Gascon saintongeois a vendre

Grand Gascon saintongeois

Caractéristiques physiques du Grand Gascon saintongeois

Le Grand Gascon saintongeois est un chien très bien construit, mêlant force et élégance. On retrouve un type très  » français  » pour la tête, la robe et l’expression. Les yeux sont de forme ovale, bruns, avec une expression douce et confiante. Les oreilles sont fines, repliées, attachées en dessous de la ligne de l’oeil et plutôt en retrait, bien détachées du crâne. La queue, à l’attache solide, est affinée à l’extrémité. Elle atteint la pointe du jarret et elle est portée élégamment.

Poil : court et serré.
Couleur : le fond est blanc, tacheté de noir. Deux taches blanches sont généralement placées de chaque côté de la tête, recouvrant les oreilles, entourant les yeux et atteignant les joues. Ces dernières sont de couleur feu. Deux taches feu sont placées au-dessous des arcades sourcilières. On trouve aussi des traces feu sur la face interne de l’oreille et le long des membres. On trouve parfois, à la base de la cuisse, une tache typique couleur feuille morte dite marque de chevreuil.
Taille : 65 à 72 cm pour le mâle et 62 à 68 cm pour la femelle
Poids : environ 35 kg

Origines et histoire

À la moitié du XIXe siècle, le comte Joseph De Carayon-Latour voulut sauver la race des chiens de Saintonge, qui était en voie d’extinction : il accoupla leurs derniers descendants avec les bleus de Gascogne du baron de Rouble. Il créa ainsi le Gascon saintongeois, mais provoqua la disparition définitive des chiens de Saintonge.

Caractère et aptitudes

Affectueux :
Avec son maître et en famille, il montre un tempérament doux et amical. Il est très démonstratif pour un chien courant.

Joueur :
Il aime passer du temps avec sa famille, que ce soit pour des séances de jeu ou des balades.

Calme :
C’est un chien calme et équilibré qui s’adapte très bien à la vie de famille.

Intelligent :
C’est un très bon auxiliaire de travail qui se montre persévérant et intelligent dans sa quête.

Chasseur :
Il est utilisé pour la chasse en meute au gros gibier, mais aussi pour la chasse au lièvre.

Craintif / méfiant avec les inconnus :
C’est un chien particulièrement sociable, qui n’est ni peureux, ni agressif face aux personnes qu’il ne connaît pas.

Indépendant :
Ce chien courant de grande taille est très attaché à son groupe social.

Comportement

Supporte la solitude :
Il supporte très mal la solitude. Il doit y être habitué très tôt, de manière progressive et positive pour espérer qu’il ne développe pas de troubles comportementaux lors de ces périodes.

Facile à éduquer / obéissant :
C’est un chien très docile, qui se montre réceptif aux ordres tant que l’attitude du maître est cohérente, bienveillante et ferme. La principale notion à lui apprendre étant le rappel pour garder un contrôle sur lui, même lorsqu’il est en liberté.

Aboiement :
Sa voix est grave, il l’utilise lorsqu’il travaille.

Fugueur :
Son instinct de chasse et ses compétences naturelles de limier font de lui un chien particulièrement fugueur.

Destructeur :
Rester seul trop longtemps et sans occupation peut l’amener à être destructeur.

Gourmand / glouton :
Les friandises ne sont jamais de trop pour renforcer positivement les bonnes actions de ce chien.

Chien de garde :
Sa sociabilité fait de lui un piètre gardien.

Premier chien :
Sa grande passion est la chasse et il est donc conseillé avant tout à ceux qui la pratiquent. Autrement des maîtres sportifs peuvent également répondre à ses besoins.

Conditions de vie

Grand gascon saintongeois en appartement :
Ce n’est pas un chien fait pour vivre dans un environnement restreint. Il a besoin d’espace pour se sentir bien. Le mieux étant de lui proposer une maison avec un jardin bien clos pour éviter les fugues.

Besoin d’exercice / sportif :
C’est un chien courageux, téméraire et infatigable qui a besoin de beaucoup d’exercice pour se sentir pleinement comblé. Même s’il vit à la campagne, des balades quotidiennes doivent lui être proposées.

Voyage / Facilité de transport :
Son grand gabarit ne facilite pas les voyages à ses côtés.

Compatibilité

Le Grand gascon saintongeois et les Chats :
Il faut bien entendu toujours rester vigilant avec les chiens de chasse, mais si les deux espèces sont habituées à se côtoyer depuis leur naissance, la cohabitation devrait être sereine.

Le Grand gascon saintongeois et les Autres chiens :
C’est un chien habitué à travailler en meute, cela facilite grandement l’apprentissage des codes canins inhérents à des interactions intraspécifiques respectueuses.

