Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen: the French scenthound that won Westminster in 2022

On June 16, 2022, Madison Square Garden in New York witnessed a result the bookmakers had not priced in. For the first time in the 146-year history of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, a Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen took Best in Show. The female was named Trumpet, her full registered name GCHB CH Lord & Lady's Yes I Am, and her win set off three things almost overnight: searches for the breed name jumped roughly fortyfold that week, European breeders saw their waiting lists overrun, and the American Kennel Club, which had only granted the breed full recognition in 2018, recorded a spike in inquiries.

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen (GBGV) had gone centuries without needing the publicity. It comes from the Vendée, a rural region on France's Atlantic coast, and is documented from the 16th century as a short-legged, rough-coated hound bred to drive game through dense cover. Until the 1970s the two Vendéen sizes, Grand and Petit, came out of the same litters. The Société Centrale Canine banned cross-breeding between them in 1975, and they have been separate breeds ever since. The FCI registers the Grand under Standard No. 33, Group 6 (scenthounds), Section 1.3. It stands 15.5 to 18 in (39-44 cm) at the shoulder and weighs 44 to 66 lb (20-30 kg), close to double the Petit. Its original job, still alive in western France, is pack hunting of boar, young deer, and fox, while the Petit is kept for hare and rabbit. Trumpet's Westminster win reshaped the breed's demographics outside France, but its underlying nature is still that of a field hound: nose first, plenty of voice, and a high degree of independent decision-making.

What the breed looks like

A medium scenthound, low to the ground but substantial. Males stand 15.7 to 18 in (40-44 cm) at the shoulder, females 15.5 to 17 in (39-43 cm). Weight runs from 44 to 66 lb (20-30 kg) depending on the dog. The body is clearly longer than it is tall, roughly a 1.4:1 ratio, with a deep chest, a muscular loin, and short but solid legs carrying real muscle mass.

The head shows a slightly domed skull, a defined stop, and a strong muzzle close in length to the skull, finished with a large black nose and open nostrils. The eyes are large, oval, and dark brown, with the breed's signature friendly expression. The ears are long, narrow, and tapered to a point, set below the line of the eye, covered in longer hair than the rest of the coat, and should reach at least the nose when drawn forward.

The coat is the breed's calling card: harsh, not too long, never curly, rough to the touch, with a pronounced beard and mustache that give the tousled look the breed is known for. The eyebrows are thick and throw shade over the eyes. The tail is carried high, saber-shaped, with light feathering.

Accepted colors: white with black, orange, lemon, sable, gray, or tricolor markings. Facial markings and coat patterns vary widely. No two GBGVs are marked alike, which gives each dog a one-off look.

Temperament

Bold, tenacious, sociable, lively, independent. The scenthound profile is clear: the nose overrides almost every other stimulus, the voice is loud and used freely (a deep bark, a baying howl on a trail), and the hunting instinct runs the dog to the catch once it switches on.

With family the GBGV is affectionate and playful, openly physical with its people and built to belong to a group. The breed was selected to live in a pack, which means an intense need for company. Leaving a GBGV home alone through long workdays produces destructiveness, heavy vocalizing, and separation anxiety.

With strangers it is usually friendly, without the territorial suspicion of guarding breeds. With children it generally does well: the breed tolerates rough play and clumsy handling as long as there is supervision and the dog's space is respected. With other dogs, scenthounds in particular, there is immediate rapport thanks to the pack instinct. Around small unfamiliar animals (a cat in the yard, rabbits, ferrets) the prey drive switches on with high probability.

Trainability is moderate. The GBGV is intelligent but independent. When it locks onto an interesting scent it can ignore a recall completely, which is classic hound behavior. Basic obedience installs with patience and positive reinforcement, but recall reliability in the presence of a fresh trail is never guaranteed. Without a solid fence, a GBGV is gone after the first interesting line of scent.

Health: what to screen for

The breed is genetically robust compared with breeds selected for extreme looks, with a short list of inherited conditions worth knowing.

Condition	Screening	Notes
Idiopathic epilepsy	EEG plus ruling out secondary causes	Known in the breed at moderate prevalence
Persistent pupillary membranes (PPM)	Ophthalmic exam	Inherited eye anomaly documented in Petit and Grand
Hip dysplasia (HD)	OFA or PennHIP radiographs	Moderate prevalence in heavier lines
Ear infections (otitis externa)	Weekly inspection	Long pendulous ears trap moisture and debris
Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA)	Spinal tap plus bloodwork	Cervical inflammation in young dogs, treated with corticosteroids
Hypothyroidism	T4/TSH bloodwork	Sporadic, managed with levothyroxine

Idiopathic epilepsy is documented in both GBGV and PBGV above the canine average, with no single gene identified yet. Responsible breeders remove dogs with a seizure history from their programs. Seizures usually begin between ages 1 and 5 and are controllable with phenobarbital or potassium bromide in most cases.

Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) is an immune-mediated inflammatory syndrome described in young Vendéen hounds, typically 6 to 18 months: fever, neck pain, stiffness. The outlook is good with corticosteroids at the right dose.

Average lifespan is 12 to 14 years. The breed stays active into old age and keeps its mobility when kept at a healthy weight.

