Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand)

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen dog breed can be traced back to the 16th century. These dogs originate from Vendee in the countryside of western France. There are two varieties of the basset type of Griffon Vendeen, the Grand and the Petit. These two originally occurred in the same litters, and it wasn't until the 1970s that the cross breeding of these two varieties was forbidden. Today these dogs are still used, as individuals or in packs, to hunt wild boar and deer and to scent rabbit and hare.

Eye problems are not widely recognised in the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen but eye testing is recommended as there are inherited eye conditions recognised in the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen. Epilepsy is also known to occur in both Grands and Petits.

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen requires plenty of exercise – two hours a day or more – and lots of time outside. They are full of life and love hunting and other outdoor activities. They never seem able to sit still for long and so are ideally suited for active homes with access to the countryside.

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food.

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen 's coat is made up of a medium-length, rough top coat and thick undercoat. It does not require a lot of grooming – a weekly brush to remove dead hair and dirt should be sufficient. The long ears should be checked and cleaned regularly to avoid problems developing.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children , all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.