Briquet Griffon Vendeen

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Briquet Griffon Vendeen

48-53 lbs

19-21"

France

Medium Vendéen Griffon

The Briquet Griffon Vendéen is the least well-known of the four Griffon Vendéen varieties, a family that also includes the Grand Griffon Vendéen, the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen, and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen. The Briquet of its name means "medium-sized dog," an apt title for a breed that falls in the middle of its family in terms of size. Although they may be smaller than some of their kin, they still possess big personalities. They are high-energy hunters thanks to their exceptionally sharp noses and top notch stamina, but Briquet Griffon Vendéens are also as friendly and easy-going as they are outgoing, making them suitable for a wide variety of families. They do just about equally well with other dogs, strangers, and children but unlike many other French scent hounds, are a bit more discerning when it comes to others and will alert their owners if they feel something or someone's behavior is off. Because of their high activity level and intelligence, they generally do best when given a job to do or when they can join their owners for a mentally and physically stimulating game like fetch. While they can make for great running partners as well, they need to be thoroughly trained, as they are easily one of the most strong-willed and independent breeds out there, making nearly all stages of training an uphill battle - a firm but patient hand is a must. Even those who have gone through full training have reported that Briquet Griffon Vendéens will still sometimes choose to make their own decisions over that of their owner's. Given that their stubborn nature is generally the worst of their behavioral traits, it's safe to say they still make great hunters and companions and relish both responsibilities with zeal.

Purpose
Hunting, Companion


Date of Origin
17th Century


Ancestry
Grand Griffon Vendéen, Small French Scent Hounds

Briquet Griffon Vendeen Health

Average Size

Height: 20-22 inches Weight: 48-53 lbs

Height: 19-21 inches Weight: 48-53 lbs

Major Concerns

Canine Hip Dysplasia

Minor Concerns

Skin Allergies
Hyperthyroidism
Food Allergies

Occasional Diagnoses

Deafness
Ear Infections
Eye Problems

Occasional Tests

X-Rays
Physical Examination
Ear Examination
Eye Tests

Briquet Griffon Vendeen Breed History

Although the Briquet Griffon Vendéen's history stretches back into the 1600s, its timeline is relatively straight-forward. They are direct descendants of the Grand Griffon Vendéen, a highly-similar dog of a larger size that was used to hunt wild boar and even bears centuries before. Many wanted a dog that was able to do the same with smaller prey, so beginning in the mid-17th century, Comte d’Elva, along with a few unnamed others, began breeding the smallest of the Grand Griffons to produce a more bantam version. It is believed that other small and medium French scent hounds were also mixed in to reduce the size while keeping their excellent nose in tact. Their popularity rose as more used them to hunt hare and other small game until World War II, when, like many other European breeds, they were nearly wiped to extinction. Thanks to Hubert Dezamy, a French show dog judge and dog fancier, the breed was later revived and its numbers were brought to a steady incline. While still used as hunting dogs today, many have transitioned into roles as full-time companions, but still remain somewhat limited outside of their native region. They were finally recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1996.

Briquet Griffon Vendeen Breed Appearance

The Briquet Griffon Vendéen is a medium-sized dog, standing around an average of 20 inches tall at the withers and weighing around 50 pounds. It possesses a distinct, long, wiry double coat that comes in a variety of color combinations from white and black to black and tan, white and orange, fawn and black, and tricolor. Briquet Griffon Vendéens have a light head composed of a narrow but somewhat short, slightly domed skull and a muzzle of the same length capped with a large, brown or black nose, depending on the coat color. Their eyes are round and dark and are often obscured by wiry excess hair, as are their folded ears. They are generally more stocky than truly muscular but have a semi-athletic build nonetheless, with a deep but relatively thin chest. Their front legs are straight their back legs rest at a slight angle while standing. Their backs are somewhat short compared to other breeds and terminate in a long, wiry, tapering tail that is usually carried up in saber fashion.

