Petit Basset Griffon VendÈen
Temperament:
The friendly, extroverted Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a small breed with a temperament. His stubborn character demands a lot of patience from his owner. In return, he is very cheerful and gets along well with conspecifics and children.
Characteristics
The small hunting dog has short legs and a long, strong build with a deep chest. He has large, narrow floppy ears that are covered with long hairs and turned inward. His coat is medium to long and harsh. The slightly shaggy strands make him look more like a rough mongrel than a purebred dog.
This impression is strengthened by the long forehead fringes of the, in Germany unknown, breed. The curly moustache, however, help him to an expressive face. His clever, alert eyes also contribute to this.
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, the smallest representative of the Griffon Vendéen, has two faces. At home he is calm and angelic, while outside he gets excited and very active. He has a strong hunting instinct, which he loves to act out. Therefore, you should always keep an eye on your surroundings when you are out with this breed.
To people, children and adults, as to other animals, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is very friendly. He is also very affectionate towards strangers, after he has been allowed to bark at them extensively. When playing and during the hunt he is also a rather noisy dog.
This breed needs an owner with assertiveness. Their stubborn nature and tendency to want to work independently require consistent training. Be persistent and you will get an obedient dog.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, like all dogs, should be fed a balanced diet of high quality. Whether dry or wet food, also make sure that he always has drinking water available. Choose food that is rich in meat and low in grains. Also make sure to avoid overweight. Do not feed extras such as chews or other chewables daily and deduct them from the daily ration if necessary.
Health & Care
The hard coat of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen does not require much more care than that of other long-haired dogs. Brush it out well on a regular basis. Especially long-haired specimens may otherwise become brittle. This breed does not shed excessively. However, depending on its length, you should trim its coat from time to time and remove burrs and other plant debris after walks.
His ears need all the more your attention. The big floppy ears with their long hair tend to catch inflammations. You should also check his eyes regularly. This breed loves to scurry through bushes and undergrowth. Of course, dental care should not be neglected. Combine it best with chewing articles for the prevention of tartar.
Hereditary diseases, which are common in this breed, are not known.
Suitable accessories
The enormous hunting instinct of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen requires a tear-resistant leash. A secure fitting, high quality harness is also necessary.
Since the active dog loves to run around, you can easily inspire him to play fetch. So you should also get some balls or other toys for chasing. Especially good for this breed would be a fenced meadow with tall grass or bushes. The dogs love to chase through it.
For the fur care you need a brush in any case. Think perhaps also about a dog trimmer to be able to shorten too long shag.
Origin & History
The history of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is at least 500 years old. Originally, he comes from the western French department of Vendée. Until 1970 it was crossed with the Grand Griffon Vendéen, until it was banned. Before that, the small ones could be distinguished from the big ones almost only by their body height. Today, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen additionally have a slimmer build than their larger relatives.
Bred as a hunting dog, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is still used today for wild boar and hare hunting and makes an excellent family dog.
