The Griffon Bleu de Gascogne (Roughcoated Gascogny Blue)

Loulou, photo E. Verhoef

Labe des Guiblanches - photo: E. Verhoef

The Griffon Bleu is an old breed, although it was an unknown one outside the south of France. The breedstandard was written in 1920 by Marquis de Mauleon, Baron de Batz, a descendant of the famous d'Artagnan and Messrs. Cambours and Senac-Lagrange, all members of the special committee of breedstandards of the Bleus de Gascogne.

It is a hound for the hunt on hare, but most of the Griffon Bleus are used for wild pig hunting. The first standard precised a height of 42-53 cm. Most hunters loved a height of 60 cm or more, so the standard has been changed to 57 cm.

The origin of the Griffon Bleu can be found in the Pyrenees, where the breed was called bleu griffoné as most of the dogs did not show the coat of the Griffon.

The Griffon Bleu is a bit the stepchild amongst the Gascogny hounds. Not only because the breed was not mentioned in literature but also because of the fact that if Griffon Bleus were registered in the stud book, it were dogs bred by Petit Bleu breeders, so that gave doubts about the pureness of the breed.

Which breeds have created the Griffon Bleu will never be clear. Certain is that the Bleu de Gascogne is involved and not only because of the colour. Also the good nose and the deep voice the breed has inherited from the Bleu de Gascogne. Which Griffon has been used is unknown. It could be the Vendéen but also the Nivernais; the last one perhaps gave the colour of the wild pigs, a colour that was seen regularly for some years ago. And which other breeds have been used? Which breed gave the red colour that, also some years ago, was often seen in the breed. We'll probably never know.

The crossing between the Bleu de Gascogne and the Griffon gives a very attractive dog. It is a very harmoniously built dog with sometimes a rustic appearance, sometimes an elegant one.

The Gascogny blood in his veins gives him a pleasant character, which lets him obey easier than the other roughcoated hounds.

The Griffon influence is not only the coat: the Griffon Bleu is more compact than the Petit Bleu, the head is shorter, the ears are not so long and almost flat, the feet are more round and compact.

The uniformity in the breed has been achieved by using the Petit Bleu de Gascogne to reconstruct the breed.

The breed has had a bad period. At the beginning of the seventies the breed hardly existed anymore. Thanks to Messrs. Marty and Pene (des Rives de la Garonne) the breed was reconstructed. A decade ago the breed was unknown outside the south of France. After the victory of the brothers Gaychet with the Coupe de France in 1991, the breed has a growing interest.

photo Alice van Kempen

Frenchie with puppy Lotje, photo Alice van Kempen

F.C.I. breed standard                                            photogalery