Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison

Grand Bleu de Gascogne is originated from France but American Molossus is originated from United States. Grand Bleu de Gascogne may grow 6 cm / 3 inches higher than American Molossus. Grand Bleu de Gascogne may weigh 6 kg / 13 pounds lesser than American Molossus. Both Grand Bleu de Gascogne and American Molossus has almost same life span. Both Grand Bleu de Gascogne and American Molossus has almost same litter size. Grand Bleu de Gascogne requires Low maintenance. But American Molossus requires Moderate maintenance

History

grand bleu de gascogne - historyThe Grande Bleu de Gascogne is a dog which has descended from a line of French hounds. Originating in France, the dog is actually more common in the United States than in France.

They were bred to hunt, and today they continue to be used for hunting, but they double up as loyal pets too.

It is believed that they descended from dogs such as the St. Hubert Hound and the English Southern Hound. The dog itself has had an influence on the development of several scent-hound breeds.

In the United States, the Grande Bleu de Gascogne was bred in the 18th century already, displaying typical pack hound behavior.The dog isn't recognized by the AKC but he is recognized by other kennel clubs as a scenthound.

Based on the massive dog of Mesopotamia in 5000 BC, the American Molossus is the same dog recreated in the United States by and for the lovers of these giant dogs. The ancient Molossus was fierce to look at, massive in size, courageous and loyal. He was undaunted by any animal and stood up to any man attempting to hurt his master. When Rome fell the descendants of today’s Molossus were scattered and attempts to revive the breed have created carious large dogs. The American Molossus is the first true recreation that hits the mark.

The original Molossus was one of the most primitive of dogs, one of the earliest dogs that men domesticated. Their initials duties were the guarding of herds and homes against all enemies. They were incredibly loyal to their one master and stayed with him and protected him. These dogs also ate carrion and served the villages by eliminating animal carcasses. They could handle any other hunting animals such as wolves and large cats. This dog, although extinct was the ancestor of all the Mastiff-type dogs of today. The Molossus is said to be the ancestor of the St. Bernard, English Mastiff, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Rottweiler, Rottweiler and the Neapolitan Mastiff. Now these breeds have become the ancestry of the American Molossus.

According to Marcus Curtis, the founder of the new Molossus, the nearest relative of the American Molossus is the Neapolitan Mastiff. The Hines Bulldog, German Rottweiler, American Bandogge, and South African Boerboel together with the Neapolitan Mastiff were used to form the American Molossus. The goal of the founder was to make a great family pet and protector. It was specifically bred to be courageous, loyal and protective.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Molosser dogs
Origin:
France
United States
Height Male:
65 - 72 cm
25 - 29 inches
56 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
Height Female:
62 - 68 cm
24 - 27 inches
51 - 60 cm
20 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
36 - 42 kg
79 - 93 pounds
38 - 48 kg
83 - 106 pounds
Weight Female:
34 - 42 kg
74 - 93 pounds
32 - 43 kg
70 - 95 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 7
6 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Giant dog
Other Names:
Grand Bleu, GB de G
American Molosser • American Brabanter • American Bullenbeisser
Colors Available:
White and black mottled, black patches
Colors are black, black brindle with some white
Coat:
Short and smooth
coat type coarse, dense, smooth and long
Shedding:
Minimal, Seasonal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

grand bleu de gascogne puppy - descriptionThe Grand Bleu de Gascogne is a large dog, standing at 65–72cm with the female usually being slightly smaller at 62–68cm. The dog weighs about 36 to 42kg.

He has a lean, muscular body with long legs, long ears and with a strong, noble appearance. The coat is short and smooth and the color of the coat is white and black mottled. In some instances, there'll be large patches of black over the back of the dog. The head and neck area can also be black. There are tan markings above each eye.

Temperament:

This is a gentle dog, not aggressive at all, and he just wants to get on with hunting. He is a social dog and loves to be around other familiar dogs and his human family. He essentially wants to live in the country where he can be busy and active with tasks to do.

