Griffon Nivernais
A shaggy, grey French pack hound from the Nivernais, bred to hunt wild boar with stamina and grit.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 55–62 cm · Females 53–60 cm
- Weight
- Males 23–27 kg · Females 21–25 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–14 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Rough, medium
- Colours
- Wolf grey, Grey, Fawn
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent
- Country of origin
- France
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 17 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 3/5 – Moderate |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| 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 | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 1/5 – Very low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 2/5 – Low |
| 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 …
- hunt with hounds or want a tracking partner
- have other dogs and a rural home
- like a rugged, low-fuss coat
Think twice if you …
- need reliable off-lead recall
- live close to neighbours sensitive to baying
- have cats or small pets
Care
Temperament
Brave, persistent and independent in the field, quiet and somewhat reserved at home. It gets on well with other dogs and is gentle with its family.
Exercise
Needs long daily outings, ideally including off-lead time in secure areas; tracking, mantrailing and hunting suit it best.
Grooming
The harsh, shaggy coat needs only a weekly brush and a check for burrs after outings; it sheds moderately.
Training
Independent and scent-driven, so expect patience with recall; short, food-motivated sessions work best.
Health
A hardy working hound with no well-documented breed-specific problems; hip dysplasia and ear infections can occur. Hip screening is sensible for breeding dogs, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Griffon Nivernais comes from the Nivernais region of central France, where rough-coated hounds have hunted boar and wolf for centuries. The modern breed was rebuilt in the early 20th century from the remaining local griffons, and it is still kept mostly by hunters who work it in packs.
It is a lean, scruffy-looking hound with a tough coat and a determined nose. In the house it is usually calm and easy-going, but outside it follows scent single-mindedly and uses its voice freely. It does best with experienced hound people, other dogs for company and plenty of space to roam safely.
Did you know?
Its standard describes a coat colour called 'wild boar grey', fitting for a hound bred to hunt boar.