Dog breed Gascony blue basset It is one of the most recognized and distinguished breeds, not only for being great hounds, but also for having a past that refers to French aristocratic societies. A can very similar to conventional Basset, but with some features that make it special. If you want to know more in detail, to obtain a copy of this important breed, in this article we will teach you everything you need to know.
What kind of dog is the Gascony Blue Basset?
Everything indicates that this breed belongs to a category of dogs called Group Six, which have the particularity of having as ancestors the best hunting dogs that were within the French aristocracy. So the first important characteristic that we can mention is that it is one of the hounds most avid for hunting activities.
What sets this particular breed apart from the basset hound, is that it is a little more elongated and straight than those of your relative, reaching in some cases to measure these 40 centimeters, although the conventional measurement is between 30 and 35 centimeters. At first glance, we will notice a breed of dog that shows robustness, although its specimens do not usually exceed 15 kilos in weight, which is why they are considered light dogs.
His name of "Basset Blue”Is due to the particularity of the coat of its fur around its body, which presents a mixture between silver-gray and bluish tones, something that completely differentiates it not only from the Basset, but from the vast majority of dogs, as a distinctive detail that will make us realize immediately that it is a dog of this breed.
Origin and history
The development of a dog that meets all the necessary conditions of dexterity and sagacity to help hunters in their jobs, is what resulted in the Basset azul de Gascogne.
The intention achieved was that it be used primarily for hunting hares and rabbits, although over time the shotgun hunters were realizing that it also served as an aid to capture other types of animals such as foxes and even wild boars.
The breeds of this select group of hounds they belong entirely to France, and this blue Basset is not the exception, being specifically Gascony, to the Southwest of that country, its place of emergence.
According to the story, there are writings from the XNUMXth century in which a hunting dog of all kinds of animals with a gray and bluish coat was already described, so it is believed that since those times, some specimens ancestors of the Gascony Blue Basset, they were in this world fulfilling the mission of assistants of the hunters.
Was the International Canine Federation the one that classified this dog as a Medium Hound of group 6, something that also gave it the necessary prestige that it retains to this day, which became a dog highly coveted by different societies, beyond the French and not only for hunting purposes, but also to be the pet of many households.
Features
Its precious fur, which combines blues with silver grays, It is not the only characteristic that gives beauty to this breed of dog. There are other peculiarities of the Basset Azul de Gascony that we will detail below:
It is a dog that presents an interesting robustness, since At first glance it may seem very heavy, but you will be surprised if you load it. They weigh on average only about 15 kilograms, while they can measure from 30 to 45 centimeters approximately.
As in most dogs, male specimens may be slightly larger than females. This robust characteristic is reflected in the important development of his chest, loin and back, which look very strong and broad. His shoulders have well marked muscles.
As in any hunting dog, in his legs show both his strength and his agility. In the front part, their legs are completely straight or in circumstances with a certain curvature, while in the back they are a little more elongated and oval, always with great musculature.
If we look at the pads of the sole of their feet, we will see that they have a dark to black tone, just like their nails. His tail is spiky, starting with a certain width and then tapering towards the tip.
In his head we can differentiate its long snout, and the warhead shape of its skull. On the end of the snout we will see a nose in the shape of a black truffle in which the opening of its nostrils can be seen in detail.
His eyes are brown, rounded and not so large, with a particular arch, which at first glance gives the sensation of sadness or tenderness that awakens feelings of affection in the people who have them. His ears show a great dimension and they have the peculiarity of starting from the middle to lower part of the skull, leaving a large part of it uncovered.
As we mentioned earlier, the color of their fur is the most surprising characteristic of this breed of beautiful dogs. When submitting a color palette mix, which is based on a white background with black speckles, the reflection of the light will give us the illusion of finding grayish and silver tones, mixed with a bluish that is why it is given this name of Basset Azul de Gascoña.
Behavior
According to its behavior, it can be said that the Gascony Blue Basset is a ideal dog to develop in a family environment, since they are calm, balanced and do not have any inconvenience in coexistence with other dogs. They are also affectionate with their owners and children, so they do not represent any danger.
It does not present any type of aggressiveness, but it may be that at times it is concentrated or distant and this has to do with the fact that it never loses its hunting instinct and recognizes the proximity of an animal that could be its prey.
It is very likely that he also gets along well with other pets, such as a cat. But it is always recommended that they begin their coexistence with other animals at an early age, to achieve better behavior. It is not recommended that there are other types of pets such as rabbits and rodents, because it is very possible that it will recognize them as prey.
The Gascony Blue Basset is a very beautiful dog, very attached to the family that adopts it and has an exemplary behavior. It will surely be a breed that the whole family will enjoy.