MyDogBreeds
Both Petit Bleu de Gascogne and Braque du Bourbonnais are originated from France. Both Petit Bleu de Gascogne and Braque du Bourbonnais are having almost same height. Both Petit Bleu de Gascogne and Braque du Bourbonnais are having almost same weight. Both Petit Bleu de Gascogne and Braque du Bourbonnais has almost same life span. Both Petit Bleu de Gascogne and Braque du Bourbonnais has almost same litter size. Both Petit Bleu de Gascogne and Braque du Bourbonnais requires Low maintenance.
The Petit Bleu de Gascogne is a scenthound dog originating in France where he has always been used as a hunting dog.
The Petit Bleu de Gascogne is a descendant of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne. This dog was developed around the 16th century already, with the numbers of the dog being reduced at the time of the World Wars.
They’re quite well known in France, but not in any other parts of the world. The dog is an official member of the UKC, and it was in 1991 that the dog joined their scent hound group.
The Braque du Bourbonnais is an ancient breed, seen in the 15th century in France in the province of Bourbonnais. He became extremely popular with hunters by the 1800’s as a good pointer. He has become very popular in the United States and all of North America. There are often more puppies born in the U.S. than in France. The British call this breed the Bourbonnais Pointing Dog.
As with so many European hunting and working dogs, the Braque du Bourbonnais almost disappeared following World War I but was saved by the first breed club, established in 1925. Then following World War II, they were again in danger as the club dissolved and birth rates among the breed decreased drastically.
Actually, there were no dogs at all in the French registry between 1963 and 1973. This was attributed to the fact that the registry put more emphasis on the secondary characteristics such as color, length of tail) instead of the hunting characteristics. Because of this some hunter-breeders vowed to bring the real Braque du Bourbonnais back.
Michel Comte took on this task in 1970 but could not find any dogs with pure Bourbonnais blood. So, he took missed breed with characteristics like the Bourbonnais and inbred several litters until he had a dog he was satisfied with. He registered this dog with the LOF in 1973-75. Seeing this several other breeders got into the act and they successfully brought the breed back.
Michel became president of the new Club du Braque du Bourbonnais in 1981 and remained so until 2001. During this time the breed excelled at field trials and was first sent to the U.S. in 1988. The breed is now thriving in both Europe and North America.
The Petit Bleu de Gascogne is a medium to large sized dog which stands at between 52 to 58cm in height at the withers and weighs in the region of 18 to 22kg.
In fact, the only difference between the Petit Bleu de Gascogne and the original Bleu de Gascogne is its size. They’re well proportioned dogs and they have lean, muscular bodies. The head is long and slim, the nose black, the expression gentle and unthreatening.
Most times you’ll find a black patch on each side of the head which extends to the ears so that the ears are essentially black. The patch also extends to around the eyes.
The dense, short coat is a typical trademark feature, with the color of the coat being white mottled with black so that the general appearance is a slate blue color. The dog usually has tan eyebrows over each eye. The tail is long and the ears long and floppy.
Kept essentially as a pet today, the Petit Bleu de Gascogne has kept its hunting instincts and is an excellent scent-dog, being able to follow a scent for miles. It is why you want to ensure that as a pet, you take him on regular walks, every day in fact. He just loves to get out, and given the chance to run and chase a scent.
Apart from his hunting skills, he still makes an excellent pet, being loyal and loving with his human family. He is looked upon as being amicable and well-balanced, getting on well with children as well as dogs in the home.
They’re quite laid-back and friendly, so they don’t make particularly good watchdogs. They are independent and intelligent and will respond well to training and socialization.
This is an elegant breed with a medium sized, muscular bod and a round head. The nose will be the color of the coat and the muzzle is cone shaped with a wide base. He has large dark or hazel eyes, again depending on the color of the coat. The ears can drop below the throat and the neck is very muscular. He has a deep, wide chest and straight, muscular legs. The coat can come in two colors – liver and fawn – and ticked or spotted. They have a typical short pointer type tail.
The Petit Bleu de Gascogne just loves being outdoors, chasing the scent of something interesting. He is in his element outside as a hunting or tracking dog.
Training and socialization will always be a good idea for these dogs, as once on the scent he may be inclined to ignore your calls and not return easily.
They’re easy-going dogs, loving be around their human family. Provide well for him and you will find that he makes an amicable, loyal and devoted companion.
The Braque du Bourbonnais is a gentle, calm dog. He is affectionate and kind when off the job but intelligent, adaptable and serious when hunting. They are intense when learning or hunting and they will learn quickly. They are good with other dogs.
The Petit Bleu de Gascogne is a healthy dog with no unusual health problems being documented. With good care, he can generally live to be 11, 12 or 13 years of age. Nonetheless it is a good idea to be aware of some of the horrible dog illnesses that can strike, even though it is highly unlikely.
Your Petit Bleu de Gascogne is a deep chested dog and this simply means it can develop bloat. A swollen stomach, lethargy and trying to vomit are just some of the signs of this ailment which can become deadly if not attended to. The stomach can twist with bloat and this is when things get serious.
Floppy eared dogs are always at risk of ear infections and these can be painful for your pet. You will notice him scratching at his ears or shaking his head and then its time to investigate further for redness or discharge.
Entropion - both of these are issues with eyelashes turning inward or outward and both can
Luckily the Petit Bleu de Gascogne is a fairly low maintenance dog who will basically require a good brush twice a week to rid him of loose hairs and to keep his coat nice and shiny.
Take the time while brushing him to test for any unusual lumps on his body. Check inside his ears too, because as a floppy eared dog, there can be a build-up of wax, debris and dampness and these can all cause bacteria and an ear infection.
Check his eyes too as well as inside his mouth. He can’t tell you when he’s got terrible tooth ache from a rotting tooth and you need to check for this. Bad teeth can cause all kinds of health issues.
There are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods on the market which have got the vitamins and minerals your pet needs. Some of the lower quality foods have got bad ingredients such as colorants and fillers and these can actually be toxic for your pet.
It’s always wise to add a little bit of home-made food into your pet’s diet and then simple, nutritious foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach can do him the world of good. Just chop it up and add it into the dried kibble every other night when you feed your pet. A bit of raw meat occasionally can also be healthy for him.
Always ensure there’s a bowl of fresh, cool water available to him.
Ensure your pet has a nice comfortable, dry place to sleep.
Never ever leave your pet alone in a hot car.
Make sure your puppy has his puppy vaccines to avoid some life-threatening diseases.
Have your dog spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted puppies.
This breed is prone to weight gain and obesity. Be careful not to overfeed them. Don’t free feed them but give them 2-3 smaller meals per day.
Entropion - both of these are issues with eyelashes turning inward or outward and both can
Pulmonic Stenosis of the heart- minor will have no symptoms but eventually the heart will not be able to function efficiently and could lead to congestive heart failure.
The Braque du Bourbonnais needs at least a minimum amount of exercise daily , especially if he is not used for hunting. A fenced backyard for playtime would be perfect but long walks will work. He likes to learn tricks, play ball or hide and seek. Outside activities could include hiking, swimming, agility, retrieving, rally and obedience trials, along with the usual field trials.