Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a small, wire-haired dog whose appearance and character perfectly suit its intended purpose as a hare hound. The breed originated in France. In everyday life, Vendéens are friendly, playful, and affectionate companions with a cheerful disposition and a lively mind, but they are not suitable for everyone.

Content

1 History of origin
- 1.1 Usage
2 Appearance
3 Character and behavior
4 Education and training
5 Content Features
- 5.1 Care
6 Health and life expectancy
7 Where to buy a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen puppy
- 7.1 Price
8 Photos and videos
- 8.1 Video about the Basset Griffon Andes dog breed

History of origin

The ancestors of the modern Vendéen Griffons appeared in France in the 19th century as a result of crossing Gallic hounds and several other breeds that have not yet been identified, possibly extinct.

The breed's French name, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, describes these small dogs well. Petit means "small," basset means "low," griffon means "wire-haired," and vendéen means "from the Vendée" (referring to their place of origin).

For a long time, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen was simply a height variety. Within the Basset Griffon Vendéen breed, two sizes were distinguished: Petit (34-38 cm) and Grand (39-44 cm). Breeders noticed that a single standard was not appropriate for Petit Basset Griffons. In 1947, Abel Desamy and his associates began selecting smaller dogs and developed the first standard.

Usage

Both the Grand and Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen are excellent hunting companions, trained to obey from a young age. They are primarily used for hare hunting, but also enjoy following the scent of other game. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is bold and courageous, naturally endowed with an excellent sense of smell. Hardy, passionate, and tenacious in work, it is capable of following a scent through the thorny and dense undergrowth of medium-sized hunting grounds. It can hunt in teams or alone. In France, a group of Petit Basset Griffons Vendéen won the grand prize in a hare hunting competition.

The Basset Griffon believes that tracking is the best and most interesting activity in the world.

The Petit Vendée is capable of more than just tracking. In the United States, members of the breed are successfully used as service dogs in search and rescue operations and in police work.

Appearance

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a small, sturdy, short-legged dog with a wiry, not overly long coat, large ears, and a noticeably elongated body. It is usually tricolor. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced. Height at the withers ranges from 34 to 38 cm, and weight typically ranges from 15 to 19 kg.

The skull is rounded, slightly elongated, and well defined under the eyes with a distinct stop. The muzzle is square, elongated, and straight (shorter than that of the Grand Vendée). The nose is well developed and black, with open nostrils. A liver-colored nose is permitted only in dogs with a white and orange coat. The lips are covered with whiskers. The bite is a scissor bite. The eyes are large and dark. The conjunctiva is not visible. The eyebrows do not cover the eyes. The ears are thin at the base, ending in an oval shape, and are set below the line of the eyes.

The neck is long, without dewlap. The body is elongated, almost twice the height. The back is straight. The loin is developed. The croup is wide. The chest is deep and moderately wide. The tail is fairly thick at the base, set high, not long, and saber-shaped. The limbs are relatively short, with strong bone structure, massive but proportionate. The paws have well-knit toes. The claws are strong, and the pads are dark and dense.

The skin is quite dark, often marbled. The coat is not too long, coarse, and harsh to the touch. Colors:

Black with white spots;
Black and tan (tan markings are red or light red);
Fawn with white spots;
Fawn with black saddle and white spots;
Fawn with black;
Sandy with white spots and black;
Sand with blackening.

Character and behavior

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a natural-born hound that also excels as a family dog and companion. It is very affectionate and friendly within the family circle, gets along well with children of all ages, and is outgoing and sociable. The more people and activities it is surrounded by, the better off and happier it is.

Vendée is always full of energy, very playful, has a lively mind, is quick-witted, and quick-witted. He is also incredibly curious, sometimes even overly so. He is always in a good mood and sincerely loves everyone around him.

Accustomed to working in a pack, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen gets along well with other dogs of any breed, but prefers to socialize with hunting dogs. They often coexist peacefully with cats and other small pets, but outdoors they can actively pursue the same animal. Vendéens are not quiet or reticent dogs; they are very talkative, with a loud, resonant voice.

Education and training

In loving and patient hands, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen can grow into a very obedient and outgoing dog. However, don't expect unquestioning obedience on the street. The Vendée is not well suited for obedience or agility, but is excellent at retrieving. If not a hunting dog, it will happily train to retrieve various objects and people. The Vendée requires proper training, comprehensive socialization, and regular, but short, training sessions.

The Basset Fauve Vendéen responds only to positive training methods. Understanding and patience are required from the owner.

Content Features

The modern Basset Griffon Vendéen is suitable for apartment life and even adapts to city life, but some difficulties on walks can be associated with the hound's excessive curiosity and strong hunting instinct. A more suitable option for the Vendéen would be living in a family home with the opportunity to spend a lot of time outdoors. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, with its keen sense of smell and passion for the chase, can become engrossed in hunting anywhere.

This little bundle of energy requires a lot of exercise. Half-hour walks around the park won't be enough for a Vendée. Regular outings with the dog are highly recommended, allowing it plenty of opportunity to run around. Considering that a hound can track almost all day, it's difficult to tire it out near the house. A poorly exercised dog can become disobedient and destructive, develop bad habits, and even develop health problems.

Care

Grooming the Basset Griffon's coarse coat involves regular brushing and trimming every 6-8 weeks. If left untreated, the coat sheds heavily. Furthermore, the coarse coat can trap dirt, leaves, twigs, sticks, and other debris. Bathing is recommended as needed, but no more than once a month. It's important to choose a shampoo that won't damage the coat. Attention should also be paid to the dog's ears and eyes. The ears should be inspected regularly, cleaned as needed, and dried. The eyes should be wiped. The nails should be kept long and the beard clean. If the dog is fed a natural diet, it should often be washed after meals.

Health and life expectancy

A Griffon Vendéen's health depends largely on how much exercise it gets, its diet, and how it's cared for. Genetically, the breed is healthy. A survey of owners indicates that the most common problems dogs suffer from are ear infections, dermatological problems, and eye diseases. Epilepsy is very rare. hypothyroidism, pain in the neck area. Life expectancy is 13-15 years.

Where to buy a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen puppy

There aren't many Basset Griffons Vendéens in Russia, but these dogs are gaining popularity every year. Several kennels and breeders specialize in breeding them professionally. Finding an ad for a Vendéen puppy for sale on free online classifieds is rare. Those looking to acquire a good Basset Griffon will have to put in the effort: talk to breeders, attend several major dog shows, and learn about the breed's representatives in the country.

There are also kennels in Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, several other European countries, and the United States. Outside of France, they primarily breed show dogs. If you're looking for a working hound, it's best to consider purchasing a Basset Griffon in the breed's homeland.