Dog Breeds: Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

07 Mar 2007 07:00 PM

You can tell a lot about a dog from its name -- at least this dog. Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen translates from the French thusly: Petit = small, Basset = low to the ground (like a Bassett Hound!), Griffon = rough coated or wire coated, and Vendeen = the region of France that gives us the breed.

The breed can be traced back to the sixteenth century, and the larger Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen. Both dogs were developed to hunt by scent over the rough terrain of the western coast of France; the Vendeen region is full of rocks, thorns, and thick underbrush. The breed standard was first established in the early 1900s, and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen was accepted into the American Kennel Club in 1990. This dog is the AKC's 131st breed!

Did you know?

• Many French hounds were bred in large and small sizes, like the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen.
• The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen was bred to hunt deer and wolves.
• The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen was bred to hunt rabbits and birds.
• In the United States, these dogs are called "Petits". In England, they're known as "Griffs" or "Roughies" and in Denmark, they're called "Griffs" or "Petits".

These scent hounds are bold, tough, and alert. Don't be surprised if your Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a barker -- the breed is known for its strong voice. This is an outgoing dog with a cheerful disposition and a willingness to please. He can be independent and confident but is rarely shy or aggressive.

As far as looks go, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen has distinctive eyebrows, beard, and moustache. The fur has a tousled look, and is (as the name suggests) coarse and wiry. The undercoat is thick, but not silky or wooly. Adult dogs will be between thirteen and fifteen inches high at the shoulder.

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Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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