Basset Griffon Vendeen

Kennel Group: Hound (AKC, KC)

There are two types of Basset Griffon Vendeen, the Grand and the Petit. They are both recognised as separate breeds.

Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen	Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Other Names: Large Basset Griffon Vendeen	Other Names: Little Basset Griffon Vendeen
Height: 15 - 18 inches	Height: 13 - 15 inches
Weight: 18 - 20 kg	Weight: 14 - 19 kg

Appearance
Orginating from france, the Basset Griffon Vendeen is a deep chested and short legged breed, with a rough, harsh top coat and thick undercoat. A well proportioned Grand and Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen should be 50% longer than tall.
Excellent scent dogs, and are still used today for their hunting abilities. The Grand used for hunting game such as boar, the Petit being used for small game such as rabbit.

Coat
Basset Griffon Vendeen are well known for their shaggy hair over their eyebrows, beard and moustache. Colours Include: white with lemon, orange, black, tricolour or grizzle

Average life span: 10 - 15 years

Temperament
Active, stubborn and independent, the Basset Griffon Vendeen needs a patient and tolerant owner. They are merry and friendly and are good with children and other dogs, would be best suited for a country life. Not to be trusted with non canine pets. Basset Griffon Vendeen's strong scent means they require a well fenced garden. They crave human attention so would not be suited to be left alone for long periods of time.

Training
Training needs to be consistent, as they are not naturally obedient, it is best to let them know you are the boss from the outset otherwise they will try to be top dog.

Grooming
They shed little, but do require weekly grooming to remove dirt. Hair around mouth and bottom should be cleaned regulary, and may need trimming. Note: Show dogs coat should not be trimmed.

Exercise
Basset Griffon Vendeen are energetic dogs and require long daily walks to keep them happy. They should be kept on a lead due to their natural hunting instincts.

Basset Griffon Vendeen Health Issues

Epilepsy: is a seizure disorder which has been found in this breed. Seizures vary between a far-away look or twitching in one part of the face to your pet falling on his side, barking, gnashing his teeth, urinating, defecating and paddling his limbs. Seizures usually appear suddenly and end spontaneously, and can last from seconds to minutes. The disorder has no known cause, however it is important for your veterinarian to determine your pets general health and make sure there is no underlying disease that may be causing the seizures. Treatment can include anticonvulsant medications. Always ask your vet for advice.

Hip Dysplasia: a malformation of the hip joint resulting in a poor fit between the head of the femur bone and the hip socket. This condition can be alleviated by surgery, at some cost to dog and owner. Because dysplastic dogs often produce dysplastic puppies, buyers should ask if both the sire and the dam of the puppy in which they are interested have been rated clear of hip dysplasia. Do not take yes for an answer without seeing a certificate, and ask for a copy to take to your veterinarian.

Patellar Luxation: Slipping knee joints (also referred to as luxating patellas, slipped stifles) are a common problem in small breeds. In this condition, the kneecap slips out of its groove and moves against the thighbone (femur) instead of along its natural groove. Although this has been found to be a heritable condition, small, active breeds are likely to aggravate it through the course of their natural activities (jumping up and down) around taller objects such as furniture.

Basset Griffon Vendeen History

The GBGV can be traced back to the 16th century. They originate from Vendee in the west countryside of France. The Vendéens were directly bred from the white Southern Hound and rough-coated dogs from Italy. There are two varieties of the basset type of Griffon Vendeen, the Petit and the Grand. These two originally occured in the same litters, and it wasn't until the 1970's that the cross breeding of these two varieties was forbidden. In the 1950's the PBGV was given an official standard of its own.