# Gascon Saintongeois Also known as: Grand Gascon Saintongeois, Petit Gascon Saintongeois - **Group:** Scent Hound (FCI group 6) - **Size:** Large - **Origin:** France - **Height:** 56โ€“72 cm - **Weight:** 25โ€“32 kg - **Life expectancy:** 10โ€“12 years - **Temperament:** Energetic, Pack-minded, Vocal, Hardy, Friendly - **FCI standard:** No. 21 A tall white-and-black French pack hound with a fine nose, a rich voice and a graceful gallop, made in two sizes for hunting big game or hare. ## Overview The Gascon Saintongeois is a classic French scenthound, lean and muscular, with long legs, long drop ears and loose lips. It comes in two varieties: the Grand, used on big game, and the Petit, which is smaller but still a fairly big dog. Both are bred to work in packs and are prized for their scenting ability, ringing voice and elegant gallop. They are working hounds first and are best suited to active hunting homes. ## History The breed descends from the old Hound of Saintonge, a large hunting dog that almost vanished after the French Revolution, when only three of the old hounds are said to have survived. In the mid-19th century Count Joseph de Carayon-Latour crossed the last of these with remaining old-type Grand Bleu de Gascogne hounds. The white dogs with black ticking were kept and named Gascon Saintongeois. In the mid-20th century hunters in south-west France picked smaller dogs from Grand litters for hare and small game, and these became the Petit variety. ## Appearance This is a typical French hound with a deep chest, strong back, long elongated head, dark chestnut eyes and a well-developed black nose. The tail is carried in a graceful sabre shape. Grand males stand about 65 to 72 cm and females 61 to 66 cm, while Petits measure roughly 56 to 62 cm. The coat is white with black patches, often speckled or ticked. The ears and the area around the eyes are black, the cheeks tan, and two tan spots sit above the eyes. A tricolour look is not wanted. ## Temperament The Gascon Saintongeois is an instinctive pack dog, sociable with other hounds and used to working closely alongside people. It is known for its good nose and excellent voice, and it is determined and driven when on a scent. It is not a couch companion. It needs a purpose, plenty of space and company, and it can be loud and independent. ## Care and exercise These hounds need a lot of daily exercise and mental work, ideally scent work or hunting, and a secure fence because they follow their noses. Short coats are easy to groom with a weekly brush, and ears should be checked and cleaned regularly. They do best in rural homes with experienced owners and are happiest with canine company. ## Health Generally a hardy, healthy working hound. As with other deep-chested, drop-eared breeds, owners should watch for bloat, ear infections and hip problems. ## Ratings (1 to 5) - Energy: 4 - Exercise needs: 5 - Grooming: 1 - Shedding: 3 - Trainability: 2 - Barking: 5 - Good with children: 3 - Good with other dogs: 4 Page: https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/gascon-saintongeois Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gascon_Saintongeois ยท https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37997 Photo: Canarian (CC BY 4.0), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Isogascognesaintonge.jpg Profile written by an AI model from the sources above.