If you leave him alone for too long, he becomes frustrated and resorts to baying. He can get on well with adults and children in the home, but tends to be aloof around strangers. He is an intelligent animal, and training and socialization will be important for him, especially since he is independent and likes doing things his way.

The training will make him obedient and he'll always know how to behave well around strangers.

This is a giant, massive dog in every way and this recently developed standard makes that very clear. The Molossus should be heavy bones, muscular with a lot of loose skin and wrinkles of all kinds, everywhere. He is an intimidating presence, with a massive square head, broad shoulders, height and mass. No, the American Molossus is not athletic, but he certainly is intimidating.

His head is massive in comparison to his body and it must be square. He has extensive wrinkles and pendulous lips and dewlap. The face is all folds of skin and wrinkles. Deep set eyes, drooping upper lids and lower lids as well as an intimidating expression. His brow is well developed with a marked frontal furrow. The nose is large, and the muzzle is about a third of the length of its head. It is short and broad. Everything about the head must be square. It’s neck and body are powerful and muscular. The chest is deep, wide and barrel like. The back is also powerful and muscular. The front legs are heavy and muscular while the hind legs are broad, strong, powerful and wide-stance. Do not remove the front dew claws. His tail is thick and wide then gradually tapers at the tip.

Characteristics

grand bleu de gascogne dog - characteristicsYour beautiful hunting dog is active and social and just loves to be out and about following a scent with other hunting dogs. This is what he absolutely loves to do.

These days, apart from just hunting, he is also kept as a pet. He makes a good family companion because he is a non aggressive, gentle, even-tempered pet. Some of these dogs tend to be more reserved in nature. However your dog turns out, he can be your special friend when you give him all the exercise, nutrition and love that such a loyal dog deserves.

The American Molossus is an intimidating massive giant bred for protection and guard duty. He is incredibly loyal to his family and courageous in his protection of them. They are guard dogs, not attack dogs. Their simple appearance is usually enough to frighten off anyone intending harm on their families. He is in reality a loving giant. He is intelligent and stable with a strong desire to please his owner. He is a calm yet vigilant presence in the home.

Because the Molossus is so large, it is recommended that the puppy be socialized and trained professionally. It takes a strong owner to handle this breed. They need to know the rules and have the rules consistently applied. The owner must be the pack leader.

Health Problems

grand bleu de gascogne puppies - health problemsAs a dog not known for inherited health problems, the Grande Bleu de Gascogne, with good care, can live to be 12 years of age.

Just like with other dog breeds, there are some conditions to which this dog may also be prone, and hip dysplasia is one.

The average litter size for the Grande Bleu de Gascogne is 4 to 7 puppies. It is important to prevent your puppy growing too quickly because this is precisely what leads to musculoskeletal problems as an adult.

If you're concerned about this, speak to your vet, as you want to do your best to prevent hip problems in the future.

Like all Mastiffs the American Molossus faces a variety of potential illnesses, some brought on by its size, some not.

Spondylosis

This could easily be a function of its massive size. It is a degenerative disease and can cause the dog to become lame. In many cases the vertebrae can fuse, or severe pain can result. This is mostly seen in older members of the breed.

Cystinuria

Male Molossus can contract this inherited metabolic disease primarily. It can be life threatening and very serious as it affects the kidney and the bladder.

Wobblers Syndrome

This is essentially Cervical Vertebral Instability (CVI) and is caused by the pressure of the nerves in the neck and cervical spinal cord. This compression can cause deformity, pain and abnormal stance/gait. IT has been attributed to the nutrition needs and rapid growth of the Mastiff breeds.

Like all giant Mastiff breeds the Molossus can have skin issues from the wrinkles, dysplasia in the joints which we will address below.

Caring The Pet

grand bleu de gascogne dogs - caringKnown for his hunting skills, the Grande Bleu de Gascogne has high exercise requirements. Although a walk is wonderful for him, it won't be enough. If you have a large garden, which will be ideal for him, throw the ball so he can fetch it. If you go cycling or jogging, he'll thank you for including him in these.

