Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen: the small French hound that kept the rough coat of the Vendée

Until October 14, 1975, at the Société Centrale Canine in Paris, the two Vendée hounds were not separate breeds. The same registry listed dogs of one geographic origin (the Vendée, on France's Atlantic coast), one harsh white-and-tricolor coat, and one hunting purpose, but in two documented sizes: the larger for boar, the smaller for hare. They came out of the same litters. Breeders sorted them after weaning by height at one year of age. That October date rewrote the breed's history: the French kennel club banned crossing the Grand and the Petit, split the studbooks, and from that point the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (PBGV) became an independent breed with its own standard. The American Kennel Club recognized it in 1990 and places it in the Hound Group; the FCI files it under standard number 67, Group 6 (scenthounds), Section 1.3 (small-sized scenthounds). The standard sets height at 13 to 15 inches (34-38 cm) and weight at 33 to 44 pounds (15-20 kg), which makes the PBGV a small-to-medium scenthound: clearly lower than the Grand but noticeably sturdier than a Beagle. Its original job, still common in the Vendée, is hunting hare and rabbit in packs or small groups across dense Atlantic scrub, with a loud and persistent trailing voice. Since its Grand cousin won Best in Show at Westminster in 2022, US interest in both Vendée breeds has climbed sharply. The Petit suits families who want the classic hound temperament, the dramatic harsh coat, and an active presence in a slightly more manageable package than the Grand. The temperament, though, did not shrink along with the size.

What the breed looks like

A small-to-medium scenthound with a sturdy build on short legs. Height runs 13 to 15 inches (34-38 cm), weight 33 to 44 pounds (15-20 kg). The body is clearly longer than it is tall (roughly a 1.4 to 1.5 ratio), with a deep chest, a muscled loin, and short but solid legs. Next to the Grand, the Petit reads as proportionally lower and more compact.

The head carries a slightly domed skull, a marked stop, and a strong muzzle close to skull length, finished with a large black nose (slate-blue allowed in white-and-lemon dogs). The eyes are large, dark, and oval, full of expression. The ears are long, narrow, and tapered to a point, set below the line of the eye and covered in long hair; stretched forward, they should reach the nose.

The harsh coat is the signature of the Vendée breeds: rough hair, not too long, without curl, dense, with a pronounced beard and mustache and heavy eyebrows that shade the eyes. The tail is carried high, saber-shaped, with abundant feathering.

Accepted colors: white with black, orange, lemon, gray, or sable markings, or tricolor. The patterns vary so widely that every PBGV can be told apart by its individual markings.

What the temperament is like

Happy, outgoing, bold, vocal, stubborn. The PBGV is probably the most festive scenthound in the whole group: tail always moving, ready to play, highly social with people and other dogs. French breeders sum it up as a hound in a permanent good mood.

With family it is affectionate, playful, physically close. It seeks contact, follows its person around the house, and climbs onto the couch if allowed. With strangers it is usually friendly and unsuspicious, which rules the PBGV out as any kind of guard dog: the mail carrier gets the same welcome as a relative.

With children the fit is very good. The breed tolerates rough play, noise, and clumsy handling, always with reasonable supervision. It is one of the most childlike scenthounds in temperament, happy to join in as one more playmate.

With other dogs the rapport is immediate, especially with other hounds or calm breeds. The PBGV lived in packs for centuries and kept that canine sociability. With small non-canine animals (rabbits, ferrets, chickens) the hunting instinct switches on with very high probability: the breed was selected to chase exactly that quarry.

Trainability is moderate, with the added complication of a dominant nose. The PBGV picks up basic commands quickly, then forgets them the moment it locks onto an interesting scent. Recall reliability around a fresh trail is always uncertain, the universal rule of hound temperament.

Plenty of barking and baying: the breed barks at movement, at visitors, at street noise, and bays on a trail. Apartment living next to noise-sensitive neighbors is a real problem.

Health

The breed is genetically robust with a few specific documented hereditary conditions. The PBGV Club of America maintains a health database with current prevalence figures.

Condition	Screening	Notes
Idiopathic epilepsy	EEG plus ruling out secondary causes	Prevalence above the canine average; no single gene identified
Hereditary eye disorders	Annual ophthalmic exam (OFA Eye Certification)	Persistent pupillary membranes, progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma
Meningitis-arteritis (SRMA)	Spinal tap plus bloodwork	Inflammatory syndrome in young dogs 6 to 18 months, treatable with corticosteroids
Hypothyroidism	T4/TSH panel	Occasional, managed with levothyroxine
Ear infections (otitis externa)	Weekly inspection	Long feathered ears trap moisture
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)	Cardiac auscultation plus echo	Occasional congenital heart defect in puppies

The annual eye exam is standard practice among responsible breeders. The breed is prone to several hereditary eye disorders that justify monitoring from puppyhood into old age. Persistent pupillary membranes are a structural anomaly of the iris that, in mild form, does not affect vision, but in severe form warrants exclusion from breeding.

Idiopathic epilepsy is the breed's main health concern, shared with the Grand. It usually starts between ages 1 and 5 with tonic-clonic seizures, controllable with medication in most cases. Reducing prevalence through selective breeding is a priority for the PBGV Club of America.

Average lifespan is 12 to 14 years, with documented PBGVs still active at 15 and 16.

