Where the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen came from
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a French hound from the Vendee region of western France. They were bred to trail hare through thick, thorny brush, so they have short legs, a rough coat and a strong nose. People often call them PBGV.
The breed is one of four Griffon Vendeen breeds. The Grand Griffon Vendeen came first, from a hound line called the Greffier that goes back to the 1500s. The smaller bassets were developed from it. By the late 1800s, a breeder named Paul Dezamy worked to fix the type of the bassets.
The AKC recognized the breed in 1990. In 2023 a PBGV named Buddy Holly won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Today the PBGV is a happy, scruffy dog that still loves to follow its nose.
- 1500s The Greffier, ancestor of the Vendee griffons, is said to date to this period
- Late 1800s Paul Dezamy works to fix the type of the basset griffons in the Vendee
- 1990 AKC recognizes the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
- 2023 A PBGV named Buddy Holly wins Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The job a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen was bred for
A pack hound that trailed hare through brambles by scent, and gave tongue so hunters could follow. That is why many PBGVs follow scent trails, bay, and tune out their people on a good smell. They are friendly with other dogs since they hunted in packs, but they are not a quiet dog.
What you may see at home
Happy and scruffy, bays at sounds and smells, follows its nose, selective listener, friendly.
Give them: Sniff walks, scent games, Barn Hunt, a long line outdoors, and treats for recall.
Sports that fit a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
- Scent work. A great job for a nose-driven small hound
- Tracking. A trail job that matches their natural skill
- Barn Hunt. Lets a small hound search for rats safely in tubes
- Fast CAT. A timed sprint for a lively, athletic hound
- Rally. Fun pattern work with lots of treats
Training tips for a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
- Use high-value treats and keep it light. PBGVs are happy, but not eager to please like a retriever.
- Teach a recall on a long line. A good smell can pull them far away fast.
- Reward quiet, since baying is part of the breed.
- Give daily sniff walks and scent games to meet their need for a nose job.
Body and health
Long back and short legs, so keep them off tall jumps and use ramps for the car or couch. Check the long ears for infections. A UK study found a life expectancy of 13.7 years, which is higher than the purebred average.
Fun fact. In 2023 a PBGV named Buddy Holly won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.