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Brown

Coat Color Possibilities

Black

White

Fawn

Cream

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Briquet Griffon Vendeen Breed Maintenance

Despite being independent-minded, Briquet Griffon Vendéens require a considerable amount of help in the maintenance department from their owners. Their outer coat is long and wiry and has a tendency to pick up dirt, mud, burrs, and other natural materials that may get caught during hunting or even just playing in the yard or park. While it is not suggested to actually trim their coats, they do need frequent brushing with a wire brush and a comb to keep them debris-free and safe from any troublesome tangling or matting. They are only light to moderate shedders and the regular maintenance brushing should help keep this to a minimum. They do not need regular bathing but owners should monitor their overall cleanliness and wash them when necessary with a dog-specific shampoo should they get into something or eventually accumulate an unpleasant smell brushing was unable to address. Their ears should also be checked regularly as their wiry, folded ears are prone to moisture buildup which can potentially cause ear infections. Owners should check their nails similarly often to make sure they are either wearing down naturally or need to be trimmed to prevent cracking or breaking. Their teeth should also be brushed on a weekly basis to help maintain good oral health.

Brushes for Briquet Griffon Vendeen

Pin Brush

Slicker Brush

Comb

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Briquet Griffon Vendeen Temperament

Briquet Griffon Vendéens are well-known for their outgoing and friendly personalities, which, along with their attractive looks, are a few reasons why they're beginning to become more widespread as companions instead of traditional hunters. They are great family dogs overall as they generally get along with other dogs and people (strangers and children included) but have a keen sense of things being amiss, making them considerably better guard dogs than most other French scent hounds. Even though they inherently alert their owners when triggered by potential prey or something that disturbs them, they are not known to be excessive barkers, another positive separation from many of their hunting brethren. By comparison, however, they do have one major downfall: stubbornness. While many scent hounds are only moderately difficult to train, the Briquet Griffon Vendéen's high intelligence, intrepid demeanor, and strong-willed nature can make them a true pain to train and they are even known to outright ignore commands once fully trained, as they like to make their own decisions. They also need a lot of exercise and if they don't receive an appropriate amount, can become restless and wrought with misbehavior. Despite these few downfalls, when they are thoroughly socialized and trained, they still make fantastic companions and hunters, as they are dedicated, loyal, loving, and happy dogs that relish attention and family involvement.

Briquet Griffon Vendeen Activity Requirements

Even though Briquet Griffon Vendéens are not particularly heavy in muscle, their hunting lineage has provided them nearly endless endurance, which means they need a significant dose of daily exercise to tire them out. They generally do best with active families that are able to give them either multiple rounds of exercise every day or involve them in long, exhaustive activities. Because of their high intelligence, they need more than a good run to truly exhaust them, so they appreciate activities that challenge them both mentally and physically, such as fetch, agility training and sports. If their training has gone well, some owners will even teach them to seek out particular smells, so they can hunt for things like herbs - the longer and more intense, the better, as they love having a job to do. It's safe to say to keep them healthy and happy, they'll need at least 18 miles of walks per week, or about an hour a day.

Activity Level

Low
Medium
High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
18 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Briquet Griffon Vendeen

Similarly Sized Breeds to Briquet Griffon Vendeen

Briquet Griffon Vendeen Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $2.00
Monthly Cost
$45.00 - $60.00

Briquet Griffon Vendeen Height & Weight

6 Months

Height: 15.0 inches
Weight: 35.5 lbs

Height: 14.0 inches
Weight: 35.5 lbs
12 Months

Height: 18.0 inches
Weight: 42.5 lbs

Height: 17.0 inches
Weight: 42.5 lbs
18 Months

Height: 21.0 inches
Weight: 50.5 lbs

Height: 20.0 inches
Weight: 50.5 lbs

Written by a Puggle lover Jonathan Powell

Published: 01/31/2018, edited: 02/24/2021

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