Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen


The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen or GBGV is a dog breed from France.

History

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is derived, like all bassets, from hounds of superior size, in this case the Grand Griffon. The first selections were made at the end of the 19th century by the Comte d'Elva who was looking for subjects with "straight legs". But it was Paul Dézamy who was especially responsible for fixing the type. He had understood that in order to catch a hare, dogs of a certain size were needed. He fixed the size at about 43 cm. Today used primarily when hunting with a gun, it is capable of hunting all mammalian game, from the rabbit to the wild boar. A team of Grand Bassets won the 5th edition of the European Cup for hare.

Basset

Grand Basset Griffon Vendéens a long-backed, short-legged hunting breed of dog of the hound type, originating in the Vendée region of France. They are still used today to hunt boar, deer, and to track rabbit and hare, but are more commonly kept as a domestic pet.
They are pack dogs, so owners should either spend a lot of time with them or get a second dog or a cat. They have a happy and confident personality, which can sometimes manifest itself as disobedience, but they are great companions.

Health

The UK Kennel Club conducted a health survey of Basset Griffon Vendéens in 2004. This is apparently the only completed health survey that might include Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen, but it is unclear what proportion of dogs in the survey were Grand Basset Griffon Vendéens instead of the more common Petit.

Longevity

Average longevity of 76 deceased Basset Griffon Vendéens in the 2004 UK Kennel Club survey was 12.1 years. Leading causes of death were cancer, old age, and cardiac.
Compared to surveyed longevities of other breeds of similar size, Basset Griffon Vendéens have a typical or somewhat higher than average life expectancy.
Among 289 live Basset Griffon Vendéens in the 2004 UKC survey, the most common health issues noted by owners were reproductive, dermatologic, and aural.