The Basset Bleu de Gascogne temperament would be a phenomenal fit for most households. He's a friendly, playful, and loving companion that would enjoy curling up with you during a Sunday afternoon.
These are only some of the Basset Bleu de Gascogne (BBDG) traits that would make him a fantastic pet. But some of his characteristics are problematic such as his frequent barking. Making a final decision about getting a BBDG will require knowing everything about his temperament.
So, let's dive further into this discussion and figure out whether your home’s a good fit.
The Basset Bleu de Gascogne Temperament and Personality
1. Friendly
If one word could describe the Basset Bleu de Gascogne temperament, it’d be friendly. He's constantly making friends with his open and fun-loving personality. It’s not uncommon for him to be the star of the dog park.
This friendliness extends to humans as well. He has no problem with strangers coming up to him and offering a pet. This quality is something that makes him an excellent candidate to take on adventures around town.
His friendliness can even make him a solid option for cat owners looking for a dog. But it’s essential you understand he does better when he grows up with the cat.
2. Playful
The Basset Bleu de Gascogne temperament also has a playful side. He loves to engage with his family in play and adores playing fetch. This game will tap into his hunting instincts and provide him with well-needed exercise.
His playful side will even extend to children in the right circumstances. He isn’t great with kids that are strangers to him. But he becomes an excellent play partner for the kids that he considers part of his family.
He’ll even try to play with other dogs and often can calm down the overly anxious ones. This trait’s why he represents a perfect option for someone getting a second dog.
3. Lazy
He’ll have no qualms about being a couch potato either. The Basset Bleu de Gascogne temperament actually has an issue with laziness. You see he gains weight rather quickly, which is why getting him his daily exercise is essential.
The good news is the Basset Bleu de Gascogne exercise needs aren’t excessive. All he’ll need to stay healthy is 45 minutes of activity per day. Most of the time you get it all done with one long walk, which he’s known to love.
4. Very Vocal
One of the biggest challenges the Basset Bleu de Gascogne temperament will present is frequent barking. He tends to love hearing himself speak, which can cause mind-numbing headaches.
It also doesn’t help that the bark is deep and loud. This BBDG trait is why he isn’t a great pet for apartment living. After all, his constant yapping will end up driving your neighbors crazy.
It’s also not a good idea to leave him out in the yard for long periods. This situation will only entice him to bark more frequently. But this barking behavior is something that you can quickly correct with training.
5. Calm
Nothing seems to rattle the Basset Bleu de Gascogne temperament. He enjoys new challenges and loves to meet new people as long as they respect him. His calm demeanor rarely changes unless something seems threatening or its dinnertime.
Everything about him is laid-back, and it seems like he can fit into any situation. All he needs is his family around, and his calmness will not falter. Even bringing new pets into your home will barely achieve a reaction from him.
6. Co-dependent
He does have issues with being co-dependent though. He tends to love his family a bit too much and has problems with being alone for long periods. If you do leave him to his own devices, he might become destructive.
BBDG owners have often come home to couch pillows ripped apart. Given this information, it’s best for people who work a lot and are single to avoid getting him. He’s a better fit for a family home where someone will always be there.
A Quick Look At Basset Bleu de Gascogne History
The BBDG’s history is something that goes all the way to the 14th century. His origins start in Gascony and it’s clear he descends directly from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne.
You see the BBDG couldn’t hunt smaller prey like rabbits due to their large size. These animals would run into the underbrush to avoid them. This issue resulted in the creation of the BBDG.
But once hunting went out of style, the want for him decreased. It got to the point where he was almost extinct in the 1890s. The situation changed when Alain Bourbon brought live into the BBDG in the 20th century.
His method of accomplishing this impressive feat was lost. Bourbon didn’t think to record his breeding techniques accurately. But whatever Bourbon did, it changed the breed’s appearance and these dogs now closely resembled a Basset Hound.
Bourbon’s efforts led to a rise in the breed’s numbers, and many clubs took notice. Two major ones even thought to recognize him in 1991:
But even with a rise in popularity, he’s rarely seen outside France. There are a select few at most located within the United States.
Understanding the Basset Bleu de Gascogne Appearance
The BBDG, also called the Blue Gascony Basset, has a unique look to him. And this appearance results in some unusual measurements:
- The Basset Bleu de Gascogne height will range between 12 and 15 inches
- The Basset Bleu de Gascogne weight will hover between 35 and 40 pounds
This much poundage for a shorter dog creates an odd physique. You see he’ll be low to the ground with dense bones, but he won’t appear too obese. His low center of gravity instead allows him to be shifty and quick.
His facial features will include a nose with black coloring and dark brown oval eyes. He’ll also have long ears, which will sit low and hang down to his snout. These ears will be long, thin, and have curling to them as well.
This breed will have a short, thick coat that’s meant to shield him from the harsh underbrush. The Basset Bleu de Gascogne colors will also be a little atypical. People often think his coat’s blue, but it’s instead black with a mottled white pattern.
It’s also acceptable for his body to have black sections. These sections will typically cover the head on both sides and his ears. Other common coloring features include:
- His skull might have a white strip on it.
- Tan markings positioned on his cheeks, legs, lips, over his eyes, tail’s underside, and on the inside of his ears.
A Brief Basset Bleu de Gascogne Training Guide
Training a BBDG is a delightful experience. His hunting background makes him agreeable as long as you approach it properly. In other words, positive reinforcement techniques would be the best way to get your desired results.
