Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Alopekis - Breed Comparison

Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Alopekis - Breed ComparisonAlopekis is originated from Greece but Grand Gascon Saintongeois is originated from France. Alopekis may grow 41 cm / 16 inches shorter than Grand Gascon Saintongeois. Both Alopekis and Grand Gascon Saintongeois are having almost same weight. Both Alopekis and Grand Gascon Saintongeois has almost same life span. Both Alopekis and Grand Gascon Saintongeois has almost same litter size. Alopekis requires Moderate Maintenance. But Grand Gascon Saintongeois requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Gun dog
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Greece
France
Height Male:
25 - 32 cm
9 - 13 inches
61 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
Height Female:
4 - 8 cm
1 - 4 inches
61 - 73 cm
24 - 29 inches
Weight Male:
23 - 30 kg
50 - 67 pounds
30 - 35 kg
66 - 78 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
30 - 35 kg
66 - 78 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
3 - 7
Size:
Small
Large
Other Names:
Venetia, Bouboudi, Alopecis, Moropa, Alepouditsa, Nickname - Bobis
Virelade
Colors Available:
All colors and all combinations with the exception of the albino white. Mostly pure black, white or brown with white and brown, black and white, brown with tan, white with brown or black.
White with black patches
Coat:
Shorthaired and wirehaired but the wirehaired is extremely rare. This dog is double coated with the outer coat being smooth and hard and the undercoat being dense and soft.
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

alopekisThe courageous Alopekis is said to have run with and fought with bulls. To this day they escort bulls in Greece. They were used by the Greeks to contain the vermin populations, guard the chickens and ducks, and assist larger dogs in working with sheep. At one time it was thought that they originated from breeding of dogs and foxes, but this proved not to be true. It was also once considered to be the same breed as the Small Greek Domestic Dog, but it has since been declared its own breed.

The Alopekis is not a recognized breed with any of the current national or international dog organizations. The Kennel Club of Greece will recognize them once their population is large enough. They cannot be recognized by the AKC, IKC, or International groups until they are a much larger group.

grand gascon saintongeoisKnown also as the Virelade, the Grand Gascon Saintongeois hails from the Saintongeois region of France, being a newish addition to the hunting dog breed.

The Saintongeois hound and the Grand Blue de Gascogne are the ancestors of this scentdog as these two breeds themselves, are exceptional hunters. The Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a large dog and favored by the French nobility for its ability to hunt.

After the French Revolution the popularity of the breed waned. It was Baron Joseph de Carayon-LaTour who tried to revive the Saintongeois Hound. The dogs were mated with the Grand Bleu de Gascogne and were so outstanding that breeding was continued. The breed that was created is the Grand Gascon Saintongeois which we know today.

It was in January 1993 that the Grand Gascon Saintongeois was officially recognized by the United Kennel Club.

Description

alopekis puppy - descriptionThe Alopekis is a small, fox-like dog with pricked ears on a head that is wedge shaped. They have large eyes, a deep and tapered muzzle with a broad nose. They are short but have long backs and a deep, wide chest with strong legs and feet. They have a beautiful tail that cures upward and a double coat.

grand gascon saintongeois puppy - descriptionThe Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a large, well built breed of dog that looks strong and robust. His head is strong and covered with loose skin that forms wrinkles around the cheeks. He stands at 61-73cm and weighs 30 to 35kg.

He has straight, long legs. He has a short, smooth coat which is white with black patches. Sometimes you'll also find a speckled or ticked pattern. There'll be tan dots over the eyes.

The eyes are brown, the nose black and the long, thin textured ears are low on the dogs head and also well back on the skull. The tail is long.

Temperament:

He is known for his deep voice to voice an opinion. He is a loving, friendly, courageous and affectionate breed with a well balanced temperament, making him a splendid pet. He is also intelligent and so he won't battle at all to learn some rules. Training and socialization will be good for him even though he is such an amicable dog already, but then he just becomes extra obedient.

