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Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen

alert / happy / vivacious
Hound Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

13-15 inches

Weight

25-40 pounds

Life Expectancy

14-16 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    100% 100%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    40% 40%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    40% 40%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    80% 80%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    80% 80%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    60% 60%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    100% 100%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    100% 100%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    40% 40%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    40% 40%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    40% 40%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    80% 80%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    80% 80%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    60% 60%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    80% 80%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    100% 100%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    80% 80%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The energetic French rabbit-hunting dog recognized for a joyful disposition and tough constitution is the low-slung, shaggy-coated Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen. Being pack-oriented breeds, PBGVs enjoy the company and get along well with both children and other dogs.

The name is loosely translated as Petit (little), Basset (low), Griffon (shaggy), and Vendéen (from the Vendée region of France), which accurately defines the dog. All in all, you get a small-framed hound that was developed to hunt rabbits on the untamed west coast of France. It stands 13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder, has short but powerful legs, and has a rough, disheveled coat. These small extroverts also have a saber tail, a loud, hound-like bark, and a proudly carried head.

What To Expect When Caring For a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Overall, the PBGV breed has in good health, and ethical breeders check their stock for ailments including neck discomfort syndrome, hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation (slipped stifle), and cardiac and eye anomalies. It's crucial to only buy puppies from recognized, committed breeders who genetically screen each of their breeding animals.  
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Ophthalmologist Evaluation
  • POAG DNA Testing

Grooming

Although a PBGV's coat is one of its most distinguishing features, it might frustrate people who aren't used to it. Some people compare it to goat hair since it should be coarse and thick. At the very least once each week, you should completely brush out your PBGV. After brushing, the coat ought to be simple to comb through. Trimming needs to be minimized. The PBGV's messy appearance adds to his appeal. The majority of people have a monthly bathing/grooming routine that involves a complete bath and nail trimming. To prevent infections, the ears should be examined weekly, and any extra wax or debris should be taken out.  

Exercise

The PBGV is a very active, curious dog who requires a great deal of exercise. He must have plenty of room to wander and explore. The PBGV has an extraordinary sense of smell and an often irresistible urge to follow scents that interest him, so exercising him when outside of his yard should always be done on a leash, as he will be prone to follow his nose and ignore all else. He makes a good companion for a hiker, runner, or biker who enjoys an active partner on jaunts.

Training

The PBGV is an energetic, inquisitive dog that needs a lot of activity. He must have a lot of space to roam and discover. Exercise with the PBGV outside of his yard should always be done on a leash since he is likely to follow his nose and disregard everything else. The PBGV has an exceptional sense of smell and an often irresistible drive to follow aromas that fascinate him. A hiker, runner, or cyclist who appreciates an active buddy on excursions will find him to be an excellent company.  

Nutrition

The PBGV should thrive on high-quality dog food, whether it is made commercially or at home under the guidance and consent of your veterinarian. Whatever the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior), the diet should be suitable. Watch your dog's calorie intake and weight as certain PBGVs are prone to gaining weight. Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian. Fresh water that is clean should always be accessible.  

History

The Vendée’s landscape is not suitable for small dogs. To make a career as a hunter among the rocky outcrops and thick undergrowth of coastal France, one demands a hardy, persistent, and stubborn dog. The PBGV’s coarse coat was specifically developed to shield him from this hostile environment. Even the swarthy mustache, beard, and rakish eyebrows that give the breed much of its Old World appeal serve a purpose other than mere cuteness: they shield delicate facial regions from thorns and briar.

 

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (PBGV), along with 27 other hound breeds, is still bred in France for its traditional function of scent-based game hunting. Each breed’s size variations were created to pursue various prey. While the smaller PBGV pursued hares and rabbits, the larger Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen was used to pursue roedeer and wolves.

 

Paul Dezamy, the head of the newly established Club du Basset Griffon Vendéen, established a standard for the breed at the beginning of the 20th century. However, because they both descended from the same litter at the time, the Grand and Petit were included in this early standard. Finally, a 1909 standard for the “Basset Griffon Vendéen” acknowledged the two distinct sizes: a 13–15 inch and a 15–17 inch. The PBGV did not obtain its own standard until the 1950s and was not recognized as a separate breed until 1975 when Hubert Dezamy, the third president of the club, prohibited interbreeding between the sizes.