Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen isn't as large as its name might suggest. It's a medium-sized French dog breed originally bred exclusively for hunting, but today it's also proven itself as a companion for active people.

Content

1 History of origin
- 1.1 Usage
2 Appearance
3 Character and behavior
4 Content Features
5 Health and life expectancy
6 Where to buy a puppy
- 6.1 Price
7 Photos and videos
- 7.1 Video about the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen breed

History of origin

By the mid-19th century, a group of similar wire-haired dogs existed in the Vendée department of France, used by local hunters to hunt small game. They likely descended from the large Vendeen hound, with the addition of other breeds. The Comte de Loix played a significant role in the development of the Basset Griffon Vendéen. Under his leadership, targeted breeding began in the late 19th century. In 1922, standards were written for the three varieties of Vendéen dogs that existed at the time: Vendeen, Briquette, and Basset.

The breed's name reflects the hound's distinctive appearance and origin: "large" refers to its size, but only in comparison to the small Basset Griffon, "Vendéen" refers to its place of origin, "basset" means a short dog, and "griffon" indicates that it has a rough coat.Beginning in the mid-20th century, the shortest dogs were selected from the Basset Vendéen. This resulted in the formation of a separate type, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen. At the same time, height restrictions were introduced for the Grand Bassets (up to 44 cm), which significantly reduced their numbers. In 1970, the two varieties were finally separated by size into two breeds: the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen and the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen. Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen.

There are four varieties of Vendeen Hounds: the Grand Vendeen Hound, the Briquette, the Grand Basset Griffon and the Petit Basset Griffon.

Usage

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is an excellent hunting companion. It is suitable for small areas and is not afraid of thickets and bushes. Of all the Bassets, it is the fastest, very courageous, tenacious, and eager to hunt. When chasing, it pays no attention to weather or water obstacles.

Basset Griffon Vendeens prefer to hunt in packs of other hounds. They track prey using their sense of smell. They hunt small fur-bearing animals and sometimes birds. With proper training, they can excel in various sports, including agility, freestyle, and tracking.

Appearance

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is a long-bodied dog with straight, short legs, a long tail, and a wiry coat. Despite its name, the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is not large; it is classified as a medium-sized dog, about the same height as a dog. cocker or beagle, only noticeably longer, stronger, and heavier than these dogs. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced.

Height: 39-44 cm.
Weight: 15-20 kg.

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is very similar to the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen. The main difference is size, but it also has a longer muzzle, ears, and tail.

The skull is elongated, rounded, and not very wide. The stop is prominent. The muzzle is square. The nose is prominent and black (brown only in red-and-white dogs). The lips are pendulous, with the upper lips covering the lower ones. The eyes are oval, large, and dark in color, with no visible conjunctiva. The ears are narrow, thin, oval-shaped, curled inward, and set below eye level. The neck is dewlap-less.

The body is not excessively long. The back is straight, the loin is strong and slightly arched. The chest is broad, reaching down to the elbows. The groins are full. The tail is saber-shaped and fairly long. The limbs are strong and well-muscled. The paws are strong, compact, with hard nails and durable pads.

The coat is coarse, harsh, not very long, and straight. The undercoat is well developed. The eyebrows do not cover the eyes. Colors:

Two-color (white with black spots, white with red spots, black and tan, fawn or fawn with black markings).
Tri-color (Black and white with tan, fawn or fawn with black overlay and white spots).

Character and behavior

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is a balanced, self-assured, and sociable dog. Obedience training is essential from an early age. Training emphasizes praise, but punishment is not excluded. By nature, the Basset Griffon Vendéen is not overly sensitive or vindictive. It is intelligent, quick-witted, adventurous, quite energetic, and playful. It enjoys tracking, exploring, and digging. It forms a strong bond with all family members and gets along well with children when properly trained. It prefers not to be left alone for long periods of time.

The Vendéen's character is characterized by stubbornness and independence, but overall, the dog is friendly and obedient, eager to please its owner. It is best suited for experienced dog owners, active singles, or families.

They adapt easily to their surroundings and are loyal to others. They quickly adapt to the rhythm of family life. They can be a bit mischievous, but not out of malice, just when playing. They get along well with other pets. They are not aggressive with strangers, but are bold and outgoing. Some dogs are good watchdogs, but not guard dogs. Large Basset Griffons Vendeens have a strong hunting instinct. Owners should consider training their dogs to develop their natural potential, such as blood tracking.

Content Features

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is a sociable and highly social dog. It can theoretically live outdoors year-round, but not alone, perhaps in the company of other dogs. A more suitable home for it would be as part of the family. The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen adapts to apartment life; in this case, daily walks of at least 1.5-2 hours are recommended. Poorly trained or unruly dogs should not be allowed off-leash.

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is a playful and energetic dog. To maintain good health and fitness, long walks, regular trips to the forest, and opportunities to exercise its hunting instinct are essential.Care

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen requires regular grooming. By following all recommendations, owners will avoid shedding problems and keep their dog looking well-groomed and neat.

It is recommended to comb 2-3 times a week.
Trimming is recommended every 2-3 months.
Wash with shampoos appropriate for the coat type as needed.
Claws are trimmed every 3-4 weeks.
The auricle is cleaned and the hair inside is removed.
The hair between the paw pads is trimmed.
Brush your teeth weekly.

Health and life expectancy

The average lifespan of a Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is 12 years. The oldest recorded dog died at 17 years of age. The main causes of death are cancer, heart disease, and old age. Genetically, the breed is healthy. Among the most common health conditions are:

Dermatological diseases;
Problems of the reproductive system;
Ear diseases.

Where to buy a puppy

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is most common in France and the United Kingdom, but is also found in other European countries, including Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Poland. It was introduced to the United States in the late 1990s. Until recently, only a few specimens of the breed were found in Russia; today, we can speak of locally bred dogs and the existence of kennels.