Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Cesky Terrier - Breed Comparison

Known 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.

Known as the Bohemian Terrier and looking similar to a Scottish Terrier dog, the Cesky Terrier is a dog breed that has been created by Frantisek Horak, in the Czech Republic.

Horak wanted to breed a type of hunting dog, and in 1949, using both the Scottish Terrier ad the Sealyham Terrier, he bred the two, creating a new breed that would hopefully be a stronger hunting dog.

The Cesky Terrier was shown for the first time in 1959 and was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1963 and in 1993 by the United Kennel Club. It’s a rare dog this, and is the national dog of the Czech Republic.

The 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.

The Cesky Terrer is a longish dog, much like the Scottie and he also has short legs. He is roughly 29ck in height at the withers, is about 43cm in length and weighs anything from 5 to 10kg.

The coat of this dog is long, silky and quite wavy and can be in a number of different shades of gray or a light brown color. Puppies are born black. The soft coat can be kept groomed by clippers or you can take him to have his coat professionally trimmed.

This dog breed has natural drop ears, unlike the Scottie which has erect ears. The tail length is 18-20 cm and low set.

Temperament:

A loyal, quiet and loving family dog, the Cesky Terrier will get on well with children in the home and he is also friendly with other dogs. Just like with any other dog, it will be important to socialize the dog breed at an early age as then he becomes obedient, smart and relaxed. He is a breed which is also easy to train. He also makes a good watchdog.

Your 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.

The Cesky Terrier isn’t a small-dog yapper and he will adapt to life in the city or the country. He is a small dog, but he is feisty and sporty and will willingly join you with your jogging or when you go on a walk.

He is intelligent and playful and when you add in characteristics such as being courageous, loving, loyal and feisty, you can see that the Cesky Terrier is guaranteed to make a super family pet.

Your 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.

The Cesky Terrier is generally a healthy dog, but this breed sometimes suffers from common dog ailments that other breeds also have to contend with.

Eye disorders, ear infections, pancreatitis, hip dysplasia and weight gain are just some health issues you might need to be aware of.

Remember that if you want to promote a healthier dog, feeding him a quality diet and taking him immediately to the vet when you suspect a problem can keep him free from common dog illnesses.

Pancreatitis for instances develops when the pancreas becomes inflamed, and this can be brought on by allowing your pet to become obese. There are other reasons for pancreatitis too such as infection. You will see diarrhea, fever and vomiting with your pet as well as discomfort from abdominal pain. It’s a disease which affects smaller dogs more often than larger breeds.

These 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.

Exercise:

Cesky Terriers may well be a little bit less active and quieter than other terriers, but they will still need a good dose of exercise. He loves to dig, and if he is bored and doesn’t have a plenty of exercise and games, he will want to dig more and cause the owner a lot of frustration. Take him for daily walks and give him some ball games in the garden.

Grooming:

Cesky Terriers will need brushing down at least twice a week and their coats will need to be trimmed into shape every 8 to 10 weeks or so. You’ll also need to check excess hair inside the ears.

As with any dog breed, you will need to check on his nails so that they don’t grow too long and also brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to avoid dental disease.