Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen's name originates from France, where the breed itself originated from in the 1700s. The name means “small, low-frame, rough-coated” in French. The word “Vendéen” is a reference to the area in which the breed originated from. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen descended from a combination of St. Hubert, the Italian Hound, and the “King's White” Grand Griffon. The breed was originally developed in order to hunt rabbits. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is related to the Basset Hound and the Dwarf Grand Basset. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen was shown as a wire-coated Basset Hound in the mid-1800s. The breed was originally developed to be able to hunt game by scent. However, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen was known for its agility. In 1947, a breeder by the name of Paul Dezamy began to further develop the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen. Dezamy was also the first president of the newly founded Club du Basset  Vendéen. Dezamy was also credited with having developed the first standard for the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen. In the 1950s, the Societé de Venerie published a book of standards in which the breed was defined by its own standard and considered a separate breed. In 1984, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America was founded. In 1990, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen became officially recognized by the AKC. In 1991, the breed became eligible to compete at AKC-licensed shows. While the breed was originally bred for the purpose of hunting in France, it gained popularity in the US as a companion dog. There is not much information regarding the breed in popular media.