AKC Dog Breeds: Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

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Hound Group
Height:13-15 inches  Weight: 25-42 pounds  Color: orange, lemon, gray, black, tricolor

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a French scent hound developed first and foremost to hunt small game over the rough and difficult terrain of the Vendéen region. To function efficiently, he must be equipped with certain characteristics. He is bold and vivacious in character; compact, tough and robust in construction. He has an alert outlook, lively bearing and a good voice freely and purposefully used. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen originates from the Vendee region of France, and is the smallest of four rough coated hounds developed in that particular area. He has a history that can be traced back to the sixteenth century, and was originally bred to hunt rabbits and small game. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1991.

General Appearance
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a small, rustic dog with an unkempt, natural- looking, harsh, wiry coat, shaggy eyebrows, beard and mustache. The PBGV has a double coat. The inner coat is for warmth and is soft. The rough single coat protects the dog when hunting in thick underbrush. It comes in white with markings in any of the following colors: black, orange, yellow, tri-color and grizzle. The well-proportioned Petit is about 50% longer than tall. The tail tapers and is carried high and alert. Its eyes are large and dark, with an intelligent expression. It has muscular thighs and well-boned front legs. The thin, long, oval, hair-covered ears reach almost to the tip of the large-nostriled nose. The back is level with a slight arch over the loin.

Temperament

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a courageous and independent dog, with plenty of character, spirit, and enthusiasm. This is a keen scent hound with a very inquisitive nature, and therefore should always have somewhere safe and secure to play and exercise when he is not on a leash. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen has bags of energy and needs a fair amount of exercise. He is also a dog that enjoys the affections and companionship of his owners, and is not well suited to those unable to commit time to their pets. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is an entertaining and cheerful soul, but his stubborn streak and bossy nature means that he is better suited to those with some experience of dog ownership. Females tend to be the more dominant sex with this breed, and when it comes to training owners need to be positive yet assertive in order to achieve results. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen can be very boisterous and mischievous, and this means that you may need to exercise caution around very small children who may inadvertently get knocked over or hurt. However, that said, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen does get along very well with children as well as with strangers. He should be fine around cats and dogs, if a little bossy, but should not be trusted around smaller animals such as rabbits. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen loves to dig, which is something to bear in mind when he is left in his secure area, as it may not be as secure as you think! He also loves to bark, and this adds to his watchdog abilities but means that he is not best suited to those looking for a quiet pet.

Grooming

Due to the type of hair on the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, brushing with a wire brush is almost mandatory to keep the hair clean and mat-free. Depending on the lifestyle and activity level of the dog, a good guess is two to three times a week. This breed sheds little to no hair. Toenails need clipped on a bi-monthly basis with a common sense approach. The ears need cleaned whenever the dog is bathed, once a month or less often, depending on the life style of the breed.

Health Problems and Life Expectancy
The life expectancy of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is around 12-14 years. The Petite Basset Griffon Vendeen is prone to eye abnormalities, aseptic meningitis, epilepsy, hip and elbow dysplasia, patella luxation, hypothyroidism, and food and skin allergies.

Activity Level

The energy level and exercise requirement level for the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is very, very high. Not a dog for a person whose high energy peak of the day is playing games on the computer or turning channels on television, a large yard or active owner is almost mandatory along with an owner who likes to be busy. Going for walks, playing ball, jogging, hunting, and camping are excellent things to do with the little Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen.









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