Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
A happy, shaggy little French hound, outgoing with everyone, curious, vocal and full of energy.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- 34–38 cm
- Weight
- Males 13–18 kg · Females 11–16 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. 67 · 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 | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 5/5 – Very high |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – 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 cheerful, sociable family hound
- enjoy active walks and scent games
- have a well-fenced garden
Think twice if you …
- want a quiet dog
- expect fast obedience
- cannot handle digging or escape attempts
Care
Temperament
Happy, extroverted and curious, friendly with almost everyone, and independent-minded.
Exercise
Needs at least an hour of activity daily; scent games, tracking and varied walks keep it content.
Grooming
Brush the rough coat weekly and keep ears and beard clean; it does not need clipping.
Training
Bright but selective in listening; keep training fun and reward-based, and practise recall constantly.
Health
The breed is known for inherited eye conditions, including primary open-angle glaucoma with a DNA test, plus epilepsy and back problems. Breeding dogs are usually eye-tested and DNA-tested, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Eye examination
- Hips (HD)
- Spine
DNA tests
- POAG (ADAMTS17)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen comes from the Vendée in western France, where hunters needed a small, rough-coated hound to push through brambles and rocks after rabbit and hare. It shares its history with the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen, and the two were only fully separated as breeds in the 1970s.
The PBGV is cheerful, sociable and busy, with a tousled coat and a tail that rarely stops wagging. It enjoys family life and gets on with most people and dogs. It is also loud, independent and fond of digging and escaping, so owners need humour and secure fencing.
Did you know?
A PBGV named Buddy Holly won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in 2023.