Le Grand gascon saintongeois et les Enfants :
Il a un caractère patient et doux avec les enfants.

Le Grand gascon saintongeois et les Personnes âgées :
A la fois calme et vif, c’est un chien qui peut vivre auprès de personnes âgées, mais uniquement si elles ont encore le temps et l’énergie suffisante pour répondre à ses besoins.

Prix

Le prix d’un Grand gascon saintongeois varie en fonction de ses origines, son âge et son sexe. Aucune information ne permet de connaître le prix moyen d’un chiot Grand gascon saintongeois inscrit au LOF.

Concernant le budget moyen pour subvenir aux besoins d’un chien de ce gabarit, il faut compter environ 50€/mois.

Toilettage et entretien

L’entretien est très simple puisqu’il suffit de brosser une fois par semaine ce chien pour maintenir son pelage en bonne santé.

Perte de poils :
Les pertes sont modérées.

Alimentation

Nourrir ce grand chien n’est pas difficile, il peut s’adapter à toutes les formes d’alimentation (croquettes, B.A.R.F, rations ménagères).

Deux repas par jour doivent lui être proposés pour éviter l’ingestion d’une trop grande quantité de nourriture en une seule fois.

Santé

Résistant / robuste :
C’est un chien solide mais qui craint les températures extrêmes.

Supporte la chaleur :
Il doit absolument être préservé de la chaleur pour éviter les coups de chaud.

Supporte le froid :
Il craint l’humidité et ne doit donc pas vivre dehors, surtout en hiver.

Tendance à grossir :
Son activité quotidienne ne doit pas lui permettre de prendre du poids. Si c’est le cas, c’est qu’il n’est pas suffisamment dépensé.

Maladies fréquentes :
Aucune pathologie particulière n’est déclarée pour cette race.

Bon à savoir

Le Gascon saintongeois existe en deux variétés, le grand (présenté ici) et le Petit gascon saintongeois.

Espérance de vie moyenne : environ 12 ans

Remarques et conseils

Sa grande passion est la chasse et il est donc conseillé avant tout à ceux qui la pratiquent.

Noms pour le Grand gascon saintongeois

Pour une femelle, on privilégiera les noms Belle, Iris, Guess. Les noms Benji, Paco, Oscar vont bien au mâle.

Gascon Saintongeois

The Gascon Saintongeois is a French purebred bred to be a hunting dog that was specifically used in pack hunting. There are two sizes, the Petit Gascon Saintongeois, and the Grand Gascon Saintongeois and they have a life span of 12 to 15 years. It is a scent hound and as well as being good at that it can also be a great and good looking companion in the right home.

Gascon Saintongeois at a Glance
Name	Gascon Saintongeois
Other names	Virelade Hound, Grand Gascon Saintongeois or Petit Gascon Saintongeois
Nicknames	None
Origin	France
Average size	Large
Average weight	52 to 71 pounds
Average height	22 to 28 inches
Life span	12 to 15 years
Coat type	Short, fine, smooth
Hypoallergenic	No
Color	White with black patches
Popularity	Not yet a fully registered member of the AKC
Intelligence	High
Tolerance to heat	Good to very good
Tolerance to cold	Very good
Shedding	Low to average – may be some hair in the home
Drooling	Average to high – can be some slobber and drool
Obesity	Average – measure its food and make sure it is well exercised
Grooming/brushing	Low to average – brush once or twice a week
Barking	Average to high – unreasonable barking may occur if not exercised enough
Exercise needs	High – needs active owners
Trainability	Easy with experience
Friendliness	Very good – require proper socialization
Good first dog	No – require experience
Good family pet	Very good with socialization
Good with children	Very good with socialization
Good with other dogs	Very good with socialization
Good with other pets	Moderate – has a high prey drive, socialization essential
Good with strangers	Good to very good with socialization
Good apartment dog	No – needs space and a yard
Handles alone time well	No – can become destructive if left alone too long
Health issues	Fairly healthy but some issues include Elbow/hip dysplasia, ear/eye problems, allergies
Medical expenses	$485 a year for basic health care and pet insurance
Food expenses	$270 a year for a good quality dry dog food and dog treats
Miscellaneous expenses	$245 a year for toys, basic training, miscellaneous items and license
Average annual expenses	$1000 a year as a starting figure
Cost to purchase	$800
Rescue organizations	None breed specific, check local rescues and shelters
Biting Statistics	None reported «

The Gascon Saintongeois’ Beginnings

The Gascon Saintongeois was bred and developed in the mid 1800s by Baron Joseph de Carayon-LaTour who did so by breeding the Saintongeois hound (now extinct) with the Grand Bleu de Gascognes. Only three Saintongeois had survived the French Revolution and the Grand Bleu was rare too. It was developed to be a typical French hound, muscled, long legs and a lean body and then to be a great hunting dog with a great nose, gallop and voice. The first type was the Grand Gascon Saintongeois (also called the Virelade Hound) and it was used to hunt in packs larger game like roe deer, grey wolf and wild boar.

