Grand Griffon Vendeen

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Grand Griffon Vendeen is one of the four types of La Vendee hounds that existed in the 16th century. The La Vendee region on the western coast of France is the place of origin of this outstanding hunting breed of dog. Among the four Vendee hounds, the Grand is the largest and reputed to be the oldest as initially only the Grand Griffon Vendeen exist. This breed is believed to be a descendant of the Saint Hubert Hound and the white and tan dogs from Italy. It was speculated that the Nivernais Griffon was also introduced for added endurance and stamina.

The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne, the Chien Gris de St. Louis as well as the Griffon de Bresse have all made contributions to the creation of the Grand Griffon Vendeen. The Grand Griffon Vendeen is a courageous and tenacious hunter. This breed was originally developed to hunt wolves and wild boar. This breed is an excellent scent hound that is used by hunters for hunting roe deer, foxes and other large game with or without a gun. Because of the excellent nose the dog is often used as a limer.

The dog is kept on a leash while following a cold trail. This breed enthusiastically hunts individually or in packs. The dog is a tireless hunter, one that would never baulk at thorny strewn undergrowth, rough or difficult terrain and one that would not think twice to enter the water to pursue a quarry. This hound possesses a keen nose and a loud baying voice that is not unpleasant to the ear. The Grand Griffon Vendeen is a noisy hunter; it loves to hear its voice while pursuing a prey. This trait is most beneficial for the human hunter as the sonorous barking points to the hunter the location of the dog and the prey.

This breed has a well constructed robust body and a distinguished demeanor. The beautiful coat gives the dog an impressive appearance. The dog is a hunter. This active, strong willed and independent hound would always love to hunt whenever given the chance. However, this is not the only reason why the dog has earned the affections of people. The dog is cherished for its good natured personality.

Color

They come in solid fawn or hare; white with red, fawn, gray, or black markings; bicolor or tricolor.

Coat

Their coat is rough, long, and harsh to the touch, never silky or woolly, with a thick undercoat.

Personality

The Grand Griffon Vendeen is a through and through hunter. This breed would always jump at the chance to hunt. However, in recent years the dog has found another 'occupation'. The dog has become a much loved home companion. The dog has an attractive appearance but what endears the dog to people is its lively and friendly temperament. This breed exhibits a docile personality. The dog makes a wonderful playmate of the children. It tolerates other dogs and pets as well. This is a friendly breed. The friendliness extends to a stranger' that is if the dog feels that the stranger poses no threat to the family. However, this breed is known to be strong willed, independent and stubborn. The Grand Griffon Vendeen is an intelligent dog that makes a good family pet as well as a hunter. It is independent and loves to wander, so all escape routes should be sealed. It requires considerable exercise, and needs regular grooming with brush and comb.

Care

The Grand Griffon Vendeen is an adorable dog in spite of the messy appearance. The harsh coat protects the dog when hunting. This coat though would require consistent grooming. Regular brushing will remove dead hair and prevent the formation of tangles. Hair on the dog's feet needs to be regularly trimmed as well. Ears must be frequently checked for wax build up. Teeth brushing and nail clipping must be included in the regular grooming routine.

Training

Obedience is not one of the strong points of this breed. The dog is intelligent but training can be a challenge given that the dog may not respond well even if the training is conducted in a positive manner and the dog is lavished with praises and treats.

Activity

A Grand Griffon Vendeen is not a city dweller. A Grand Griffon is known for its penchant to bark thus apartment dwelling is not for this breed. This breed requires extensive exercise and a home with a large yard will be a most suitable living arrangement for this breed as the dog can run unrestricted with a leash. However, this independent dog loves to wander especially if it has found an interesting scent so the yard must be well secured with a fence and all possible escape routes must be securely sealed.