Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
小型旺代格里芬巴吉度犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen — small, low, rough-coated, from the Vendée — is a shaggy French rabbit hound known as "the happy breed": alert, extroverted and vivacious, bred to work in a pack so it gets on well with other dogs and children. It is intelligent but has an agenda of its own and a loud houndy bark, follows its nose wherever it leads, and needs a great deal of exercise on a lead or behind a fence. The harsh tousled coat needs a weekly brush-out and minimal trimming.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 33–38cm |
| Weight | 11–18kg |
| Life expectancy | 14–16years |
| Breed group | AKC: hound FCI: 6 |
| Role | Hound |
| Coat | Double coat |
| Shedding | 2/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–120min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 4/ 5 |
| Trainability | 3/ 5 |
| Barking | 5/ 5 |
| Good with children | 5/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 5/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 2/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 4/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Heart conditions
Certain heart conditions are reported in the breed; breeders may have breeding stock examined by a veterinary cardiologist. Ask your vet about heart checks at routine visits.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is reported in the breed. Ask your vet about thyroid testing if you notice weight gain, lethargy or coat changes.
Epilepsy
Idiopathic epilepsy is reported in the breed. Ask your vet promptly if your dog has a seizure.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps) is commonly reported in small breeds; breeders screen for it. Ask your vet if your dog skips or holds up a hind leg.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma or lens luxation is reported in the breed; screening tests exist. Ask your vet urgently if an eye becomes cloudy, red or painful.
Behaviour
Happy, extroverted — with its own agenda
The CKC calls the PBGV the "happy breed": happy, extroverted, independent yet eager to please, stubborn at times but said to be easy to train; a bouncy, busy hunting hound that should have lots of outdoor exercise. The AKC says its reputation for being hard to train comes from a mind of its own — it is eager to please, but its agenda may differ from yours and will seem infinitely more interesting, so the trainer must stay a step ahead.
Follows its nose — lead on, fence up
The AKC describes a very active, curious dog with an extraordinary sense of smell and an often irresistible urge to follow scents, ignoring all else — so outside its own yard it should always be exercised on a leash; it makes a good partner for a hiker, runner or cyclist. Bred to work in a pack, it enjoys company and does well with other dogs and kids, and comes with a loud, houndy bark.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 3/5, barking level 5/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (Hounds)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Basset Griffon Vendeen Petit
Breed characteristics (size small-medium, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (standard no. 67, group 6)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's health page says the PBGV is generally healthy; hypothyroidism, glaucoma, retinal folds, persistent pupillary membranes, hip dysplasia, epilepsy and patellar luxation have been reported but are not common. The one known inherited disorder is primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), for which there is a DNA test, and the club recommends periodic examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist and keeping a close relationship with your breeder throughout the dog's life.”
— Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America — Health via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Basset Griffon Vendeen Petit — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen — FCI standard no. 67 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]PBGV Health — Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America — Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America (public health pages) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.