Grand bleu de Gascogne, << grahnd bloo duh gahs kawn yuh, >> is one of the oldest breeds of French hounds. It was brought to Europe by the Phoenicians and was a great favorite of the French kings. Originally bred for hunting wolves, it is still used for hunting hare. The grand bleu is a large dog. It has a thick, medium-length coat that appears slate-blue in color from a distance. The color is made up of black markings on a speckled background. The breed has black markings over the ears and around the eyes. The grand bleu has a keen sense of smell and a deep, baying bark. It stands between 24 and 28 inches (62 and 72 centimeters) high at the shoulder and weighs between 70 and 77 pounds (32 and 35 kilograms).
