Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
A cheerful, low-slung French hound with a shaggy coat, sociable with everyone and endlessly curious.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 40–44 cm · Females 39–43 cm
- Weight
- Males 18–20 kg · Females 17–19 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Rough, medium
- Colours
- White, Orange, Lemon, Black, Grey, Tricolour
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent, Companionship
- Country of origin
- France
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 33 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a friendly, sturdy hound with character
- enjoy scent games and long walks
- have a securely fenced garden
Think twice if you …
- want a quiet dog
- expect easy obedience
- have pet rabbits or cats
Care
Temperament
Happy, outgoing and confident, with a strong independent streak when it catches a scent.
Exercise
Needs an hour or more of daily activity; scent work, tracking and long walks on varied ground suit it well.
Grooming
Brush the rough coat weekly and keep ears and beard clean; occasional hand-stripping keeps it tidy.
Training
Clever but self-directed; short, fun, reward-based sessions work, and recall needs ongoing practice.
Health
Reported concerns include epilepsy, hypothyroidism, ear infections and back strain from its long body. Hip, eye and spine checks are sensible, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
- Spine
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen comes from the Vendée in western France, where hunters wanted a low, rough-coated hound that could push through thorny cover after hare. It shares its roots with the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, and the two were only fully separated as breeds in the 20th century.
It is longer in the leg than the Petit and very athletic for a basset. Friendly and outgoing, it usually gets along with children and other dogs, and settles in well as a family companion if it has enough exercise. It is vocal, nose-led and an accomplished escape artist.
Did you know?
Its name roughly means 'large, low, rough-coated hound from the Vendée'.