Petit Gascon Saintongeois
Draft — this profile is still being checked.
At a glance
The Petit (Small) Gascon Saintongeois is the smaller size variety of the Gascon Saintongeois; the FCI describes both varieties in one standard, and the UKC lists it separately but says it is bred and judged by the same standard as the Grand, with shorter lines. According to the FCI, hunters in south-west France created it in the mid-20th century by selecting the smallest dogs from Grand litters, originally for hare. The FCI classes it as a medium-sized scenthound and a versatile shooting dog. The coat is short and tight, white with black patches; the FCI gives 56–62 cm for males and 54–59 cm for females.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 53.3–62cm |
| Breed group | FCI: 6 |
| Role | Hound |
| Coat | Short coat |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
No breed-specific screening named in the standards
Neither the FCI nor the UKC standard for this variety discusses health beyond the FCI's general rule that only functionally and clinically healthy dogs should be used for breeding, and neither names a breed-specific screening programme. Ask your vet what routine checks suit a medium-sized, active scenthound.
Behaviour
Pack hound: calm, affectionate, amenable
The FCI standard, which covers both varieties, describes a pack hound par excellence — fine-nosed, wide-casting, with a very sonorous voice, joining the pack instinctively — and calm, affectionate and amenable to orders; the UKC standard likewise calls it an excellent pack dog, calm, affectionate and agreeable. The FCI notes that its origins make the Small variety a hare specialist, though it also hunts big game.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
FCI nomenclature — Gascon Saintongeois (standard no. 21, group 6), Great and Small varieties
One FCI standard covers both size varieties: history, appearance, temperament, and separate withers heights for the Great and the Small.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-29
United Kennel Club — Petit Gascon-Saintongeois breed standard
UKC Scenthound Group standard (revised 2009): judged by the parent breed's standard with allowance for size; height — males 22–24 in, females 21–23 in.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-29
Sources
- [1]FCI-Standard No. 21 — Gascon Saintongeois (Great and Small), 08.08.2023 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-29)
- [2]Petit Gascon-Saintongeois — Official UKC Breed Standard — United Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-29)
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Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.