Then in the mid 1900s in the south west of France hunters took the Grand Gascon Saintongeois and bred it smaller by taking the smallest in the litters to hunt small game like hare and rabbit with. This later became known as the Petit Gascon Saintongeois. It is actually also capable of hunting larger game in packs too. The name Gascon Saintongeois comes from the two dogs used in its breeding. Both types were bred to handle various types of terrain and weather too and have hours of endurance.

New Lease on Life

In 1993 it was recognized by the UKC and the FCI has also recognized it, but it is not recognized by the AKC. However that has not really done anything to improve its numbers outside of France. In its homeland it is valued as a hunting dog and for its easy-going nature that makes it a good companion too. It is not known outside of France though and there are very few breeders and fanciers of this breed elsewhere. As a result it is facing potential difficulty with its numbers being so low.

The Dog You See Today

The Gascon Saintongeois looks very much like most French hounds, it is lean, muscular, long legged and athletic. It is a large dog weighing 52 to 71 pounds and standing 22 to 28 inches tall. It has a deep oval chest that is also broad and a long strong back. Its legs are powerful, it has strong shoulders and the tail is saber shaped with a slight curve. The coat is tight, smooth and short with fine supple skin. Common colors are white with black patches and sometimes ticking or speckling. It can also have tan on the face and a little on the upper thigh called a roe buck mark. The head is long and the muzzle is moderately so. Its lips are pendent and its long ears hang down. Its eyes are chestnut color and dark, and the nose is black.

The Inner Gascon Saintongeois

Temperament

When out in the field on a hunt the Gascon Saintongeois is keen, enthusiastic, energetic, focused and brave. Off it in the right home it can be gentle, affectionate, calm and really quite endearing. It can be a good companion and family dog, mild mannered and loving towards it family with good socialization and positive training. It is wary of strangers, and if not socialized that may turn to aggression, but with it the dog will just be reserved around them. It is not in general an aggressive dog but if threatened it can react.

It is not a good guard dog as it does not have the drive to defend its territory for that but it can be good as a watchdog, it will bark to let you know of an intruder. Its bark is fairly frequent though so train that to stop on command and keep in mind its voice is deep. It does not like being left alone for long periods of time and will become destructive if you do.

Living with a Gascon Saintongeois

What will training look like?

The Gascon Saintongeois is a smart dog and with a firm owner who stays in control and uses positive training techniques training should be easy. It can have an independent side to it though so if you are too timid or meek it is less likely to listen and will even outright disobey. It likes to please its owner and with things like treats, encouragement and praise it will respond really well. Be ready that interesting smells will distract it! Make sure as well as giving it at least basic obedience training it also gets early socialization. Introduce it to different places, people, sounds, situations and animals so it learns how to react to them.

How active is the Gascon Saintongeois?

This is an active dog though the larger type tends to be a bit less lively and more calm. With enough physical and mental activity it will be calm and happy and healthy, but not enough and it can become bored, hyper active and destructive. It is best in homes with space and a yard and should be taken on a couple of long walks a day. It will also need some play time with you daily, mental stimulation in the form of puzzle toys or agility training, and time off leash somewhere safe where it can run. It has a surprising amount of stamina so short walks around the block are not going to be enough.

Caring for the Gascon Saintongeois

Grooming needs

The coat of this dog is self cleaning so it is easier to look after and needs less bathing. Being short haired it is also easy to brush and it will only need it once or twice a week. This will also help remove some of the loose hair though it is a light to average shedding dog only. This means there will be a little hair around the home but not huge amounts. Only give it a bath using a dog shampoo and do it only when it is really dirty and needs one.

Other needs on regular basis are its ears, its nails and its teeth. Brush its teeth daily if possible or two to three times a week at least using a dog toothpaste and toothbrush. Check its ears once a week for infection signs as it has ears that hang down this is something it is especially prone to. Signs would include things like redness, discharge and bad odor and irritation. If they are fine give them a wipe clean with a cotton ball and a dog ear cleanser or with a damp cloth. Wipe the parts of the ear that can be easily reached do not insert anything into them. That could hurt your dog and cause injury or even permanent damage. Then there are its nails. Some dogs wear their nails down with a lot of physical activity but if this not the case you should clip them when they get too long using dog nail scissors or clippers. Do not cut into the quick of the nail where the blood vessels and nerves are as that would lead to bleeding and pain.

