Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

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Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Profile

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a scent hound developed to hunt small game over the rough and difficult terrain of the Vendéen region. Of the four rough-coated hound breeds from Vendéen, France, the Petit Bassett Griffon Vendéen is the smallest. They are bold and vivacious in character, compact, tough and robust in construction. They have drop ears that are medium in length, and they have a short muzzle. Although, their heads are twice as long as they are wide. Their bones are light compared to other breeds, and the body is stocky. The tail is like a saber in shape, and their faces hold a heavy mustache and eyebrows. They can be black with tan markings, fawn with white markings, fawn with black markings, or tricolor--all of these being with white markings. There are four closely related breeds of this kind: the Grand Basset, Petit Basset, Grand, and Briquet, all with the ending name of Griffon Vendéen. Petit Basset Griffon Vendéens are scent hounds and can hunt small game such as rabbits and feathered game. They are the smallest of the Vendéen breeds, as well as the most popular. They are lively, active, and inquisitive. PBGVs are friendly, eager to please and energetic. They get along with almost anyone, with their outgoing, fun-loving personality. Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen s are intelligent, but do not learn quite as fast as most other breeds. They are a happy-go-lucky little dog that enjoys its owner, but can be independent. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is highly popular in its native France as a hunting dog of hare and rabbit, and occasionally wild boar.

Other Names: Little Griffon Vendéen Basset

Type: Scenthound

Height: 13 - 15 inches.
Weight: 25 - 40 lbs.

Colors: Solid fawn or hare; white with red, fawn, gray, or black markings, bicolor or tricolor. Black can be with tan markings, fawn with white markings, fawn with black markings, or tricolor - all of these being with white markings. They can also be white with lemon or orange markings.
Coat: Rough, long and harsh to the touch, never wooly or silky; they have a thick undercoat. They have bushy eyebrows and a beard.

Temperament: Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen s are affectionate, independent, and enthusiastic. They are outgoing and lively, and love to be active. The PBGV is fun loving, not the smartest of dogs, but very eager to please. They get along with almost everyone, pets and children.
With Children: Yes, but may be too boisterous for young children.
With Pets: Yes, will play peacefully.

Watch-dog: High.
Guard-dog: Low.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Care and Exercise: Minimal weekly brushing or combing with a hard brush. Pluck ear canals. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen n eeds considerable amount of exercise.
Training: Although the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is naturally obedient they need to be taught control and be made to under stand who is "alpha dog" in the home.
Learning Rate: Low. Obedience - Medium. Problem Solving - Medium.

Activity: High.
Special Needs: Exercise, fenced yard, grooming and a leash.
Living Environment: A home with a fenced yard is best for the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen. Hunting is instinctive and so is digging. Never let them loose or they will be gone. The best owner for this breed would be an active owner living in a rural or suburban home.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Health Issues: PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), juvenile cataracts, and patellar luxation. They are also prone to aseptic meningitis, epilepsy, heart murmurs, and hip dysplasia.

Life Span: 10 - 14 years.
Litter Size: 4 - 7 puppies.

Country of Origin: France
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen History: The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen can be traced to the 16th century and directly to the Griffon Vendéen. They come from La Vendée, a district in the western coast of France. The Vendéens were directly bred from the white Southern Hound and rough-coated dogs from Italy. Their name means Petit - small, Basset - low to the ground, Griffon - rough or wire coated and Vendéen - the area of origination. They are one of four related breeds. These four include the Briquet, Grand Griffon Vendéen, Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen, and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (also known as a "PeeBeeGeeVee", or PBGV). Believed to have descended from the Vendéen hounds of the Gris de St. Louis, the Grand Bassets are thought to be bred from the white Southern Hound and other Italian coarse-haired dogs. One of the first breeders being the king's clerk, or greffier, the hound probably got the "griffon" part of its name from this. Several of these dogs were given to King Louis XII, eventually developing the name Chiens Blancs du Rui, or the King's White Hounds. During the French Revolution the dogs were almost extinct, but around the 20th century in 1907, a club formed and began bringing back the dogs. Paul Desamy is credited with developing this line of the Griffon Vendéens. The Petit Bassets were used for hunting hare and other small game, but due to less and less hunting the breed has lost its need. This breed was severely reduced during World War II, but is prominent in France, although rare in the rest of the world. They are still occasionally used for hunting hare, rabbits and even wild boars. Only as recently as 1990 were they accepted into the AKC.

First Registered by the AKC: 1990
AKC Group: Hound Group
Class: Hound
Registries: AKC, ANKC (Group 4), CKC (Group 2), FCI (Group 6), KC (GB) (Hound), TKC, UKC (Scenthound), NZKC (Hound)

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens

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