Petit Gascon Saintongeois vs Catahoula Bulldog - Breed Comparison

The Petit Gascon Saintongeois comes from- and is in fact a smaller version of the Grand Gascon Saintongeois. The dog has been used for hunting. Hunters wanted a smaller dog and these were the Petit Gascon Saintongeois.

There was a time when the numbers of these dogs became less and their numbers were restored by Baron Virelade in the 19th century. It is where this dog gets his nickname from.

The Petit Gascon-Saintongeois was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1993.

Long ago, ranchers kept the Catahoula Leopard to catch and carry prey, but because it lacked the strength to do so, they would include other stronger dogs in the pack. The American bulldog was more well built, stronger and more aggressive, and the idea was to mix the American Bulldog with the Catahoula Leopard Dog. This brought about the Catahoula Bulldog which has been in existence for some 100 years.

The Catahoula Bulldog became known for its stamina and strength and in 1951 the breed registry started. As a hybrid, the Catahoula Bulldog isn’t officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The Petit Gascon Saintongeois is a smaller version of the Grand Gascon Saintongeois but he is still muscled and lean and looked upon as being a large, robust dog.

His coat is short and dense and is white with black patches and some speckles. You'll find that there are nearly always black patches found on either side of the head, surrounding the eyes and covering the ears. The ears are essentially black, although there is also some tan coloring.

The ears are floppy, the tail long and saber-shaped.The Petit Gascon Saintongeois is a well proportioned dog standing at between 56 to 62cm in height and weighing 23 to 27kg.

Temperament:

The Petit Gascon Saintongeois is a friendly, good-natured pet, being loyal and loving with his human family and being a good playmate to children. He is also intelligent and amicable and will be easily trained and socialized.

The Catahoula Bulldog is a strong-looking, medium- sized dog of 55-66cm in height and weighing in at 34-46kg. He has a short, smooth, water-repellent coat. The coat can be in a number of colors – white, brown, black or grey or he can be bi-colored such as in brown and black or white and black.

The dog appeals to a lot of people because it sheds very little. The ears of the Catahoula Bulldog are somewhat floppy and the long tail is mostly docked. The dog has unusual eyes and these can be brown, but also in shades of blue or green or even a combination of these colors.

Temperament:

This is a relaxed dog breed but having said that, he is also a protective breed, and then his fearless qualities come out. He becomes alert to strange noises. He is loyal and intelligent and loves to spend time with his human family. He is somewhat stubborn and independent, and early training and socialization should be provided. This ensures he is even more amicable around children in the home as well as around pets.

Your gentle, calm, amicable Petit Gascon-Saintongeois is such an excellent hunting dog, but he doesn’t let that get in the way of him being a wonderful family pet as well.

His friendly, good natured, docile temperament makes this particular breed a superb choice as he gets on so well with children too if they themselves have been taught to be kind to animals and to respect them.

He is intelligent too and easy to train, and he is attractive to look at as a bonus. This all makes him the kind of pet and companion that everyone could benefit from.

The Catahoula Bulldog is such an all-round dog breed – he loves to work and be active but he also loves to be with his human family. He is smart, active, loving and devoted and makes a splendid working dog or human companion, though he will always need to be kept busy.

He is a healthy dog breed too, and is actually low maintenance which is just one of the many advantages of keeping him as a pet.

For all that he offers you, it is up to you as a responsible dog owner to provide him with a loving and nurturing environment so that he can continue to live up to the high standards this dog breed is known for.

The Petit Gascon-Saintongeois has no documented breed related health problems. As previously mentioned, with his long ears, check out the inside of his ears regularly for ear infections.

Parasites:

Ticks fleas and worms are a curse. Worms particularly are terrible internal parasites and in fact some worms can even be fatal in puppies. Some of the signs your dogs may have worms include weight loss, a dull, dry, thinning coat, no loger interested in food, diarrhea and vomiting. The best way to respond to your pet’s worm issues is to get him to the vet.

Bloat or Swollen Stomach:

This problem is looked upon as a medical emergency. Gastric dilatation and volvulus, if left, can kill your dog. It’s when gas is trapped in the stomach which has twisted, blocking off the stomach’s blood supply.

Deep chested dogs, feeding your dog just one meal a day so that he gobbles it up too quickly, and older, obese dogs are more prone to bloat. Your dog will require immediate veterinary intervention.

The Catahoula Bulldog is known to be a robust dog breed, full of energy. With good care – healthy diet, clean, fresh water and love and attention – he can live up to be between 10 and 16 years of age.

However, with every dog breed there will be some common dog ailments to watch for and these include hip dysplasia, some eye disorders and congenital heart defects. Some Catahoula Bulldogs can become deaf in one ear, or blind in one eye.

The Gascon Saintongeois is looked upon as being a fairly low maintenance breed. That is because the coat is short and smooth, although the coat does become thicker in the Winter time. He sheds so you will want to brush his coat at least twice a week.

With his long floppy ears, during your brushing session, check inside his ears as dampness, wax and debris can become the ideal breeding spot for bacteria, and ear infections can be the result. Check for redness and possible discharge.

Check his eyes that they are clear and bright.

While brushing him, check for any new, unusual lumps.

Keep his nails well trimmed.

Provide him with a nice warm, dry spot to sleep.

When he’s oudoors, make sure that he has both sun and shade and that his waterbowl is always available.

Make sure that at the first signs of illness you get your pet to the vet.

Feed him only the best quality kibble there is. Occasionally give him some home-made food. Keep this food simple and nutritious. You can’t go wrong with boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. You can chop this up and add it to his kibble. Sometimes it can benefit your pet to include some raw meat as well.

If only pet owners would realize that their pets don’t want all those spicy, exotic people foods. They just give a dog a stomach ache and eventually shorten his life. Make sure he always has access to a bowl of cool, fresh water.

Exercise:

The energy levels of the Catahoula Bulldog are high and he is going to need ongoing mental- and physical stimulation. He wants to be part of all the activities in the family and you will need to take him for walks or take him with you when you go cycling or jogging. He’ll love to join in with all kinds of ball games.

The best kind of environment for the Catahoula Bulldog is a country home with lots of fields to run in, but if you keep him in the city, he can do well provided you make sure to include plenty of daily exercise activities for him.

Grooming:

The short, smooth coat of the Catahoula Bulldog won’t require much grooming, so a good brush twice a week will be excellent for this dog who will just love the interaction this activity brings.

Diet:

Ensure that your Catahoula and Bulldog mix has food which is full of vitamins and minerals as he is an energetic dog. If you make use of a commercially manufactured product, make sure it is one of the top quality ones guaranteed to ensure good health.

Don’t just put a bowl of dog pellets in front of your dog day after day, but make it interesting and nutritious for your pet by adding in raw meat, rice, vegetables and some cooked meat from time to time. An adult dog can be fed once or twice a day.

Always ensure fresh, cool water is constantly available to your pet.