Grooming:

The Grand Bleu’s short coat is conveniently low maintenance too so you aren't going to be spending anything on professional grooming. Give him a brush twice a week to remove loose hairs and to keep his coat silky and shiny.

Their long ears should be checked regularly for a build up of wax and dirt. Dampness can also be a problem if he loves to go swimming. You can buy special ear-cleaning-for-dog products. Never probe deep in the ears as you can damage them. Rather get advice from your vet or professional groomers on how to keep the inside of his ears clean and free from infection.

Diet:

An energetic hunting scentdog like this requires high quality food with some raw meat added in from time to time. He must always have access to fresh, cool water.

Feeding

Remembering that this is a very, very large dog you need to be careful about nutrition and how fast your puppy will grow. American Molossus puppies need four meals a day until 12 weeks old. Then until they are 6 months old feed then 3 times a day. Finally, from 6-month-old puppy to adult – feed them twice in 24 hours.

At one year either feed them once or two small meals.

Many people feed their Molossus eggs, vegetables, fruit, and cottage cheese as ten 5 of the total for the day but avoid other table foods. The Molossus can become very picky about what he eats if you feed him too many table scraps.

Health issues

In addition to the health problems listed above, the American Molossus is also susceptible to: Ditichiasis – Eyelashes that are in the margin of the eyelids and can cause eye irritation. May require surgery to correct.

Cataract

Could cause blindness if not removed. Ectropian/Entropion: Eversion and inversion of eyelids which cause ocular irritation.

PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy

This is a degenerative disease which causes the dog to go blind. It is a disease the affects the retinal visual cells, first causing night blindness then day blindness. A DNA test is available for detecting PRA in all Mastiff breeds.

Dysplasia of the Elbow or/and the Hip

Common in large breeds and especially in giant breeds like the Molossus. Multiple forms and causes but all can cause pain and lameness.

Skin issues

Do to wrinkles and loose skin – check often for moisture and infections.

Panosteitis or Wandering Lameness

The is a problem based on a variety of possible causes. It happens when the puppy is between 6-16 months of age. Lameness occurs over time in one limb or in all. It can be intermittent and might be caused by diet, genetics, stress, autoimmune or metabolic issues or infection.

HOD or Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy

This issue is developmental as the dog’s toes turn either inward or outward, then as the condition advances the dog suffers fever, pain in all joints, lethargy and the inability to stand. This happens when the dog consumes too many calories for his activity level in the development times.

Exercise and games

The American Molossus is not a couch potato. He needs to be walked at least twice a day and loves to play fetch. He will be greatly benefited by obedience training. Do not overdo it with exercise but make sure they don’t just lay around.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  2. Greyhound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  3. Saluki vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  4. Mountain Cur vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  5. Rajapalayam vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  6. Plott Hound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  7. Petit Gascon Saintongeois vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  8. Otterhound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  9. Mudhol Hound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  10. Ibizan Hound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  11. Rampur Greyhound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  12. Galgo Espanol vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  13. Hanover Hound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  14. Majestic Tree Hound vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  15. Polish Hunting Dog vs Grand Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  16. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  17. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Francais Blanc et Noir - Breed Comparison
  18. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  19. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Borzoi - Breed Comparison
  20. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Black and Tan Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  21. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Black Mouth Cur - Breed Comparison
  22. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  23. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Austrian Black and Tan Hound - Breed Comparison
  24. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Azawakh - Breed Comparison
  25. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Chart Polski - Breed Comparison
  26. English Mastiff vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  27. Neapolitan Mastiff vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  28. American Mastiff vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  29. Gaddi Kutta vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  30. Nebolish Mastiff vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  31. Cao de Gado Transmontano vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  32. Broholmer vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  33. Great Dane vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  34. Bernese Mountain Dog vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  35. Newfoundland Dog vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  36. Anatolian Shepherd vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  37. Leonberger vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  38. Alaunt vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  39. Bully Kutta vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  40. Irish Wolfhound vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  41. Alangu Mastiff vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  42. Francais Blanc et Orange vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  43. Mountain Burmese vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  44. Billy vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  45. Pyrenean Mastiff vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  46. Bisben vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds