At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
rough, harsh, shaggy
A sturdy, rustic hound built somewhere between its two parent types. The coat is hard and tousled, a little shorter on the head and ears, with bushy brows that should still leave the eyes visible.12
Personality what they are like
An eager, busy hunting dog that can get very worked up once it is on a trail, yet is warm and loving at home. It is bold and enterprising and likes to be doing something.123
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A working scent hound bred to follow hare and boar across rough ground, alone or in a pack, so it needs plenty of daily exercise and chances to use its nose.23
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The harsh, shaggy coat is naturally weather-resistant; regular brushing keeps it tidy. Check the drop ears and brows after outings in cover.12
Company who they like around
Used both singly and in packs, so it is at ease with other dogs, and it bonds closely with its family.3
The story where it all began
The breed came from crossing the medium-sized blue Gascon hound with rough-coated griffons, possibly including the Griffon Nivernais and Grand Griffon Vendéen. Numbers fell so low that it came close to disappearing, but French hunters have since brought it back.132
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its black-and-white ticking blends so finely that the coat reads as slate blue from a distance.1
- 2
Tan spots above the eyes give it the classic 'four-eyed' look shared by the Gascon blue hounds.3
- 3
It was close to extinction before a dedicated revival, and it is now exported abroad as a rare breed.3
- 4
It works on both small and large game, from hare to wild boar.2
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 32, Group 6 Scent hounds, Section 1.2 Medium-sized hounds; current standard dated 29.08.2023.1
- UKC
- Scenthound Group; recognised 1 January 1991.2
- Société Centrale Canine
- Recognised in its home country, France.3
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Griffon Bleu de Gascogne. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Hand strippingHand stripping keeps the harsh texture; clipping also worksevery 12 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
You might also like
Grand Bleu de Gascogne
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Basset Bleu de Gascogne
Griffon NivernaisLike what we are building? Buy us a coffee.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI standard no. 32 Griffon Bleu de Gascogne fci.beused for origin, recognition, height, coat, colour, temperament, history
- UKC Griffon Bleu de Gascogne standard ukcdogs.comused for recognition, height, coat, colour, temperament, use
- Griffon Bleu de Gascogne (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.orgused for ancestry, revival, recognition, facts
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.