Greek Harehound vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison

Greek Harehound vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed ComparisonGrand Gascon Saintongeois is originated from France but Greek Harehound is originated from Greece. Grand Gascon Saintongeois may grow 18 cm / 8 inches higher than Greek Harehound. Grand Gascon Saintongeois may weigh 15 kg / 34 pounds more than Greek Harehound. Both Grand Gascon Saintongeois and Greek Harehound has almost same life span. Both Grand Gascon Saintongeois and Greek Harehound has almost same litter size. Both Grand Gascon Saintongeois and Greek Harehound requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Working dog
undefined
France
Greece
Height Male:
61 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
47 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
Height Female:
61 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
47 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
Weight Male:
30 - 35 kg
66 - 78 pounds
17 - 20 kg
37 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
30 - 35 kg
66 - 78 pounds
47 - 20 kg
103 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
2 - 8
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Virelade
Hellenic Hound
Colors Available:
White with black patches
Black with tan markings
Coat:
Short and smooth
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

grand gascon saintongeoisKnown also as the Virelade, the Grand Gascon Saintongeois hails from the Saintongeois region of France, being a newish addition to the hunting dog breed.

The Saintongeois hound and the Grand Blue de Gascogne are the ancestors of this scentdog as these two breeds themselves, are exceptional hunters. The Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a large dog and favored by the French nobility for its ability to hunt.

After the French Revolution the popularity of the breed waned. It was Baron Joseph de Carayon-LaTour who tried to revive the Saintongeois Hound. The dogs were mated with the Grand Bleu de Gascogne and were so outstanding that breeding was continued. The breed that was created is the Grand Gascon Saintongeois which we know today.

It was in January 1993 that the Grand Gascon Saintongeois was officially recognized by the United Kennel Club.

greek harehoundKnown also as the Hellenic Hound, the Greek Harehound is an ancient breed, and it is a dog which has come down through the ages with very little change to the way he looks.

The ancestors of the Greek Harehound go back thousands of years and are believed to be the ancient ‘Laconikoi’ dogs of the Peloponnese.

In was in 1996 that the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized the Hellenic Hound. The Greek Harehound was also recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2006.

Description

grand gascon saintongeois puppy - descriptionThe Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a large, well built breed of dog that looks strong and robust. His head is strong and covered with loose skin that forms wrinkles around the cheeks. He stands at 61-73cm and weighs 30 to 35kg.

He has straight, long legs. He has a short, smooth coat which is white with black patches. Sometimes you'll also find a speckled or ticked pattern. There'll be tan dots over the eyes.

The eyes are brown, the nose black and the long, thin textured ears are low on the dogs head and also well back on the skull. The tail is long.

Temperament:

He is known for his deep voice to voice an opinion. He is a loving, friendly, courageous and affectionate breed with a well balanced temperament, making him a splendid pet. He is also intelligent and so he won't battle at all to learn some rules. Training and socialization will be good for him even though he is such an amicable dog already, but then he just becomes extra obedient.

greek harehound puppy - descriptionThese dogs have a short, dense coat which is black and tan in color. He is a medium sized, well proportioned, deep chested dog standing at roughly 47 – 55cm in height and weighing between 17–20kg.

His legs are straight, well boned and strong. The skull of the dog is fairly flat, the eyes are brown while the ears are set high and are floppy. The tail is long, tapering down to a tip.

Temperament:

Lively and outgoing, the Greek Harehound is a skilled, brave hunter. These are active dogs and will require quite a bit of exercise if you get one as a pet. He becomes devoted to his owner, making a good, all-round family pet.

He has always been used in the past to hunt in packs so he gets on well with any other dogs in the family.

As a scenthound, the Greek Harehound is an independent, stubborn, strong-willed dog that will respond well to a firm, strong owner. His stubborn, strong-willed nature means it will be important to have him trained and socialized so that he becomes a well-rounded, obedient pet.

If you're looking for a true around-the-house family pet, this isn't the ideal choice as he is essentially a hunting dog, wanting to be running off on a hunt as opposed to lying quietly indoors. He is therefore better suited to life in the country than being cooped up in a small city property.

Characteristics

grand gascon saintongeois dog - characteristicsYour Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a true hunting dog breed and valued for his hunting prowess. He has another side to him though and is gentle, loving and calm with his human family.

He makes a wonderful family companion, getting on well with children as well as pets in the home. He may show a bit of aggression to strangers and this is why training and socialization works so well with him as it helps him behave well around family and strangers.