Characteristics

alopekis dog - characteristicsChildren – fine once socialized

Special Talents - These are herding, watch dog, loyal and brave dogs.

Adaptability – They are very adaptable and highly intelligent.

Learning Ability – Alopekis are highly intelligent and very trainable.

grand gascon saintongeois dog - characteristicsYour Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a true hunting dog breed and valued for his hunting prowess. He has another side to him though and is gentle, loving and calm with his human family.

He makes a wonderful family companion, getting on well with children as well as pets in the home. He may show a bit of aggression to strangers and this is why training and socialization works so well with him as it helps him behave well around family and strangers.

Training is never a problem as he is an intelligent dog. He is an energetic dog and won't fit well into city life in tiny properties, also because of his tendency to bark when bored. He fits well into country life or large properties.

When you provide your large pet with good food, a warm place to sleep, exercise and plenty of love and attention, the Grand Gascon Saintongeois is going to turn out to be one of the most loyal, affectionate pets you can imagine.

Health Problems

alopekis puppies - health problemsThe Alopekis is an endangered species of canine due to a variety of factors. Traditionally this has been a healthy gene pool and the breed has been an example of the evolution of small canines. Factors such as farm pesticides, urbanization and cross breeding have affected the breed’s future.

This is made worse by the fact that the female Alopekis only breeds once a year, the litters are small, and the puppy mortality is high. In addition, the dogs are regularly neutered as part of a program to control strays, despite their status as an endangered species.

grand gascon saintongeois puppies - health problemsYour Grand Gascon Saintongeois is a robust dog, who with good care can reach up to 14 years of age. You're not going to be running to the vet often with this strong looking dog, but even so, there are one to two problems that you'll want to look out for.

Ear Infections:

Long-eared dogs are more susceptible to canine ear infections. The symptoms of the infection will be dependent on how severe it is. Certainly your dog may experience pain and you'll see him shaking his head and pawing at his ear. If both ears are affected by inflammation, he may even walk in a wobbly fashion and the infection could lead to deafness. It is imperative that he get to the vet as soon as possible.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is where the ball and socket joint of the hip is malformed. It results in a joint rubbing and grinding. It can lead to loss of function of the hip joints. It is a common skeletal disease in young or old dogs, small or large dogs and in both males and females.

Large dogs are more commonly affected though with hip dysplasia which can see arthritis developing too. Your dog will display decreased activity and difficulty with standing up after lying down. Veterinary intervention will be required.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the Puppy

alopekis dogs - caringThis is a high energy dog and the puppies need to be fed a high-quality puppy food. Feed about 1/3 of a cup twice a day.

Feeding the Adult

Feed high- quality dry dog food and dog treats to this active dog. Feed about ¼ of a cup twice a day – more if below average weight and less if overweight.

Points for Good Health

Keep them active and away from pesticides if possible.

Games and Exercises

This is a very active dog that needs a lot of exercise, games and if possible – a job.

grand gascon saintongeois dogs - caringThese large dogs with their short smooth coats have very little grooming needs. Regular brushing twice a week will remove dead hair and also ensure the good condition of the coat.

He has long ears and these will need to be checked regularly to avoid ear infections. It will be a good idea to learn how to clean the ears and to do it in such a way as to avoid damaging them. Signs of ear infection include redness, discharge, irritation and bad odor.

Diet:

Following the feeding instructions on the packaging of top quality kibble, provide your Grand Gascon Saintongeois with at least 2 meals a day. To steer away from the monotony of kibble every day, mix in some raw meat from time to time, and also include some cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables as a tasty treat. Fresh, cool water should always be easily accessible to him.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Alopekis vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Alopekis vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Alopekis vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Alopekis vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Alopekis vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Alopekis vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Alopekis vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Alopekis vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Alopekis vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Alopekis vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Alopekis vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Alopekis vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Alopekis vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Alopekis vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Alopekis vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Alopekis vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Alopekis vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Alopekis vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Alopekis vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Alopekis vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
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  22. Alopekis vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Alopekis vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Alopekis vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Alopekis vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison