Grand basset griffon vendéen

FCI 33 . Small-sized Hounds

The Grand basset griffon vendéen have been through more than 400 years of evolution to produce today's French hounds.

In general, French hounds developed into the breeds they are today forming to fit the particular needs of their geographic areas. The dense region, thorny and rocky area of ​​the Vendéée required a hardy breed of dog with mental and physical toughness and a coat that resisted brambles. It also, lower-class hunters who did not own horses needed a slower hound to keep up. His solution was to shorten the dog's legs and, through evolution and breeding, a short dog was created. At the end of the 19th century, the Grand basset griffon vendéen, combining rusticity and a shortened leg, had evolved as part of the basset breeds of France.

Working more on producing the exact size and proportions needed to hunt different game animals, the Vendeen Griffon Club, founded in 1907, recognized two varieties of Basset Griffon Vendéen, the Grand basset griffon vendéen and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen.

In the decade of 1950, the Grand basset griffon vendéen was separated on its own standard and considered a separate breed, although the miscegenation between basset vendeano “Grand” and the “Petit” not banned until 1977.

The first selections were made in the late 19th century by the Earl of Elva, who was looking for straight-legged dogs, but it was Paul Dezamy who established the type. He had understood that to catch a hare on the move, dogs of a certain size were needed, that he fixed on some 43 centimeters.

Today it is used for rifle hunting and can hunt all furry animals, from the hare to the wild boar. A herd of Grand basset griffon vendéen won the 5th European Hare Championship.

Photo: Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen in Tallinn duo CACIB, 17-18 Aug 2013, handler competition by Thomas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Grand basset griffon vendéen it is a well balanced, heavily built, an olfactory hound with a friendly and noble character. It is medium in size, with straight legs and deep chest. It is longer than high, with a moderately long muzzle, long ears and a long tail.

His neck is moderately long and strong, his noble head with mustache and beard, and is crowned by long protective eyebrows. Its structure was designed to hunt rabbits and hares, at a rapid pace through the brambles, protected with his long eyebrows, and on the rugged terrain of the Vendée area in France.

He is a brave hunter, passionate and very skillful who nowadays is used to hunting not only rabbit and hare but also wild boar and roe deer. It is active, possesses great stamina for a full day of hunting and uses his voice freely while on the trail.

Any feature that detracts from its functionality is a serious fault..