Training is never a problem as he is an intelligent dog. He is an energetic dog and won't fit well into city life in tiny properties, also because of his tendency to bark when bored. He fits well into country life or large properties.

When you provide your large pet with good food, a warm place to sleep, exercise and plenty of love and attention, the Grand Gascon Saintongeois is going to turn out to be one of the most loyal, affectionate pets you can imagine.

greek harehound dog - characteristicsFast, courageous, smart, playful, independent and strong willed, the Greek Harehound is a slow maturing breed and he will require training and socialization to make him obedient and not so stubborn.

Once trained he becomes a truly wonderful companion, being affectionate, loyal and outgoing. He makes a good friend of children too.

He is friendly and non-aggressive, though he still makes a good watchdog. He is a low maintenance pet too, and even though he is essentially a hunting dog, he can make anyone a splendid pet.

Health Problems

grand gascon saintongeois puppies - health problemsYour Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a robust dog, who with good care can reach up to 14 years of age. You're not going to be running to the vet often with this strong looking dog, but even so, there are one to two problems that you'll want to look out for.

Ear Infections:

Long-eared dogs are more susceptible to canine ear infections. The symptoms of the infection will be dependent on how severe it is. Certainly your dog may experience pain and you'll see him shaking his head and pawing at his ear. If both ears are affected by inflammation, he may even walk in a wobbly fashion and the infection could lead to deafness. It is imperative that he get to the vet as soon as possible.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is where the ball and socket joint of the hip is malformed. It results in a joint rubbing and grinding. It can lead to loss of function of the hip joints. It is a common skeletal disease in young or old dogs, small or large dogs and in both males and females.

Large dogs are more commonly affected though with hip dysplasia which can see arthritis developing too. Your dog will display decreased activity and difficulty with standing up after lying down. Veterinary intervention will be required.

greek harehound puppies - health problemsThe Greek Harehound is a healthy dog breed with no particular genetic defects. But like other dogs with floppy ears, they are more prone to infections and the insides of the ears will need to be cleaned frequently. Always do this with the utmost care to avoid damaging your pet's ears.

He is a deep chested dog and this puts him at risk of gastric dilation and volvulus which is commonly referred to as bloat. Its a life threatening health issue where the stomach can twist. The stomach is sealed off as a result and gas builds up. The dog can go into organ failure.

Caring The Pet

grand gascon saintongeois dogs - caringThese large dogs with their short smooth coats have very little grooming needs. Regular brushing twice a week will remove dead hair and also ensure the good condition of the coat.

He has long ears and these will need to be checked regularly to avoid ear infections. It will be a good idea to learn how to clean the ears and to do it in such a way as to avoid damaging them. Signs of ear infection include redness, discharge, irritation and bad odor.

Diet:

Following the feeding instructions on the packaging of top quality kibble, provide your Grand Gascon Saintongeois with at least 2 meals a day. To steer away from the monotony of kibble every day, mix in some raw meat from time to time, and also include some cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables as a tasty treat. Fresh, cool water should always be easily accessible to him.

Exercise:

greek harehound dogs - caringThe Greek Harehound is happiest when he senses he is free to follow scents and run. This is why this particular dog breed isn’t suited for life in the city where he has a small garden. He requires large pieces of ground to run free. If you own one of these dogs, he should be taken on daily walks and be involved in lots of sporting activities and games. If you’re a jogger or cyclist, this dog will be thrilled to join you.

Grooming:

Dog owners love that this dog is a low maintenance breed. The short coat simply requires a brush twice a week to rid him of loose hairs and to also keep his coat shiny and healthy.

Vaccinations:

Every new puppy will require a series of vaccinations in his first year to make sure he doesn't develop some of the serious dog diseases there are such as distemper, parvo-virus and rabies among others.

Diet:

Dogs are carnivores and without human interference have always eaten fresh meat in the wilds. For convenience many people feed their dogs commercially manufactured food.

There are some excellent brands. Choose the best one for your pet and mix in raw meat from time to time as well as cooked rice, chicken and vegetables.

Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Greek Harehound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Greek Harehound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Greek Harehound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Greek Harehound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Greek Harehound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Greek Harehound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Greek Harehound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Greek Harehound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Greek Harehound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Greek Harehound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Greek Harehound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Greek Harehound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Greek Harehound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Greek Harehound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Greek Harehound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Greek Harehound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Greek Harehound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Greek Harehound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Greek Harehound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Greek Harehound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Greek Harehound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Greek Harehound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Greek Harehound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Greek Harehound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Greek Harehound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison