French Brittany vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison

French Brittany vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed ComparisonBoth French Brittany and Grand Bleu de Gascogne are originated from France. French Brittany may grow 52 cm / 20 inches shorter than Grand Bleu de Gascogne. French Brittany may weigh 22 kg / 48 pounds lesser than Grand Bleu de Gascogne. Both French Brittany and Grand Bleu de Gascogne has almost same life span. Both French Brittany and Grand Bleu de Gascogne has almost same litter size. Both French Brittany and Grand Bleu de Gascogne requires Low maintenance.

History

french brittany - historyBrittanys are the product of France, actually developed in the Brittany Province. They are gun dogs designed to hunt birds. Referred to more often than not as a Spaniel their method of working is much more in line with the setters and pointers. They are believed to be developed somewhere between the 17th and 19th centuries, but not recognized until the 20th century. Orange and white dogs were portrayed on 17th century tapestries, hunting and retrieving. In 1850 the Reverend Davies wrote the first record of Brittanys that was verifiable.

The Brittany was recognized for the first time in 1907 as their own breed even though they participated in the Paris Dog Show in 1900. Once recognized the standards were written as well. It was not until 1931 that the breed was recognized in America and 1934 before the American Kennel Club approved them. Until 1982 they were known as the French Brittany Spaniel. The Spaniel was dropped in ’82. In the United Kingdom the Brittany is known as an HPR (Hunt, Point and Retrieve) breed and they do so with both birds and small game such as hares. The Brittany’s have more dual champions than any other American Kennel Club Sporting Breed in both Confirmation and Field Trials.

There are some differences between the current day French Brittany and the “American Brittany”. They are the same breed but different sub-sets and there are differences that can be noted between the two. The French Brittany is smaller than the newer American version and works closer to the hunter and the guns, while the American Brittany runs ahead of the hunter quite often. Some breeders however don’t consider these differences to be sub-sets and believe that the American breeders should accept the French standards reflecting the origin of the breed.

grand bleu de gascogne - historyThe Grande Bleu de Gascogne is a dog which has descended from a line of French hounds. Originating in France, the dog is actually more common in the United States than in France.

They were bred to hunt, and today they continue to be used for hunting, but they double up as loyal pets too.

It is believed that they descended from dogs such as the St. Hubert Hound and the English Southern Hound. The dog itself has had an influence on the development of several scent-hound breeds.

In the United States, the Grande Bleu de Gascogne was bred in the 18th century already, displaying typical pack hound behavior.The dog isn't recognized by the AKC but he is recognized by other kennel clubs as a scenthound.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Hound dog
Origin:
France
France
Height Male:
17 - 20 cm
6 - 8 inches
65 - 72 cm
25 - 29 inches
Height Female:
15 - 19 cm
5 - 8 inches
62 - 68 cm
24 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 20 kg
30 - 45 pounds
36 - 42 kg
79 - 93 pounds
Weight Female:
13 - 17 kg
28 - 38 pounds
34 - 42 kg
74 - 93 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 13 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 8
4 - 7
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Brittany Spaniel Brittany Wiegref Epagneul Breton French Brittany Spaniel
Grand Bleu, GB de G
Colors Available:
liver roan, black and white (not universally accepted), orange roan, Orange and white, black roan, liver and white, tricolor
White and black mottled, black patches
Coat:
flowing , medium length
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal, Seasonal
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Intelligent, Loving
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

french brittany puppy - descriptionThe French Brittany is an energetic, compact, solid, athletic dog. They have average size heads, intelligent expressions, floppy ears, and a long, elastic and free gait. Most Brittanys are born with short tails but if not, they are docked outside the United Kingdom. Docking is illegal in the United Kingdom so those Brittanys might have a long tail.

Their coats are orange roan, orange and white and liver roan. A tricoat of orange, liver and white is allowed within a specific placement of the three colors.

grand bleu de gascogne puppy - descriptionThe Grand Bleu de Gascogne is a large dog, standing at 65–72cm with the female usually being slightly smaller at 62–68cm. The dog weighs about 36 to 42kg.

He has a lean, muscular body with long legs, long ears and with a strong, noble appearance. The coat is short and smooth and the color of the coat is white and black mottled. In some instances, there'll be large patches of black over the back of the dog. The head and neck area can also be black. There are tan markings above each eye.

Temperament:

This is a gentle dog, not aggressive at all, and he just wants to get on with hunting. He is a social dog and loves to be around other familiar dogs and his human family. He essentially wants to live in the country where he can be busy and active with tasks to do.

If you leave him alone for too long, he becomes frustrated and resorts to baying. He can get on well with adults and children in the home, but tends to be aloof around strangers. He is an intelligent animal, and training and socialization will be important for him, especially since he is independent and likes doing things his way.

The training will make him obedient and he'll always know how to behave well around strangers.

Characteristics

1.Children

french brittany dog - characteristicsVery friendly with children

Special talents

Dual champions in Field Trials and Confirmation. They both point and retrieve.

Adaptability

They are not as adaptable as some hunting breeds. They are very active and need space both indoors and out. They are not recommended for life in apartments in the city. A rural environment is best. They do not adapt well to the damp and cold weather.

