Grand Gascon Saintongeois: temperament, price, health, and breeders

The Grand Gascon saintongeois was developed in France from the middle of the 19th century. Count Joseph de Carayon-Latour sought to bring back to the fore the old Saintonge dogs by crossing them with Bleus de Gascogne. The Petit Gascon saintongeois variety appeared later, about a century after the creation of the large variety.

The Grand Gascon saintongeois is a large dog, built with elegance and power. It has a long head, a well-supported and muscular body, a broad and long chest, as well as a tail carried like a sabre blade. Its coat is short and tight, and its colour is predominantly white with black patches, sometimes accompanied by speckling.

A hunting dog above all, the Grand Gascon saintongeois stands out for a very marked pursuit instinct and a powerful sense of smell. Outside of hunting, it shows a calm, affectionate and balanced temperament. Its pack spirit is well developed, which promotes life with other well-socialized dogs.

This dog needs space, activity and long frequent outings to remain balanced. It thrives more in a house with a large fenced garden than in a restricted dwelling. Its daily life must allow it to expend energy and to pursue occupations suited to its temperament as a scenthound.

The education of the Grand Gascon saintongeois must be firm, fair and consistent, without brutality. Recall is part of the priority learning given its hunting instinct. Early socialization and stable rules help to channel its natural autonomy and to obtain a reliable dog on a daily basis.

The purchase price of the Grand Gascon saintongeois varies depending on the kennel, the bloodline and the availability of the breed. It is preferable to favor a dog from a reputable kennel, with identification, health monitoring and clear information on the breeding dogs.

The Grand Gascon saintongeois is overall a robust and resilient dog. No major predisposition specific to the breed is particularly highlighted, but like any large active dog, it benefits from regular veterinary monitoring and good lifestyle hygiene.

The Grand Gascon saintongeois needs a balanced, high-quality diet, adapted to its size, age and level of physical activity. It is generally preferable to divide its daily ration into 2 meals to promote digestive comfort.

The Grand Gascon saintongeois is also known as the Chien de Virelade. It belongs to FCI group 6 and its recognition dates back to 1963. There is a distinct variety, the Petit Gascon saintongeois, developed later from the same breed stock.