Feeding Time

The Gascon Saintongeois will eat between 2 ½ to 4 ½ cups of a good quality dry dog food a day, split into at least two meals a day. The amount varies between the petit and grand of course due to size, but other factors include age, health, level of activity and metabolism. It also needs water which should be kept as fresh as possible.

How is the Gascon Saintongeois with children and other animals?

With good socialization and when raised with them especially, the Gascon Saintongeois is very good with children. It will play with them, is gentle with them though supervision should still be given to small children as they can get knocked over by mistake. Make sure the kids are taught how to play and touch the dog in a kind and appropriate way. It was bred to hunt in packs with other dogs so can get along with them very well. It likes to have other dogs around but there could be dominance issues if a strange dog were to try it on with it. Being a natural hunter it tends to see small non-canine animals as prey to chase. Socialization can help with that but some dogs are more accepting than others. When it comes to cats if it is raised with them it may get along with them.

What Might Go Wrong?

Health Concerns

It is quite a healthy breed in general, the life span of this dog is 12 to 15 years and possible health issues to be aware of can include joint dysplasia, allergies, eye problems, skin infections, bloat and ear infections.

Biting Statistics

The Gascon Saintongeois is not an aggressive dog so is unlikely to be involved in any incident reported of a dog attacking a person and doing bodily harm. It is not named in reports over the last 35 years in North America, but it is not a common dog in these places. Dogs all have the potential to have an off day or be drawn into something, no breed or size is 100% safe, but proper care can make those risks less. Socialization, training, exercise, stimulation, attention and care and proper feeding are all key.

Your Pup’s Price Tag

The Gascon Saintongeois puppy will be around $800 from a good breeder with experience that can be trusted. If you are looking for something from a top breeder though that price will be a lot higher. Most breeders of this dog can be found in France so there can also be transportation costs. You are likely to be placed on a waiting list so be patient. Do not be tempted to speed it up by using unsavory people like puppy mills, pet stores (some) or backyard breeders. There is also the option of rescue and adoption which is a great way to give a dog a new forever home, but it is fair to say finding purebreds and puppies in shelters is less likely. Adoption fees are around $50 to $400.

Initial costs include items it will need when it comes home and health tests and procedures on its first vet visit. The items will include things like a crate, carrier, leash and collar, bowls and such for about $230. A physical exam, micro chipping, neutering or spaying, deworming, shots and blood tests will be another $290.

The yearly costs will cover areas for its health, food and other miscellaneous needs. Feeding the dog will cost about $270 a year for a good quality dry dog food and treats. The health basics like shots, flea and tick prevention, check ups and pet insurance will be another $485 a year. Miscellaneous costs like toys, basic training, miscellaneous items and license is another $245 a year. This gives an estimated yearly starting figure of $1000.

Names

Looking for a Gascon Saintongeois Name? Let select one from our list!

The Gascon Saintongeois is a great hunting dog and companion with good socialization and training. The larger size tends to be a bit calmer but both are active and need active owners. It can be homed with other dogs but other pets need more consideration. It gets on well with children with socialization and could be a great addition to the right family’s home.

The dog whose picture we challenged you to identify in the title is a in the thumbnail image is native hunting dog of France whose origins date to the 19th century. Created by Baron Joseph de Carayon LaTour of the Chateau Virelade, the breed sometimes called the “Virelade” is better known as the Grand Gascon-Saintongeois.

It is said that only three Saintongeois hounds survived the French Revolution, two dogs and a bitch. Carayon-Latour crossed the last of the old Hound of Saintonge with a few of the remaining old type Bleu de Gascognes from the kennel of Baron de Ruble. The resulting dogs were white with black ticking and named Gascon-saintongeois. These first-generation offspring were of such good quality that the two men continued to breed the dogs, and resulting descendants were given the name “Grand Gascon-Saintongeois.” Later on in the middle of the 20th century, certain hunters from the south west of France chose the smaller dogs from litters of the Grand Gascon Saintongeois, their size more suited to hunt rabbits and small game. These smaller dogs were called the “Petit Gascon Saintongeois” and the two sizes remain today.

The breed is noted for its good nose and excellent voice, and a word we came across frequently when researching the dog was “audacious” in its hunting skill. It typically is hunted in packs, so it gets along well with other dogs, and is described as getting along well with people he knows.

The FCI recognizes this breed, and the United Kennel Club recognized the Grand Gascon-Saintongeois in 1993.