dogs. The Grand is used for hunting big game and the Petit is typically used for hunting hares, but both dogs can do either.

While there are very few of these dogs worldwide, the breed's health profile is said to be remarkably sound. There are no known genetic ailments specific to these dogs, but they are prone to big dog problems. They may also have concerns with their ears if not properly groomed and cared for.

Here are some of the general health issues that may affect Gascons Saintongeois dogs:

• Bone tumors
• Hip dysplasia
• Ear infections
• Hip and elbow arthritis

The average lifespan for these large dogs is reported to be 12 to 14 years.