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Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
| Other Names | Small Vendeen Basset, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen |
| Nicknames | PBGV |
| Country of Origin | France |
| Weight | 31 - 40 lbs. (14 - 18 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | 13 - 15 in. (34 - 38 cm) |
| Coat | The coat of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is wire or rough-coated and has an undercoat for protection when hunting the underbrush. It is best described as slightly medium to long in length without any exaggeration, rough textured, and harsh to the touch--with a rather "messy look" about it. This scruffy look is actually derived from the look of the long eyebrows, beard and moustache, that give the dog its unique look. Weekly brushing will be required as this type of coat looks scraggly on a normal basis, but without brushing it will look a lot worse due to its rough coat and scattered-hair directional flow. |
| Colour | The coat is white with any combination of lemon, orange, black, sable, tricolour or grizzle markings. |
| Litter Size | 4 - 6 puppies |
| Life Span | 12 - 15 years |
| Origin & History | The origin and history of any breed needs to be researched before buying a particular breed, especially if the breed is new to the person, out of respect to the dog and common sense to the prospective owner. Researching the little Petit Basset will be exciting, as it has ancient origins in the France area of Vendee and its historical development covers over 400 years, even though it is new to the United States. Originally developed to hunt rabbits and small game, the dog was bred to be worked as one dog, two (also called a "brace," or a pack of dogs. To understand the breed standards of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, looking at the area in France of its development is almost necessary--rocks, brush, bramble, thorn bushes, and rough terrain--in an environment that is damp and cool. An area that a hunter on horseback could not get through, the dog was bred to hunt with him on foot and be a companion every hour and every minute of the day. The qualities that were needed were agility, strength, determination, a loud and strong voice, and a rough coat that rain or the elements, in addition to the brambles and thorns, could not penetrate---qualities that would make this dog a menace when cooped up in a small apartment unattended. Its breed characteristics were fixed by Abel Desamy, a French breeder, with the Petit developed for hunting rabbits. The French were not only influential in the development and refining of the hunting hounds, but it had its start there. Not knowing much about the scientific areas of dog genes, they bred dogs that were of such high quality they are still with us today, as the hound was the first dog to have its breed type "standardized." Taking hound casual breeding (talked over at the local tavern or after dinner at a friend's home) into a science, they developed four varieties of the Griffon Vendeen. Grand Griffon--the largest variety, measuring approximately 23 1/2 inches at the withers. Briquet Griffon--medium sized dog, measuring approximately 20-22 inches at the withers. Grand Basset--smaller sized dog, measuring approximately 15-17 inches at the withers. Petit Basset--smallest sized dog, measuring 13-15 inches at the shoulder. Originally developed from the white St. Hubert and the white/tan hound for the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, and an addition of the "King's Whie" Grand Griffon for the larger, heavier, and longer "Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen," the two hunting breeds are part of a package of four breeds, with these two being bred together up until 1975 when it became prohibited. New to the United States as a companion dog, the little Petit has been in France for almost 100 years for hunting rabbits. The official Basset Griffon Vendeen Club was formed in France around 1907, which then became known as the Club du Griffon Vendeen when all four varieties of the dog were accepted. In the United States, the P.B.G.V. Club of America was formed on November 19, 1984, with the dogs being able to compete in AKC licensed shows in 1991. |
| Personality | The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is sometimes called the "Little Griffon Vendeen Basset." Cheerful, friendly and intelligent, this little dog is comical to watch. This delightful bugger is curious and self-assured. Bold and lively, compact and robust, it loves to explore. He's a dog that needs firm leadership and will become demanding and willful if his owner does not provide it. The PBGV is basically a pack animal and much of his behavior reflects this heritage. It has a casual appearance, but is always alert. Loves to dig and is an escape artist. These dogs are generally good with other dogs, but should not be trusted with non-canine pets, however can get along with cats. The PBGV is intelligent and can be trained for many purposes. He also has a great desire to please. The problem arises when the owners are not as strong minded as the dog and the dog believes he is the leader of the home, needing to come up with his own agenda (which may not be the same as the owner’s!). They are good with children and are fairly friendly with strangers. A bored or lonely PBGV will make his own 'entertainment'. Giving your dog daily long pack walks, proper human to canine communication, along with a variety of toys and things to chew on, a safe environment and eliminating the opportunity to be destructive will control this potential problem. The use of a crate not only provides this safety, but it also becomes his own special place. A PBGV that is provided with the proper amount of mental and physical exercise along with strong leadership from the humans will be less likely to get himself in trouble. |
Care Requirements
| Health | The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is one of the few healthy breeds with very few manor diseases to worry about, even though there are a few minor ones- otitis externa and hip dysplasia But even less are the occasional diseases of meningitis, patellar luxation, and Epilepsy. When purchasing a PBGV, watch for testing done on the hips, or have it done if you see any issues. |
| Grooming | His coat should be thick, wiry and somewhat casual looking. A weekly brushing will remove loose and dead hair and help to control shedding. A pin brush, comb and possibly a mat breaker are the only necessary tools. Bathe him as needed. Properly groomed, this breed sheds little to no hair. Nails need to be clipped regularly. Ear canals should be kept free of excess hair and wax. Teeth should have regular care to keep them clean and free of tarter. Trim long hair on the bottom of the feet and check between the pads for foreign material and mats. |
| Exercise | They need to be taken on a daily walk. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. If under- exercised, this breed can become restless and destructive. |
| Other Considerations | Will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. They are very active indoors and prefer cooler weather, but will do okay in warmer weather. This is one breed that should not be allowed to be off lead. The hunting instinct is too strong. All that is needed is one small scent and your hunter will be off on the chase. Having a secure, fenced-in yard is a very good idea. The PBGV like to dig and can be great escape artists. Watch for small holes and/or signs of interest along the fence line. He would as soon go under as he would to go over. |
