Griffon Bleu de Gascogne vs Chinese Chongqing Dog - Breed Comparison

The Griffon Bleu de Gascogne dog hails from France and is descended from crosses between the Bleu de Gascogne as well as the Griffon Nivernais. Dog experts tell us that the Grand Griffon Vendeen is also part of the mix.

Raised as working dogs, with his good nose and alertness, he has always been used as a single hunting dog or being used as part of a pack.

It was in 1920 that the first Griffon Bleu de Gascogne breed standard was written in France, and over the decades, the dog hasn’t changed much in looks except that it is slightly taller.

This is a rare breed not much seen outside of France, but breeding attempts have taken it from ‘close to extinction’ to a popular pet today.The Griffon Bleu de Gascogne was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1991.

The Chinese Chongquing Dog is a very rare and unusual breed found only in China and now in Canada. The Chongquing is native to the city of Chongquing, China. This is an ancient breed that is believed to have lived in China over 2000 years ago during the Han Dynasty. It was a hunter and protector and still functions in those roles today., although there are very few left in China. Following the revolution and creation of the People’s Republic of China, the CQ Dog was only found in the rural areas of the country.

Pottery versions of the Chongquing Dog and burial figurines have been found in excavation sites from tombs of the Han Dynasty. In this isolated and mountainous area of eastern China, the dogs were unknown throughout the rest of China. Because of this the breed is relatively untouched by human intervention and is today about the same as it was 2000 years ago. There has been no interbreeding to change the natural evolution of the breed. They have their own unique personalities and temperaments.

At this time, it is believed that the Chongquing Dog is more endangered and rarer than the panda. Current breeding is diluting the breed as there are so few true bloods cross breeding and inbreeding is occurring. The knowledge of the exact breeds that contributed to the original Chongquing Dog was lost ages ago. The CQ Dog is known for loyalty, noble character, bravery and protecting its own. Today there is one kennel breeding these dogs outside China in Canada.

This is a medium to large sized scenthound. He stands at anything between 48 to 57cms and weighs between 16 and 27kg.

He has a long, wiry type of coat which is usually a mottled white and black, taking on a blue hue look. There are tan marking above the eyes and around the muzzle. The ears of the dog are long and floppy, he has that typical soulful look in his brown eyes and the tail is long with a curve at the point.

Temperament:

The Griffon Bleu de Gascogne is an intelligent dog breed, capable of learning quickly and therefore will do well with training and socialization.

This popular docile dog gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children. He is alert and energetic but is known to be a loyal and loving dog, being good with children, particularly those he grew up with.

The dog isn't particularly well suited to city life simply because of his high energy. He will require a good deal of exercise, so essentially he needs a home with a fair sized garden. He will want to join you on your walks. Walks provide your pet with stimulation and are good for socializing a dog too.

This breed is not well known, even in China. However, its likeness has been found in pottery dating back to the Han Dynasty. It is now beginning to be show in select dog shows. The general appearance upon which a current standard is being developed includes:

The Chongquing is a medium sized, compact and square dog that is powerful, muscular and strong. He is unique in appearance, tail and coat. His head is large, broad and flat. There are wrinkles from the muzzle to the forehead between his eyes. His eyes are brown, and the rims are black. He has high set, small ears that are triangle shape. Its frame is sturdy and strong. He is very muscular, and his strength and speed are explosive.

The Chongqing Dog can be one of three sizes: small, medium and large. All are hunters, but each hunted different prey. The appearance of all three sizes are proportionally the same.

Your Griffon Bleu de Gascogne is such a popular pet in France and Spain simply because he is so amicable, getting on well with everyone in the home.

He is everything that a pet lover wants – loving, protective, friendly and companionable. They get on well with other pets too and they’re easy to train, becoming super obedient. Add to that the fact that he isn’t a sickly dog and is also fairly low maintenance.

This dog has all it takes to make him the most splendid pet.

The Chongqing Dog is a confident, passionate, fearless and loyal dog. He is brave, alert, thoughtful and elegant. They make good companions for their people, but they are very wary of strangers and are ready to attack in order to protect their people. They are affectionate and loving with their people, including older children. They should never be off-leash in the company of other dogs.

As a healthy dog breed, your Griffon Bleu de Gascogne isn't likely to cost you much at the vet. Nonetheless there are some common dog ailments that you need to be aware of.

Some dog owners, when buying a Griffon puppy, want to see health clearance certificates to show that the parents of the puppy are free from the like of certain diseases such as hip dysplasia and von Willebrand's disease.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a condition where your dogs thighbone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Your puppy can develop this condition from 4 months of age already.

With some dogs you can see the pain, and they may even become lame in one or both back legs. Hip dysplasia is hereditary, but environmental factors such as an injury or the wrong diet can contribute towards your pet succumbing to hip dysplasia.

Skin Allergies:

A skin allergy can make your pet totally miserable as they lick and scratch with discomfort, pain and irritation. All the scratching and licking can cause secondary infections and your pet can even lose his hair.

Atopic Dermatitis is when your dog is allergic to things like dust or pollen. Some people look at homeopathic treatments for dogs and are pleased with the results. The thing is you need to get help for your pet as it can cause your pet endless misery.

The Chinese Chongqing Dog is a very healthy breed by reason of its isolation and seclusion in the far regions of eastern China. There has been no human intervention in the natural development of this breed and no health issues have followed.

Grooming:

The Griffon Bleu de Gascogne is a rough, shaggy, fairly long coated dog and is an average shedder. He will therefore require regular brushing to get rid of grass and burrs that cling to the hair, causing it to matt and tangle.It's always a good chance for you to check him over for ticks and fleas too.

He has floppy ears, so these will require cleaning to prevent infections. Check his nails too and trim them as needed. Take him to the vet for this if you're not sure how or you don't have the correct grooming tools.

Sleeping Area:

Just like his human family, a dog needs to have his own sleeping spot – a place which is warm and dry and which he can retreat too. It is a good idea to train your dog to sleep in his own place where there are some warm blankets which are clean and comfortable for him.

Diet:

You chose to bring a dog into your home, and it is therefore your responsibility to see that he is looked after well.

To keep him healthy, he will require high-quality kibble twice a day. How much your Griffon eats will depend on his age and his activity levels. Follow the feeding directions carefully on the packaging to ensure you keep him in good shape.

Remove the boredom of the same food every day by adding in some raw meat as well as cooked chicken, rice and vegetables as a tasty treat. This will keep him alert, healthy and his coat shiny. Fresh, cool water should be constantly available.

Feeding

The best food for this dog is made yourself of human grade foods. Either raw or cooked yourself . This will keep their skin, teeth and coat healthy.

Health issues

This is a really healthy breed especially due to the isolation and natural selection of their history.

Exercise and games

He needs about 30 minutes of exercise today. He has no history of participation in canine games.