Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Basics

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a unique breed that looks like a combination of several other breeds. This dog has the short stature and strong build of the Basset Hound with the shaggy, gruff appearance of various Griffon-type breeds. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen may be small but it has a big, friendly personality. If you are looking for an extroverted, intelligent, and family-loving dog then the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is definitely one to consider.

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a unique breed that looks like a combination of several other breeds.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Origin

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is one of four Griffon Vendeens – the others are the Grand Griffon Vendeen, the Briquet Griffon Vendeen, and the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen. This breed was developed as a scent hound in France with its origins dating back to the 16th century. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen existed for several centuries before breeders began to develop a breed standard during the late 1800s – up until that time the breed was known as the Basset Griffon Francais. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen breed club was formed in 1907 at which point the same standard was used for the Petit and Grand Basset Griffon. In the 1950s the official standard for just the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen was published and in 1992 the breed made its debut at the Westminster Kennel Club in New York.

Pedigree

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is one of several small hound varieties developed in France several centuries ago. It shares its history with the larger Griffon Vendeen, though it is distinguished by its petite size and short stature.

Food/Diet

As a small-breed dog, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen has higher energy needs than larger dogs. This being the case you should feed your dog a commercial dog food diet specially formulated for small-breed dogs.

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is an intelligent breed which means that it should respond quickly to training.

Training

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is an intelligent breed which means that it should respond quickly to training. It is also important to note, however, that as a hound, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen can be a little stubborn and strong-willed at times. To prevent problems in training your Petit Basset you should use positive reinforcement based training methods and maintain a firm and consistent hand in training. The earlier you start training and socializing your dog, the better. Do not let your dog walk all over you – you must establish yourself as an authority figure without becoming cruel or unkind to your dog.

Weight

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a small-breed dog that stands between 13 and 15 inches at maturity, weighing between 31 and 40 pounds. Males and females of the breed are of similar size.

Temperament/Behavior

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a friendly breed that loves to spend time with people. This breed is often described as being “endlessly happy” because its tail never stops wagging. He generally gets along well with children and other dogs which makes it a great family pet, though they may be too energetic for very small children. This breed is by no means a nippy breed, but it can be a little bit loud – this is characteristic of hound breeds. Vendeens also make excellent therapy dogs due to their friendly and extroverted personalities.

Common Health Problems

In 2004, the UK Kennel Club performed a health survey of Basset Griffon Vendeens and found that the average lifespan for the breed was about 12-14 years and the leading causes of death were cancer and old age. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is generally a healthy breed but, like all dogs, it is prone to developing certain health problems. Some of the problems most likely to affect this breed include recurrent ear infections, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, and persistent pupillary membranes.

Life Expectancy

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen has a long life expectancy around 14 years or more.

Exercise Requirements

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen was developed as a hunting breed so it is fairly active and does require a good bit of daily exercise. These dogs also have strong hunting instincts so they may be prone to chasing small animals around the house.

This breed is often described as being “endlessly happy” because its tail never stops wagging.

AKC

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen was officially recognized by the AKC in 1990 and was admitted into the Hound Group in 1991.

Coat

This dog has a long double coat that often exhibits a tousled appearance. The hair is long and rough, growing long on the face to give the dog the appearance of a beard and moustache. The primary color for this breed is white, though many dogs exhibit spots of yellow, orange, black, gray, sable or tan.

Puppies

The average litter size is 4 to 6 puppies with 5 being the most common. As a small-breed dog, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen puppies may reach full size before they are one year old at which point you should switch them to an adult dog food formula. Early training and socialization is recommended for this breed to ensure that it grows up to be well-behaved and well-adjusted.

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