Greek Sheepdog vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison

Greek Sheepdog vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed ComparisonGreek Sheepdog is originated from Greece but Grand Bleu de Gascogne is originated from France. Both Greek Sheepdog and Grand Bleu de Gascogne are having almost same height. Greek Sheepdog may weigh 8 kg / 18 pounds more than Grand Bleu de Gascogne. Both Greek Sheepdog and Grand Bleu de Gascogne has same life span. Both Greek Sheepdog and Grand Bleu de Gascogne has almost same litter size. Greek Sheepdog requires Moderate maintenance. But Grand Bleu de Gascogne requires Low maintenance

History

greek sheepdog - historyKnown as the Olympus Dog or even simply as the Greek Shepherd, the Greek Sheepdog is a large to giant molosser dog from Greece. His purpose has always been to guard flocks and livestock from predators and he has been around for hundreds of years, looking much like the Great Pyrenees.

It is believed that the dog was likely bred with a number of breeds – both local and non-local dogs.

Unfortunately there were no records kept of the development of the breed but today the Greek Sheepdog remains a rare and fairly unknown breed outside of Greece.

It's numbers are dwindling in Greece too and since 1998 the Greek ARCTUROS has made attempts to save the breed, starting the Greek Shepherd Dog Breeding Program.

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:
Working dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Greece
France
Height Male:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
65 - 72 cm
25 - 29 inches
Height Female:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
62 - 68 cm
24 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
32 - 50 kg
70 - 111 pounds
36 - 42 kg
79 - 93 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 50 kg
70 - 111 pounds
34 - 42 kg
74 - 93 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
4 - 7
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Greek Shepherd, Olympus Dog
Grand Bleu, GB de G
Colors Available:
White with red, black or brown markings
White and black mottled, black patches
Coat:
Thick, double-coat, long hair
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

greek sheepdog puppy - descriptionThe Greek Sheepdog is a large dog, standing at 65 – 75cm and weighing roughly between 32 to 50kg. He is a dog that displays physical strength. He has a large head with brown eyes and a serious expression on his face. He has a thick double coat which is essentially white with red, black or brown markings.

You will also see tri-color dogs. He has floppy ears today but there was a time when the right ear of the male dog was cut off or cropped. The tail is long and bushy and it can be held low but also held up so that it curls over the back.

Temperament:

Maybe because of his size and him being a strong-willed, independent thinker, the Greek Shepherd may not be the best choice for a first time dog owner. Having said that, if you're a strong, firm, patient, kind person, then you'll be able to raise any kind of dog, first time or not.

The Greek Shepherd is a brave, loyal, calm, protective dog and with socialization and training, can make an awesome pet. They are dogs who are a bit suspicious with strangers, not making friends too easily. He loves his human family and wants to be part of their activities. He can't be left on his own day after day as this can lead to excessive barking and destructive behavior.

They've been dogs used to working with livestock and they will certainly need to be taken on daily walks and involved in rough and tumble games as they thrive on activity. The dog won't fit easily into city life where there is just a handkerchief-sized garden as he needs space and activity.

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

greek sheepdog dog - characteristicsYour Greek Shepherd is an intelligent, independent dog who likes to show his loyalty and devotion to his owner.

He is a protective dog too and when trained and socialized makes an excellent family pet. These Molosser type dogs are formidable dogs known for their bravery and courage.

They're the type of dogs who like a strong leader-type of owner and when he gets someone who he can look up to as his leader, he becomes a loyal, devoted pet.

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

greek sheepdog puppies - health problemsWith good care and lots of love, this dog can live to be between 10 to 12 years of age. He is unlikely to get sick very often, but still it it wise to know of some of the health issues than can occur with large breed dogs like this.

Some diseases to look out for include -

Dilated cardiomyopathy:

This is a disease of the heart muscle. The heart is enlarged and unable to have the right heart rhythm. The distended muscle isn't able to push the blood through the heart chambers to where it is needed. Cause for this dilated heart can be genetic, nutritional, infectious or metabolic.

Because taurine and carnitine are involved in good heart function, and low levels of these amino acids can cause symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy, supplementation is useful, especially if you feel your dog isn't getting in the right kind of food.

Lyme Disease:

Borreliosis, a bacterial infection, causes Lyme disease, transmitted by the Ixodes tick. The tick bites the dog and the toxins gets into the dog's bloodstream, with the bacteria travelling to different parts of the body.

Typical symptoms in a dog includes loss of appetite, fever, no energy, swelling of joints and lameness, but symptoms can progress to kidney failure too or cardiac problems. Treatment will include antibiotics.

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

Grooming:

greek sheepdog dogs - caringThe coat of the Greek Shepherd is fairly long so it will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it free from matting and tangling. He is an average shedder and the brushing will remove all loose hairs, keeping the coat sleek and shiny.

Diet:

Feeding your Greek Sheepdog requires giving him top quality food as this will ensure he is healthy and can ward off common dog illnesses. If you're going to be feeding him kibble, make sure to go for the top quality brands, and as a treat for your pet you can add in some brown rice, pasta, brown bread, cooked chicken and vegetables.

Dogs are essentially carnivores and he will need to have some raw meat such as beef added into his kibble from time to time. He should never ever be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

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. Samoyed vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  2. Presa Canario vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  3. Labrador Husky vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  4. Mackenzie River Husky vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  5. Pyredoodle vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  6. Lurcher vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  7. Maremma Sheepdog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  8. Sarplaninac vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  9. Himalayan Mastiff vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  10. Mountain View Cur vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  11. Native American Indian Dog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  12. Greenland Dog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  13. Komondor vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  14. Polish Tatra Sheepdog vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  15. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Greek Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  16. Greek Sheepdog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  17. Greek Sheepdog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  18. Greek Sheepdog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  19. Greek Sheepdog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  20. Greek Sheepdog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  21. Greek Sheepdog vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  22. Greek Sheepdog vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  23. Greek Sheepdog vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  24. Greek Sheepdog vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  25. Greek Sheepdog vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - 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