Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

While it has “Basset” in its name, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is not a Basset Hound but rather its own breed. Happy, curious, busy, and built to be tough, they are eager and enthusiastic dogs that love to be outside sniffing and exploring. They are playful and fun-loving, making them a good fit for families, other dogs, and most pets. They can be stubborn and prone to digging and barking. 

The PBGV owner should match the high energy of the dog. You’ll also need a lot of patience as these dogs can lose motivation to train, and want to engage with them constantly. They do have a tendency to bark a lot, too. Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen dogs do shed, so some tolerance of dog hair is also a plus.

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen loves to be active, especially when out roaming wide open spaces with their owners. They are scent dogs, so the top of their wish list is to be out there with their noses to the ground following scents—once they’re on the case, it can be incredibly hard to get them off one. It’s best if their outdoor time is done in a secure, fenced-in yard.

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen dog breed can live in smaller spaces so long as they have access to a good-sized fenced-in yard. They can be vocal, so close neighbors might not be the best fit.

The PBGV has a weather-resistant coat. Frequent grooming is needed to keep the coat tangle-free, as is ear cleaning.

The PBGV is trainable so long as there is consistent reward-based training. It’s important to know how to motivate a scenthound and to keep training sessions short. Recall is important, although no matter how well trained, it can’t always be relied on with this breed as they are scent hounds by nature and will often default to these instincts.

Active families who are up for exercising and staying fit with their Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen dogs will enjoy owning one.

The cost of a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.