Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen
The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen is a breed that is native to the land of France. This is a medium-sized, rather gruff looking dog which was bred to be a hunter’s partner, primarily those who hunted hare and rabbit. They started out as a larger breed than they are today, but were bred down in size by the Comte d’Elva prior to the First World War. Between that time and the time of World War Two, the breed became almost extinct, but because of the work of Hubert Dezamy, they have once again gained in popularity. Mr. Dezamy was a French dog show judge of that time and had a heart for the breed. Today, they are still acquired for hunting dogs, but they are also attained to be family pets and companion dogs.
According to breed standards, the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen should be should be well-proportioned in appearance, well-muscled, and not look excessively fatty. The long, silky ears are held in the dropped position, hanging down the sides of the head. They are set fairly low on the short head. The dark, oval eyes are intelligent and sensitive in expression, having a friendly look. The nose is sunless with open nostrils. The tail is fluffy and is held in the downward position when the dog is at rest. When their interest is captured by something, the tail is usually raised. They have rather bushy eyebrows and a bit of a mustache over the mouth, giving them a somewhat distinguished witness.
The double coat of the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen is medium in length and rather shaggy looking. They are relatively light shedders and their grooming should be kept up regularly to keep this dog looking its best. Grooming is not difficult at all, however. They will need a thorough brushing a couple of times per week to ensure that there is no matting, nothing stuck in the fur, and to rob any loose hairs. Acceptable coat colors include fawn, light brown, white and gray, white and orange, and tri-colored. They can be solid or multi-colored.
The Gargantuan Basset Griffon Vendeen is a breed that is suited for hunting work, and they seem to truly enjoy it. They excel as scent dogs for hunting cramped game, but have also been used in hunting boar and small deer. If kept as a companion dog, rather than as a working hunter, this breed will need a lot of exercise in order to burn off the energy that they have. They should have plenty of mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom. If they are not kept busy enough, they will be prone to undesirable behaviors, such as obsessive barking or destructiveness. They should be given at least a brisk stagger daily, as well as some times for play off the leash.
The breed is very friendly and has a stable temperament. They are extremely loyal to their families and will give a warning bark when someone is approaching, making them a wonderful watch dog, but they should not be expected to be moral protectors. This is not in their sweet nature. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeens are very playful and will enjoy having a variety of toys to play with and be entertained by. They are also full of antics that will entertain you! They are wonderful companion dogs and family pets.
Training should be consistent, with the human establishing his or her position as “pack leader” from the initiate. They are quite smart and willing to learn. Plenty of praise and reward will be quite useful in training the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen. They should also be well-socialized from an early age. The average lifespan of this breed is around twelve years and they are typically quite healthy.
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