Grooming and care

The harsh coat needs brushing twice a week with a firm bristle brush or slicker, with extra attention to the beard, eyebrows, armpits, and the folds under the ears where mats form. Hand-stripping (pulling the dead hair manually) every 2 to 3 months keeps the coat's rough texture. Scissoring softens the hair and lightens the color, a fine option for a companion dog but penalized in the show ring.

Bathe every 6 to 8 weeks or after a muddy day in the field. Over-bathing softens the coat and strips the natural oils.

Check the beard daily after meals and water: it collects water and food, a source of odor and dermatitis. Check the ears weekly with a gentle ear cleaner. Vendéen ears are especially prone to infection given their length and shape.

Trim the hair around the feet, pads, and genital area. Trim nails every 3 to 4 weeks, though a GBGV that works outdoors often wears them down naturally.

Dental care with brushing twice a week and weekly dental chews.

Feeding: a quality food for active medium breeds, 1.5 to 2 cups a day split into two meals. The breed gains weight easily if activity does not match intake. Check weight weekly by feeling for the ribs, which should be findable without firm pressure.

Training

Trainability is moderate with the right approach. The GBGV is a classic scenthound: nose-dominant, highly independent, strongly food-motivated (which trainers exploit), and low on tolerance for tedious repetition.

Positive reinforcement with aromatic treats (aged cheese, dehydrated liver, cooked turkey) works best, in short 5 to 8 minute sessions repeated two or three times a day. Physical correction or yelling produces hounds that shut down emotionally or turn evasive.

Recall has to be worked hard from puppyhood, with high-value rewards every time the dog responds, and it has to keep being rewarded into adulthood. Even with systematic work, recall reliability in the presence of a fresh trail is always uncertain. The practical rule is a fenced yard, long-line walks, and off-leash freedom only in enclosed spaces.

Early socialization is critical between 8 and 16 weeks: exposure to people of different ages, other dogs, traffic noise, vehicles, and children. The breed is not naturally fearful, but a lack of socialization produces adults that react to novelty.

The breed shines in scent sports: nose work, tracking, and trailing trials. It also competes in rally and recreational obedience with modest results. Agility is not the natural fit, given the long, low frame.

Living arrangements

With children: good with reasonable supervision. The breed tolerates kid handling and tends to join the play with enthusiasm. The long ears can become a problem play target, so teach children not to pull them.

With other dogs: very good, especially in a multi-dog household. The GBGV was bred to live in a group and enjoys canine company.

With cats: variable. Raised with a resident cat from puppyhood, it can work. With a strange cat in the yard, the prey drive switches on with high probability.

Apartment vs house: the breed needs a house with a fenced yard at least 4 feet (1.2 m) high. The GBGV is an escape artist by vocation, jumping or digging under fences when it catches an interesting scent. An apartment works only with an owner committed to three long outings a day in a safe area, and it is not the natural setup.

Climate: handles temperate to cold conditions well. The harsh coat offers reasonable protection. In hot climates it needs shade and available water; extreme heat with no chance to cool off is not workable.

Cost in the US

A well-bred GBGV puppy from health-tested parents (eye exam, hip evaluation, and parent screening) typically runs $2,000 to $3,500 in 2026. The breed is uncommon in the US with relatively few breeders, so a waiting list of 12 to 24 months is normal.

Annual costs

Item	Annual cost
Quality food	$600-1,000
Routine veterinary care	$400-800
Grooming supplies and stripping	$200-600
Pet insurance	$500-900
Training and scent sports	$300-1,000
Accessories and incidentals	$150-400
Total	$2,150-4,700

Is the GBGV for you?

It fits if you live in a house with a well-fenced yard, can give the dog 90 minutes to 2 hours a day of varied exercise, accept plenty of vocalizing (the breed barks and bays often), understand that recall will always be uncertain on a trail, and enjoy the classic hound temperament. The GBGV pays you back with open physical affection, constant liveliness, and a one-of-a-kind personality.

It does not fit if you live in an urban apartment without easy outdoor access, if your neighborhood is sensitive to barking, if you keep small non-canine pets the dog might treat as prey, if you expected herding-dog obedience, or if you lack the patience for hound methodology.

FAQ

How is it different from the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen? Size and job. The Grand stands 15.5 to 18 in (39-44 cm) and weighs 44 to 66 lb (20-30 kg); the Petit stands 13.5 to 15 in (34-38 cm) and weighs 33 to 44 lb (15-20 kg). The Grand was bred for larger game (boar, young deer) and the Petit for hare and rabbit. They share origin, coat, and general temperament, but have been officially separate breeds since 1975, with distinct standards: FCI No. 33 for the Grand and No. 67 for the Petit.

Is this the breed that won Westminster in 2022? Yes. Trumpet (GCHB CH Lord & Lady's Yes I Am) was the first GBGV to take Best in Show at Westminster, on June 16, 2022. The win popularized the breed worldwide and drove up demand in the US, where the AKC had completed full recognition in 2018.

How much does a puppy cost in the US? Roughly $2,000 to $3,500 for a puppy from health-tested parents with early socialization. The breed is uncommon here, so expect a waiting list of 12 to 24 months.

Is it recognized by the AKC? Yes. The AKC granted the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen full breed status in 2018, placing it in the Hound Group. The FCI registers it under Standard No. 33, Group 6, Section 1.3.

Does it need a special license? No. The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is not a restricted breed under any state breed-specific legislation. As a friendly pack scenthound, it carries none of the regulatory weight some other breeds do.