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Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen breed guide
The American Kennel Club calls the low-slung, shaggy-coated Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen a vivacious French rabbit-hunting hound known for a happy demeanor and a durable constitution, bred to work in a pack and good with other dogs and kids.
The name translates as small, low, shaggy, from the Vendée region and the dog has a saber tail and a loud, houndy bark.
Temperament
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens have a reputation for being hard to train. They are in fact very intelligent but tend to have a mind of their own, so socialization and obedience training should start early and the trainer must stay one step ahead.
A very active, curious dog, it must have plenty of room to wander and explore.
Lifespan
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens live 14 to 16 years. They are healthy overall. Breeders screen for neck pain syndrome, hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation and cardiac and eye anomalies.
Care
The coat is one of its most distinctive qualities but can frustrate those unused to it. It should be harsh and thick, some liken it to goat hair. It needs a complete brushing-out at least weekly.
An extraordinary sense of smell and an often irresistible urge to follow scents mean that exercise outside the yard should always be on a leash.
History
The terrain of the Vendée is no place for sissy dogs. It takes a tough, tenacious, headstrong hound to earn a living among the rocks and dense underbrush of coastal France and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen's rough coat was bred to protect it from that environment.
Even the rakish eyebrows, beard and mustache are not just for cuteness, since they protect sensitive areas of the face from thorns and thicket.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 4 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 3 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 2 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 5 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 4 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 5 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 5 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 4 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |