Scenthound Large size 30-32 kg

Grand Gascony Saintongeois Hound

A large pack scenthound built for the hunt - devoted and even-tempered, but needs far more exercise than most homes offer.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Large
Size
30-32 kg, 62-72 cm
High
Activity
High stamina; needs a long daily run or hike
Low
Alone-time tolerance
Pack-minded; dislikes long hours alone
Challenging
Trainability
Independent nose; recall takes real work
Low
Coat care
Short coat; weekly brush and shed control
Good
Fit with kids
Good with kids given supervision
Good
Other pets
Pack-social; usually fine with other dogs
Moderate
Health burden
Dental Disease, Hip Dysplasia, Bloat

The Grand Gascony Saintongeois Hound typically weighs 30-32 kg, stands 62-72 cm, and lives 10-13 years.

Consider this breed if…

you hunt or can give it hours of daily running and scent work,
you want a devoted, even-tempered hound that lives with other dogs,
you have rural space and a securely fenced property,
you accept an independent nose and a carrying voice.

Do not consider this breed if…

the dog would be home alone through a full workday,
you rely on solid off-leash recall in open country,
a loud baying voice would be a problem where you live,
you cannot keep up long daily exercise year-round.

A typical day with a Grand Gascony Saintongeois Hound

  1. 6:30 · Morning
    Long walk, run, or field work on a scent trail
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Rest with family or kennel mates after the outing
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Short walk with plenty of sniffing time
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Brief, reward-based training, 10-15 minutes
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Second long walk or hike across varied ground
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Settles quietly once the day's exercise is done

Temperament and training

Prey drive Very high
Sociability with dogs Very high
Independence High
Trainability Low
Vocality High
Guarding tendency Low
Common owner mistakes
Trusting off-leash freedom before recall is reliable and losing it to a scent · Under-exercising a working hound and facing destructive boredom · Not preparing for the loud baying that comes with a scent breed

Family and environment

Kids Good
Even-tempered and tolerant; supervise around small children given its size.
Dogs Good
Bred to hunt in packs; usually very sociable with other dogs.
Cats Poor
High prey drive makes cats and small pets a real risk.
Apartment Not suited
Size, energy, and voice all rule out flat living.
House with a yard Suitable
Needs tall, secure fencing; its nose leads it to roam.
City Not ideal
Baying and heavy exercise needs clash with urban life.
Countryside Ideal
Open ground and hunting work suit the breed best.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Moderate

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Dental Disease Routine home care and cleanings reduce risk
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; manage weight and joint load
Bloat (GDV) Deep-chested build; learn the emergency signs
Chronic Ear Infections Drop or hairy ears need regular cleaning

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

The same breed by its common name
Gascony Saintongeois Hound
A large, elegant French scenthound bred for tracking, suited to a working rural home with room to run.
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Smaller version of the breed
Petit Gascony Saintongeois Hound
A rare French scent hound bred for small game; friendly and tireless but nose-driven and vocal.
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Another large Gascon scenthound
Grand Blue Gascony Hound
A tall, deep-voiced French scenthound with real stamina and a strong nose - best for owners who can give it serious daily work.
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Frequently asked questions

How much does a Grand Gascony Saintongeois Hound cost?
This is a rare French pack hound bred for hunting, so it is very hard to find outside France and almost never sold as a pet in the US, usually meaning waitlists or imports. Prices vary widely. Whatever the up-front cost, the larger figure is lifetime care of a large active dog - food, vet care, and emergencies add up to thousands of dollars over its life, so budget for insurance or an emergency fund.
Is this hound a good companion?
It is devoted and even-tempered, and can settle well at home, but only when its heavy exercise needs are met. It is a working scenthound first, so an under-exercised one becomes bored and noisy, and its independence makes obedience a slow project.
Can it be trusted off leash?
Not reliably. Bred to trail scent over distance in a pack, it will follow its nose and ignore recall. Most owners keep it leashed or inside secure fencing, and recall training takes patient, ongoing work.
How is it with other pets?
It usually gets on very well with other dogs because of its pack heritage, but its hunting drive makes cats and small pets a poor and risky match, even with careful introductions.