At a glance the quick version
Great variety: males 65-72, females 62-68 cm. Small variety: males 56-62, females 54-59 cm (FCI).
Coat and looks how to spot one
short, tight
A tall, lean and muscular hound with long legs, long hanging ears and a close, short coat. The body is mostly white with black patches and ticking, the head carries black patches over the ears and eyes, and the cheeks and brows show tan.12
Personality what they are like
A born pack hound that works with a keen nose and a far-reaching voice. At home the standard describes it as calm, affectionate and willing to respond to its handler.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Built for long days of hunting and galloping, so it needs plenty of daily running, scent work or long walks to stay content.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The short, tight coat is easy to keep: a weekly brush and a check of the long ears are usually enough.1
Home where they are happiest
Best suited to a rural home or hunting household with space and a securely fenced area, as a scent-driven hound will follow a trail.2
Company who they like around
Instinctively a pack dog that enjoys the company of other dogs and its people.2
The story where it all began
After the French Revolution only a few old Saintonge hounds remained. In the mid-1800s Count Joseph de Carayon-Latour crossed them with old-type Bleu de Gascogne hounds, and the white, black-ticked offspring became the Gascon Saintongeois. In the mid-20th century hunters in south-west France selected the smallest dogs to create the Petit variety for hare hunting.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The breed comes in two sizes: the Grand for big game and the Petit, bred down from small Grand dogs for hare.1
- 2
Its creation is linked to the last three old Saintonge hounds said to have survived the French Revolution.2
- 3
The breed is admired for its good nose, strong voice and a notably handsome gallop.2
- 4
The Grand variety was historically used on wild boar, deer and even wolves.2
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard No. 21, Group 6 (Scenthounds); Great variety in Section 1.1 (large hounds), Small variety in Section 1.2 (medium hounds); current standard published 1 Aug 20231
- Société Centrale Canine
- Recognised French breed2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Gascon Saintongeois. 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
- 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 7every year
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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 support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard No. 21 Gascon Saintongeois fci.beused for classification, sizes, coat, colour, temperament, history
- Gascon Saintongeois - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for history, weight, uses, recognition
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.