Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Hound Group Small (10-25 lbs)
Height 13-15"
Weight 25-40 lbs
Lifespan 14-16 years
Price $1,500-$2,500

About the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Take a working scenthound, set it low to the ground, wrap it in a tousled weatherproof coat, and give it the social confidence of a guest who never wants the evening to end. That is the PBGV. Cheerfulness is the defining note: tail up, expression merry, willing to greet almost anyone. It also means a dog that is rarely still. Expect an hour or more of real activity daily, ideally including sniffing walks where the nose can work, because a bored one redirects into digging, counter-surfing and inventive escape attempts. Fencing needs to be solid at ground level; these dogs tunnel. Training is best described as negotiation. Intelligence is not in doubt, but a hound bred to hunt independently will weigh your recall against whatever scent it has just found, and the scent often wins. Food rewards, short upbeat sessions and a long line outdoors are the practical answers. Voice is loud and carrying, a proper hound bay rather than a yap, which suits rural homes better than thin-walled flats. The coat looks casual but is not maintenance-free: weekly brushing right down to the skin, attention to beard and ears, and hand-stripping or careful tidying to keep the harsh texture. Most tolerate a normal working day if well exercised and left with company or chew work, though they are happier in busy households. Good with children and other dogs, poor with small pets. The standout trait is durability; this is a small dog with a large engine and no interest in giving up.

Temperament

Affectionate Great with Kids Dog-Friendly Playful Highly Intelligent
Affection Level ★★★★★
Good with Children ★★★★★
Good with Other Dogs ★★★★★
Playfulness ★★★★★
Protectiveness ★★★★★
Trainability ★★★★★
Energy Level ★★★★★
Barking Level ★★★★★
Intelligence ★★★★★
Adaptability ★★★★★

Physical Characteristics

Size Category Small (10-25 lbs)
Height 13-15"
Weight 25-40 lbs
Coat Type Wire
Coat Length Medium
Colors
Hypoallergenic No

Care Requirements

Exercise Needs

Moderate (30-60 min/day)

45 minutes per day recommended

Grooming

Moderate - Weekly

Shedding: ★★★★★

Mental Stimulation

★★★★★

Needs plenty of mental challenges

Drooling

★★★★★

Living Conditions

Apartment Friendly ★★★★★
Good for First-Time Owners ★★★★★
Tolerates Being Alone ★★★★★
Cold Weather Tolerance ★★★★★
Hot Weather Tolerance ★★★★★

Cost of Ownership

Purchase Price $1,500-$2,500
Annual Cost $1,200/year

Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.

Health Considerations

Like all breeds, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens may be prone to certain health conditions:

Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.

Best For

  • Families with Children
  • Active Owners

May Not Be Ideal For

  • Long Work Hours Away
  • Sedentary Lifestyles

Guides for your Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

The story behind the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

The Vendee region on France's Atlantic coast produced a family of rough-coated hounds shaped by dense thorny cover and rough terrain, with recognisable griffon types described there over several centuries. Larger Vendeen hounds hunted boar and deer, while shorter-legged versions were favoured for rabbit and other small quarry that had to be pushed slowly out of brush. For a long period taller and shorter dogs appeared within the same litters and were sorted by function. French breeders formalised a separation in the twentieth century so that the Grand and the Petit were bred as distinct types rather than size variants. The Petit gained a settled standard and then wider recognition abroad, arriving in Britain and North America in the later twentieth century. It still hunts in France and has become a modest but steady presence in show and companion homes elsewhere.

Originally bred for: Rabbit hunter, pack scenthound, brush-country flushing dog. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.

Feeding a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

A modestly rich complete food fits a compact hound that gains weight quietly once daily hunting is replaced by walks. Measure portions, count training treats, and keep the waist visible from above, since extra load on a long back and short legs is unhelpful.

Watch for: No distinctive dietary intolerance is tied to the breed. Ear inflammation in drop-eared hounds is usually a moisture and grooming issue rather than a food one, though persistent skin or ear trouble deserves veterinary assessment before any diet is changed.

Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for small breeds.

Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.

Living with a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.

For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.

Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a comfortable no-pull harness.

Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.

Compare Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen with Other Breeds

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