Tibetan Terrier vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison

The Tibetan Terrier is a medium-size breed of dog that originated in Tibet. He has always been kept as a pet and companion for Tibetan monks.

He is still a popular companion dog, more so because he is thought to be hypoallergenic, so that even allergy sufferers can enjoy a canine friend.

This isn't a new dog breed, and if you have to go according to records, they have been around for more than 2000 years as herding dogs.

The first Tibetan Terrier was brought to Europe in 1922. The first Tibetan Terriers in the US were imported in 1956 and in 1973 the American Kennel Club recognized the breed. They're classified as a non-sporting breed.

The 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.

The Tibetan Terrier is a medium-sized dog weighing about 8 – 14kg and standing at about 35 – 41cm in height.

People liken him to the Bearded Collie in looks. The long, shaggy, double coat of the dog is available in a number of colors such as white, grey, golden, black or tri-colored.

The dog is powerful and squarely built with floppy ears and a tail that is well feathered, long and carried curled over the back.

Temperament:

He has always been a dog kept by Tibetan monks. There is nothing aggressive about this dog at all and he is sweet, reserved, gentle and sensitive while also being playful and social with his human family.

These dogs thrive on human companionship and are often used as therapy dogs. He is energetic and active and will require regular exercise. He is able to adjust to life in the city or the countryside, but wherever he is, his exercise needs can never be neglected.

The 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.

Tibetan Terriers are loyal ad devoted to their human family. They’re social dogs and won’t do well stuck in the back yard.

They want to be part of the family and what they’re doing.

They are sensitive dogs, being able to sense the mood of those whom they love. They also make good watchdogs. They’re ideally suited to people who can give them the attention they crave, making splendid pets and companions.

Your 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.

Your Tibetan Terrier can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age but even so it is susceptible to a host of health problems. Some of the problems you may have to contend with are hip dysplasia, eye problems and heart murmurs.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a serious condition where the femur doesn't fit snugly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint. It can be painful and cause lameness even. Dogs that have hip dysplasia most certainly shouldn't be bred.

Heart Murmurs:

Heart murmurs are extra heart vibrations. This is because of a disturbance in the blood flow so as to produce an audible noise.

Sometimes the sound is barely audible but it can also be louder and your pet can show signs of congestive heart failure such as coughing, not being able to tolerate exercise, and being lethargic and weak.

As 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.

Diet:

The Tibetan will require good food and exercise to stay healthy. The commercially manufactured dog foods are always a convenient choice, but make sure to give your pet one of the better brand foods, otherwise you feed him a lot of useless ingredients such as fillers, preservatives and colorants from the cheap, inferior brands.

Feed him some home-made food too just to add a little bit of variety to his diet. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet.

Avoid people foods such as chocolates, onions, spices, chips etc as these can just upset his stomach and push your vet fees up. Always ensure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

Brush your Tibetan Terrier. He has a long shaggy coat so will require brushing at least twice a week.

Brushing your dog regularly will help to reduce shedding. Many people opt to take the dog to professional groomers and have the coat professionally clipped. The groomers will also trim your dog’s nails and clean the inside of your dog’s ears.

Vaccines:

Before you get a dog, make sure you have a reliable veterinarian. It’s no good if your pet becomes ill, maybe even some kind of an emergency, such as bloat, and you don’t know where to take your pet.

You need to be aware of a vet that is open 24/7. Your Tibetan will need to have your vet vaccinate him against some of the deadly diseases there are.

Known 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.