Grooming and care

The harsh coat needs brushing twice a week with a firm bristle brush or a slicker. Pay extra attention to the beard, eyebrows, armpits, and groin, where mats form fast. Hand-stripping every 2 to 3 months keeps the coat texture rough and removes dead hair without damaging the new growth; the alternative, scissoring, works for a companion dog but softens the coat.

Bathe every 6 to 8 weeks or after a muddy day. Use a gentle shampoo made for harsh coats; over-bathing softens the hair and strips the protective oils.

Check the beard daily after meals: it collects water, food, and dirt, a source of odor and moisture dermatitis. Check the ears weekly with a gentle ear cleaner; Vendée ears are prone to otitis externa.

Trim around the feet, pads, and groin for hygiene. Clip nails every 3 to 4 weeks for a city dog (a country dog usually wears them down outdoors).

Dental care means brushing twice a week and weekly dental chews. Veterinary cleanings every 1 to 2 years from age 4.

Feeding: a quality food for active medium breeds, 1 to 1.5 cups a day split into two meals. The breed gains weight easily when activity does not keep up. Check body condition weekly by feeling for ribs: they should be findable without firm pressure.

Training

Trainability is moderate, with patience. The PBGV is a classic hound with very high food motivation, which makes learning easier when the treat is valuable enough. The challenge is making the learning stick around competing stimuli (scents, other dogs).

Positive reinforcement with high-value, smelly treats (liver, aged cheese, turkey) works best, in short 5 to 8 minute sessions repeated two or three times a day. Physical correction, yelling, or tedious repetition produce dogs that shut down or get evasive.

Recall has to be built from puppyhood with the highest-value rewards, and even then its reliability around a fresh trail stays relative. Practical rule: a fenced yard is mandatory, walks happen in safe areas, and a long line is your tool for open spaces.

Early socialization between 8 and 16 weeks with people, other dogs, children, street noise, and vehicles prevents trouble. The breed is not naturally fearful, but a lack of socialization produces adults that get reactive out of anxiety toward anything new.

The breed shines at scent work: nose work, mantrailing, and tracking trials. It also competes in agility (the low height is no obstacle) and recreational obedience with moderate results. This is a lively dog that enjoys any structured activity combining physical exercise, scent, and a bond with the handler.

Living with a PBGV

With children: very good. The breed is one of the most childlike in temperament among scenthounds. It tolerates play, noise, and constant company. The long ears are a sensitive spot, so supervise with very young children.

With other dogs: excellent, especially in a multi-dog home. The PBGV thrives with a canine companion and suffers from long stretches of being alone.

With cats: variable. Raised with its own cat from puppyhood, it can coexist fine. With a strange cat, the hunting instinct kicks in.

With rabbits, ferrets, chickens: incompatible. The breed was selected to hunt exactly this quarry.

Apartment vs house: a house with a fenced yard is the natural fit. An apartment can work with a firm commitment to two or three long outings a day (at least 1.5 hours of total exercise), but the building has to tolerate occasional barking and baying.

Climate: it handles temperate to cold climates well, and the harsh coat offers reasonable protection. In hot southern climates it needs shade and water always within reach.

Is the PBGV right for you?

It fits if you live in a house with a well-fenced yard, can give it an hour and a half to two hours of daily exercise, accept plenty of vocalizing (barking and baying), understand that recall will always be uncertain around a trail, enjoy a lively and festive hound temperament, and accept the constant care a harsh coat demands. The PBGV pays you back with daily cheer, broad sociability, and a memorable personality.

It does not fit if you live in an apartment with noise-sensitive neighbors, keep small non-canine pets, expected herding-dog obedience, work long days (the breed suffers from prolonged solitude), or cannot tolerate a harsh coat that needs stripping and steady upkeep.

Cost in the US

A PBGV puppy from a reputable breeder, with parents on an updated eye exam, family epilepsy screening, and early socialization, runs $2,000 to $3,500 in 2026. The breed is uncommon in the US with few active breeders, so a waitlist of 6 to 18 months is typical.

Annual costs

Item	Annual cost
Quality food	$500-900
Routine veterinary care	$400-800
Professional grooming or stripping	$300-700
Pet insurance	$500-900
Training and scent-work activities	$300-1,000
Accessories and supplies	$150-400
Total	$2,150-4,700

FAQ

How does it differ from the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen?

Size and original job. The Petit stands 13 to 15 inches and weighs 33 to 44 pounds; the Grand stands 15 to 17 inches and weighs 44 to 66 pounds. The Petit hunts hare and rabbit in dense cover; the Grand hunts larger game such as boar and young deer. Before 1975 they came from the same litters; since then they have been separate breeds with distinct standards (FCI No. 67 for the Petit, No. 33 for the Grand) and independent breeding.

Does it have the same health problems as the Grand?

They share concerns about idiopathic epilepsy, hereditary eye disorders, and meningitis-arteritis (SRMA). Independent breeding since 1975 has produced slightly different prevalence profiles, but the set of relevant conditions is very similar between the two.

Is it recognized by the AKC?

Yes. The American Kennel Club recognized the PBGV in 1990 and places it in the Hound Group. It is also FCI standard No. 67, Group 6, Section 1.3, and was recognized by The Kennel Club in Britain in 1969.

Is it good for first-time owners?

It can be, for an active owner who understands the trade-offs. The hound stubbornness, the unreliable recall around scent, and the constant coat care are real commitments. It is not the dog for someone who wants off-leash reliability or a quiet apartment companion.