You also need to be consistent and firm with your methods. He tends to have a stubborn side, which causes issues when the handler isn't direct.
But never resort to harsh training methods. These techniques will result in him not trusting you and becoming anti-social. It’s also imperative you understand he needs a sense of purpose, which means he won’t accept solely being a pet.
You’ll need to train him for a dog sport, or he’ll become anxious. Agility or hunting would be good choices.
Helpful Dog Training Resource:
For help with training your Basset Bleu de Gascogne dog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.
The Basset Bleu de Gascogne Grooming Requirements
This breed's grooming needs aren’t too extensive, but there are things owners will have to understand. He will shed seasonally, and his short hairs can quickly pile up around your home. It becomes something you’ll have to address with daily brushing.
A weekly brushing session will do fine when he’s not heavily shedding. Brushing sessions should take place using one of the following tools:
- Hound mitt
- Slicker brush
- Bristle brush
His bathing needs won’t be too bad either. But he does tend to have a pungent dog smell. This issue might result in him requiring a bath every two weeks or monthly.
Do make sure you aren’t bathing him weekly though. This many baths can cause rashes and other skin irritations. If you do wash him, use a vet-approved shampoo to avoid possible skin infections.
His other grooming requirements will fall under basic care:
- Checking his ears for build ups regularly
- Trimming his nails monthly
- Brushing his teeth weekly
Relevant Basset Bleu de Gascogne Health Issues
The Basset Bleu de Gascogne lifespan is 10 to 14 years, which means he's a healthy breed. But there are still some health issues that he’s prone to getting:
An excellent way to stay ahead of these issues is by visiting your vet every six months. These visits will help you keep track of where your dog stands with their health. And it never hurts to get a professional opinion about some of these conditions.
If you’re buying a puppy, his parents should have the following health certifications:
- A recent eye exam conducted by a veterinary ophthalmologist. The results should be on file with either the Canine Health Information Center or the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals)
- An evaluation of their knees done by the OFA.
Both of these certifications will make it less likely your puppy gets these conditions. If your breeder doesn’t have them, move onto a different one.
Note: Don't let the many issues above scare you. The best way to approach health problems is to prevent them in the first place. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is a great place to start. Get a copy to keep at home. It will help you prevent the painful health issues that can plague your lovely BBDG pet from expressing his winning personality and maximizing his life expectancy.
Finding Your Basset Bleu de Gascogne
Basset Bleu de Gascogne For Sale
Finding a Blue Gascony Basset inside the states will be almost impossible. You see the American Kennel Club breed hasn’t accepted the breed, which means you can’t use their marketplace. There isn’t a Basset Bleu de Gascogne Club of America to help you out either.
You’ll instead need to use sites like Puppyfinder.com. These sites will direct you towards the nearest breeder with a litter. But any Basset Bleu de Gascogne breeders on a website like Puppyfinder.com won’t have to follow a set of rules.
This lack of regulations heightens the chances of you contacting a bad seller significantly. Even with these sites, it’s highly unlikely you’ll find a Basset Bleu de Gascogne puppy for sale.
You rarely see this breed outside his home country, and you don't see him all that often there either. If you can’t live without a BBDG, it seems you might need a flight into France.
But when you do find one, please set up a meeting at the breeder’s breeding facilities. It’ll provide you with the chance to evaluate the entire situation.
Estimated Cost of a Basset Bleu Gascogne Puppy
A Basset Bleu de Gascogne’s price will end up between $600 and $800. This estimation can change drastically depending on a few factors:
- Bloodlines
- Medical issues
- Shipping costs
- Boarding expenses
Basset Bleu de Gascogne For Adoption
Adopting a BBDG won’t be a picnic either. There isn’t a single Basset Bleu de Gascogne rescue within the United States, which limits your options. It means you’ll have only two routes to choose from as a potential adopter.
The first option is using an online resource like Adoptapet.com. This site will give you the contact information of the nearest organization holding a BBDG. All you have to do is call them and state your interest.
Your second option is doing it the old school way. This means going down to the closest shelter and seeing the selection of the dogs. The chances a BBDG are there will be slim, but you never know.
It also allows you to express your interest in the breed. This action will give the shelter someone to call when/if one does enter their facilities. If you do end up finding one, don’t rush the process and ensure you’re comfortable bringing him home.
You should ask questions regarding various topics about his life:
- Past living situations
- Medical history
- Bloodlines
- Temperament
The answers will give you an idea about how you can get him adjusted quickly to your home. They’ll also provide you with a clear picture about whether your house represents a good fit for him.
Estimated Cost of the Adoption Fee
The price of the adoption will fall somewhere between $30 and $300. This range is the standard for most dog adoptions. Whether your fee is on the higher or low end will depend on a few things:
- Boarding costs
- Age
- Medical expenses
- Inclusions within the adoption fee
- Rescue or shelter
Conclusion: Is a Basset Bleu de Gascogne the Perfect Pet For You?
If you want a calm dog that you can take out in public, the Basset Bleu de Gascogne temperament is perfect. His loving personality will make you and him the stars of every public place you enter.
But if you live in a close-quartered apartment, his frequent barking will make you hated among your neighbors. He’s also not a good fit for single people with demanding jobs, as he doesn’t do well alone.
Calvin is the co-founder and one of the main contributors to dogtemperament.com. He has been an avid dog lover all his life. He enjoys researching and sharing great ideas on how you can avoid common pitfalls of dog ownership and build the most loving and enjoyable relationship with your dog.