Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen

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Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen

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The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen, from the name we can learn that the breed is large, and he has a sweet face and long ears. As a hunting breed dog originated from France with short leg and long back, they are bred to hunt boar, deer, or track rabbit and hare. Although used to hunt today, they are more popular kept as a domestic pet. With happy and confident personality, they make great companions of their family.

Other Names GBGV, Great Basset Griffon Vendéen
Color Black & Tan, Fawn, White & Black, White & Gray, White & Grizzle, White & Lemon, White & Orange, White & Sable, White Black & Tan
Height Males: 15.5-18 inches. Females: 15.5-18 inches
Weight Males: 40-45 pounds. Females: 40-45 pounds.
Life Span 13-15 years
Personality Independent, Happy, Outgoing
Exercise Needs Lots of Activity
Origin
Popularity #178
Groom Needs Weekly Brushing
Kids Friendly Yes with supervision
Dog Friendly Yes with supervision
Watch Dog
Family Dog Yes
Litter Size 7–12 pups

Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen Pictures

Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen Video

Introduction

Everything about the Great Basset Griffon Vendéen points towards a dog that can withstand the stress of a hard day’s job. They are great hunting dogs for rabbits, deer, and boar. The Great Basset Griffon Vendéen (GBGV) is long-backed, with a low-set body, and must not be overlooked as they are sturdy and strong. The stamina and strength are remarkable when compared to their medium build. A Great Basset Griffon Vendéen has a deep chest, long ears, moderately long muzzle, and is well-balanced on the ground. They come in a rough double coat, appearing sufficiently shaggy. The coat is usually straight, harsh, and moderately long. The acceptable color varieties include black and tan, black and white, fawn and black, lemon and tan, orange and white, with tricolor varieties.

At maturity, a Great Basset Griffon Vendéen should weigh around 40-50 pounds at shoulder height of 15-18 inches, regardless the gender. They have an average lifespan of 12-15 years.

Living with Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen’s coat needs a minimum of grooming. Weekly brushing with a slicker brush and comb can help prevent knots and matting. Grooming can be a wonderful bonding experience for you and your pet.

Occasional bath will keep him clean and looking his best. And because he likes to dig and run through brush and otherwise get dirty, you may find yourself bathing him on a pretty regular basis.

Their strong fast-growing nails should be trimmed regularly with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting and cracking. 

Their ears should be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris which can result in an infection. 

Brush the teeth frequently with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath.

Check the ears weekly for dirt, redness or a bad odor that can indicate an infection. And wash your GBGV’s ears weekly with a gentle, vet-approved cleanser to prevent infection caused when wax, moisture, and dirt build up.

Start grooming a GBGV puppy at an early age so he becomes used to it and accepts it willingly.

As a hound breed, the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen has moderately high exercise requirements. They need at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise, and more will always be appreciated. They also enjoy having a fenced yard in which to run and play.

They will not thrive as a couch potato. The GBGV is a very active, curious dog who requires a great deal of exercise. He must have plenty of room to wander and explore. He makes a good companion for a hiker, runner, or biker who enjoys an active partner on jaunts.

These dogs also have strong hunting instincts so they may be prone to chasing small animals around the house. So exercising outside the yard should always be done on a leash. Leaving your GBGV outside alone is asking for trouble—he’ll bark excessively and find an escape route.

The Grand’s quiet, docile demeanor makes them excellent companions and house dogs. They are sturdy and do not slow down with age, so plan on keeping their exercise routine going into their teenage years.

As a medium-sized breed, the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen should be fed a high-quality commercial dog food diet formulated adult dogs. As a high-energy hunting breed, an active or working breed formula may be more appropriate to meet his needs. 

How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level. The quality of dog food you buy also makes a difference — the better the dog food, the further it will go toward nourishing your dog and the less of it you’ll need to shake into your dog’s bowl.

Some dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level to keep your GBGV in good shape. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity, which can shorten a dog’s life by several years so it’s important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.

Clean, fresh water should always be available.

Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet or the dog’s breeder if you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen is known for being healthy and hardy, largely unaffected by hereditary and congenital health problems. But just like other dog breed, they sometimes are prone to certain health problems, such as hip and elbow dysplasia, field injuries, ear infections, and skin problems. Also they may suffer from eye conditions, including persistent pupillary membranes, retinal dysplasia, and corneal dystrophy.

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. 

Not all GBGVs will get any or all of these diseases, but it’s important to be aware of them if you’re considering this breed.

As with all breeds, GBGVs’ ears should be checked regularly for signs of infection, and the teeth should be brushed often, using a toothpaste designed for dogs.

There are several health tests considerations specific to the breed, such as hip evaluation, ophthalmologist evaluation, cardiac exam, patella evaluation and thyroid evaluation. 

Responsible breeders test all breeding stock for conditions that can affect the breed. Regular visits to the vet for checkups and parasite control help to ensure the dog a long, healthy life.

Total Annual Cost: $2889

Cost is estimated for the first year and may vary depending on many factors, such as dog food, health care, leash, collar, licensing, possible fencing, crates, training and obedience classes, dog-walking, grooming, treats, toys, flea, tick, and heart-worm meds, microchips, etc.

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen is an intelligent breed which means that it should respond quickly to training. It is also important to note that they can be a little stubborn and strong-willed at times.

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen has a natural desire to please, so positive reinforcement training methods are generally successful.

Like most hound breeds, the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen has an air of independence. He may not be the most obedient dog in the world, but he generally responds well to firm and consistent training.

The earlier you start training and socializing your dog, the better. Just be mindful that these dogs are highly active and may have trouble paying attention during extended training sessions – keep your sessions short and sweet, no longer than 10 or 15 minutes for the best results. 

As hounds, Grand Basset Griffon Vendéens generally have a high prey drive and will follow their nose wherever it goes. So a fenced yard and leash training are necessary. 

Another characteristic of the GBGV is its free use of voice; no amount of training will stop this chatterbox. If you don’t enjoy your dog conversing with you, this breed may not be for you.

History

The Great Basset Griffon Vendéen was probably developed in the 1700s in Vendée, France. At that time, these dogs played the role of a hunting dog for small games, due to their keen scenting abilities. However, as time progressed, they walked into gaming for boar, rabbits, and other wild games. Often, the Great Basset Griffon Vendéen is mistaken to be a larger form of the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, but this isn’t the case as they are entirely separate breeds with different breed standards. The breeding of Great Basset Griffon Vendéens was rather not stringent till around the 19th century when a breeder, Comte d’Elva sought for a dog with specific features. That was when it became clear to breed fanciers (of the Great Basset Griffon Vendéen) that it was rather apt to draft a standard for its breeding. The standard was written and later put in order by Paul Dezamy.

In the 1990s, the importation of Great Basset Griffon Vendéen was on the rise in the United States. Here, four dogs imported separately at different times, are believed to have formed the foundation stock for the breeding in America. First, it was Mike and Arlene Dickinson who imported a male Great Basset Griffon Vendéen from Holland in 1990, and a female dog the following year. Carolyn Marzano did the same in 1992, with J. Ryder and Jennifer King following closely in 1994. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized this breed in 2018, placing it as a member of the Hound Group. They aren’t very popular amongst Americans.

Helpful Information

Breed Club: GRAND BASSET GRIFFON VENDÉEN CLUB OF AMERICA

Breed Club Link: https://www.gbgv.net/

Breed Club Rescue: 

Breed Club Rescue Link: