Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Temperament:
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, sometimes called the "Little Griffon Vendeen Basset" is merry, friendly and always very busy exploring. Very intelligent, but independent. Bold and lively; compact and robust. He's a dog that needs 'people attention' and will demand it if his owner neglects him. The PBGV is basically a pack animal and much of his behavior reflects this heritage.It has a casual appearance, but is always alert. It can be willful, but a charming rascal. Curious and completely confident. The dog must be well-secured, as he is a renowned digger, jumper and escape artist. They are generally good with other dogs, but should not be trusted with non-canine pets. You may have heard that PBGV's are hard to train. This is not true! The PBGV is intelligent and can be trained for many purposes. He also has a great desire to please. The problem for the owner is that the dog is so smart that he often has his own agenda (which may not be the same as the owners!) They are good with children and are fairly friendly with strangers. A bored or lonely PBGV will make his own 'entertainment'. Giving your dog 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.

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, they shed 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.

Living Condition:
Will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. They are very active indoors and do well in most climates, but prefer cooler 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.

Origin:
The Petit Basset has its ancient origins in the Vendee region of France. In 1947 its characteristics were fixed by Abel Desamy, a French breeder. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a small (Petit), low (Basset), wire-haired (Griffon), French (from the Vendeen region) scent hound, used primarily for hunting rabbit. The PBGV was developed from the white St. Hubert and the white & tan Italian hound. Also the "King's White" Grand Griffon which is a larger, heavier, and longer Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen. The two breeds were often bred together in the past, so even though crossing them has been prohibited since 1975, puppies representing both types may still arise from a single litter. Though the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen has been a very popular hunting dog in France for almost a century, the breed is relatively new to the United States. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Club of America was formed in 1984, and the breed entered the Hound Group of the AKC in 1991.