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The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a small/medium-sized, strong, deep-chested scent hound. He has a typical basset-type shape – being longer than he is tall and low to the ground.
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen have long backs and short legs and, like other breeds with this body shape, are likely to suffer from spinal disorders and joint problems as a result of this;
- Intervertebral disc disease: a condition where there is abnormality in the discs which act to cushion the bones in the spine. The discs can dislodge or burst, which puts pressure on the nerves in the spinal cord leading to back pain and weakness or paralysis of the limbs.
- Angular limb deformities: caused by asynchronous growth of a pair of bones, which appear bowed or rotated and may result in pain and lameness.
The breed can also suffer from:
- Glaucoma¹ which is a painful condition where the pressure in the eye builds up
- Epilepsy² which is a condition where abnormal brain function can lead to seizures which damage the brain
- Ear infections
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- DNA test for primary open angle glaucoma which tests whether or not a dog has the potential to be affected by this condition
- Eye screening scheme
¹P. G. C. Bedford et al, 'Open‐angle glaucoma in the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen' 2017, Veterinary Ophthalmology
²C.H. Gulløv et al, 'Epilepsy in the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen: Prevalence, Semiology, and Clinical Phenotype', 2011, Journal of Internal Veterinary Medicine
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are fun, extrovert dogs who enjoy company, love to be kept active but at the end of the day, often think they are a lapdog! Like most hounds, they can be independent, headstrong and bold, so require an owner with patience, tolerance and a sense of humour, but under all this they are sensitive dogs who are always willing to please. These are dogs who get on well with other dogs, children and strangers - but shouldn’t be trusted with small furries, and while they can live with their own cats with care, they are not always so reliable with unknown cats.
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 3/5 |
| Easy to train: | 2/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 3/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 5/5 |
| Energy level: | 3/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 5/5 |
| Shedding: | 4/5 |
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen dog breed can be traced back to the 16th century and originates from the Vendee region of western France - and this, plus the translation of ‘griffon’ as being ‘wire-haired’, gives the breed their name. There are two varieties of the basset type of Griffon Vendeen, the Petit and the Grand. These two originally occurred in the same litters, and were catagorised by size alone, and it wasn't until the 1970s that the cross breeding of these two varieties was spots and the two different breeds were formed. These dogs were used, as individuals or in packs, to hunt wild boar and to scent rabbit and hare in countryside that was difficult for horses and where hunting could only be carried out on foot.
You’ll need a good sense of humour, a tolerance for some barking and plenty of energy. This lighter, faster moving hound needs an energetic owner who can keep up and who can motivate and engage them well – and who doesn’t expect instant obedience. As with all hairy breeds, you’ll need to be laid back about shed hair, muddy paws and soggy dogs!
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen requires an hour's exercise or more a day, as well as play and interaction with their owner - including scent games. This is a country-loving dog whose hunting instincts are still very much in evidence, and they love nothing more than putting their nose to the ground and following any scents they detect – often developing 'hound selective deafness' at the same time! This means that exercise needs to be in a safe secure location, or else on a harness and longline.
The PBGV isn't a large dog and so can live in a small home but they do need access to the countryside and also to a good sized, well-fenced garden. They can also be rather talkative and so not having close neighbours may help too!
Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food.
The weather-resistant coat comprises a thick undercoat and a rough, harsh, medium-length topcoat. A weekly groom is needed, as well as regular ear cleaning and daily checking over for any debris in their coat.
A PBGV can reach a surprisingly high level of obedience with a patient, consistent reward-based trainer who understands what motivates a scenthound and knows to keep lessons short and treats tasty and smelly! A focus should be on recall but no matter how good this gets it is wise not to rely on it in the great outdoors as when a PBGV finds a good scent, they will follow it single-mindedly.
For an active family who can give the PBGV all the exercise they need (and who can be relied upon not to leave doors and gates open) they can make a fantastic family dog.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