Learning ability

They are very intelligent and have very high learning ability.

grand bleu de gascogne dog - characteristicsYour beautiful hunting dog is active and social and just loves to be out and about following a scent with other hunting dogs. This is what he absolutely loves to do.

These days, apart from just hunting, he is also kept as a pet. He makes a good family companion because he is a non aggressive, gentle, even-tempered pet. Some of these dogs tend to be more reserved in nature. However your dog turns out, he can be your special friend when you give him all the exercise, nutrition and love that such a loyal dog deserves.

Health Problems

french brittany puppies - health problemsGenerally, a hardy breed that is mostly healthy, the Brittany in France usually lives on average 12 years 6 months. In the UK the average if 12 years and 11 months and many dogs living to be 14 or 15. Some of the health issues that might pop up for the Brittany include:

  1. Ear Infections
  2. Hip Dysplasia
  3. Canine Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
  4. Epilepsy

grand bleu de gascogne puppies - health problemsAs a dog not known for inherited health problems, the Grande Bleu de Gascogne, with good care, can live to be 12 years of age.

Just like with other dog breeds, there are some conditions to which this dog may also be prone, and hip dysplasia is one.

The average litter size for the Grande Bleu de Gascogne is 4 to 7 puppies. It is important to prevent your puppy growing too quickly because this is precisely what leads to musculoskeletal problems as an adult.

If you're concerned about this, speak to your vet, as you want to do your best to prevent hip problems in the future.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

french brittany dogs - caringFeed puppies a high quality puppy food designed for medium sized dogs. Give about one to one and a half cups per day in 2-3 meals.

Feeding the adult

For the adult French Brittany feed a high quality adult dry food designed for medium sized dogs. Give about two cups per day in 2 meals.

Points for Good Health

Excellent vision and scent

Games and Exercises

The French Brittany is an active and enthusiastic bird dog that loves to exercise. They have the stamina and drive that goes with an efficient and successful hunting dog. They need daily exercise, regular walks and excel at field trials and confirmation. They are also good at lure chase, flyball, rally and obedience.

grand bleu de gascogne dogs - caringKnown for his hunting skills, the Grande Bleu de Gascogne has high exercise requirements. Although a walk is wonderful for him, it won't be enough. If you have a large garden, which will be ideal for him, throw the ball so he can fetch it. If you go cycling or jogging, he'll thank you for including him in these.

Grooming:

The Grand Bleu’s short coat is conveniently low maintenance too so you aren't going to be spending anything on professional grooming. Give him a brush twice a week to remove loose hairs and to keep his coat silky and shiny.

Their long ears should be checked regularly for a build up of wax and dirt. Dampness can also be a problem if he loves to go swimming. You can buy special ear-cleaning-for-dog products. Never probe deep in the ears as you can damage them. Rather get advice from your vet or professional groomers on how to keep the inside of his ears clean and free from infection.

Diet:

An energetic hunting scentdog like this requires high quality food with some raw meat added in from time to time. He must always have access to fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. French Brittany vs English Springer Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  2. French Brittany vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  3. French Brittany vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  4. French Brittany vs English Setter - Breed Comparison
  5. French Brittany vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  6. French Brittany vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  7. French Brittany vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  8. French Brittany vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  9. French Brittany vs Ariege Pointer - Breed Comparison
  10. French Brittany vs Blue Picardy Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  11. French Brittany vs Canadian Pointer - Breed Comparison
  12. French Brittany vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  13. French Brittany vs Clumber Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  14. French Brittany vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  15. French Brittany vs Cesky Fousek - Breed Comparison
  16. French Brittany vs Drentse Patrijshond - Breed Comparison
  17. Pudelpointer vs French Brittany - Breed Comparison
  18. Picardy Spaniel vs French Brittany - Breed Comparison
  19. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs French Brittany - Breed Comparison
  20. Irish Water Spaniel vs French Brittany - Breed Comparison
  21. Stabyhoun vs French Brittany - Breed Comparison
  22. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs French Brittany - Breed Comparison
  23. Vizsla vs French Brittany - Breed Comparison
  24. Large Munsterlander vs French Brittany - Breed Comparison
  25. Tyrolean Hound vs French Brittany - Breed Comparison
  26. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  27. Greyhound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  28. Saluki vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  29. Mountain Cur vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  30. Rajapalayam vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  31. Plott Hound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  32. Petit Gascon Saintongeois vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  33. Otterhound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  34. Mudhol Hound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  35. Ibizan Hound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  36. Rampur Greyhound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  37. Galgo Espanol vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  38. Hanover Hound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  39. Majestic Tree Hound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  40. Polish Hunting Dog vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  41. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  42. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Francais Blanc et Noir - Breed Comparison
  43. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  44. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Borzoi - Breed Comparison
  45. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Black and Tan Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  46. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Black Mouth Cur - Breed Comparison
  47. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  48. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Austrian Black and Tan Hound - Breed Comparison
  49. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Azawakh - Breed Comparison
  50. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Chart Polski - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds