Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen puppies

About the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is a rough coated scenthound from the Vendée on the west coast of France, bred to push hare and other game through gorse and bramble that would stop a smoother dog. They stand 39 to 46 cm on short straight legs with a long body, long drop ears and a tousled harsh coat over a soft undercoat, finished with a beard and prominent eyebrows. This is a pack bred hound: cheerful, sociable, noisy when they find something, and thoroughly independent once the nose takes over.

Expect a hound that walks for hours and then wants more. A securely fenced garden is not optional, and lead walking is the honest default, because recall competes with a fresh scent and usually loses. The coat is combed through weekly and tidied by hand rather than clipped, and the ears want checking regularly. They suit an outdoor household with a sense of humour and no close neighbours. Keep the lead on in open country unless you fancy spending an afternoon looking for your dog.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
• Inherited eye disease, including primary open angle glaucoma, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation and DNA testing where available
• Epilepsy, diagnosed by ruling out other causes of seizures
• Ear infections in the long drop ears, found by checking and cleaning the ears weekly

Your Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 18.1 to 20.4 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 20.4 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen

Previous: Gordon Setter · Next: Grand Bleu de Gascogne

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/grand-basset-griffon-vendeen/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Walbharri, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.