Vendée Griffon

The Vendée Griffon comes in four varieties or sub-breeds:- The Great Vendée Griffon, initially the only variety. It is believed to be descended from the Chien Blanc du Roy (or Greffier), the Brittany Fawn Griffon, the Chien Gris de Saint Louis, and the Bresse Griffon. Hunters used this variety to track wolf and wild boar. The Vendée Griffon club was founded in 1907. By 1946, the «breed» was virtually extinct. It was revived under the guidance of M. A. Dézamy, the club’s president. A new standard was published in 1969. Crosses with the Billy and the Great Anglo-French Hound made the breed more lightweight, faster, and more disciplined;- The Medium Vendée Griffon, touted as «a well-balanced and improved version of the Great Vendée Griffon.» This variety was developed in the early twentieth century by the Count of Elva. After World War II, it was crossed with the Grey Porcelaine Harrier;- The Large Vendée Griffon Basset, descended from the Great Vendée Griffon. P. Dézamy was aiming for a typical basset with straight legs; and- The Small Vendée Griffon Basset, more compact and angular, also the smallest and most popular variety. Bandy or half-bandy forelegs are tolerated. Together with the Beagle and the Brittany Fawn Basset Hound, this variety is the most commonly used small game pack hound.

The Vendée Griffon is known for his solidity, hardiness, vigor, and stubbornness. He is often independent and strong-willed, rather than obedient.With his good voice and keen nose, the Great Vendée Griffon is a pack hound once used on wolf. He is not afraid of rough terrain and water. In large game hunting, faster and more obedient pack hounds are preferred. In shooting, he competes with the Medium Vendée Griffon. The Great Vendée Griffon hunts deer and especially wild boar.The Medium Vendée Griffon hunts nearly all game except rabbit. He is used especially on deer and wild boar.The Large Vendée Griffon Basset, the fastest of all the bassets, is determined, can maintain a quick pace, and penetrates even the thorniest thickets. This variety was developed for hare hunting and shooting.The Small Vendée Griffon Basset is energetic, bold, and very lively. He is remarkable at launching the hunt. Hunting individually or in pairs, he is the ideal rabbit dog. He is widely used on pheasant.Calm, affectionate, and friendly, Vendée Griffons make good companions. Most Small Vendée Griffon Bassets are companion dogs. They need firm training.

Vendée Griffons are not city-dwellers. They are better suited to country life, because they need space and lots of exercise. They require regular brushing and attention to the ears.

Head:Long, not too broad. Fairly short in the Medium Vendée Griffon. Fairly domed skull. Pronounced stop. Nosebridge straight or slightly curved. Thick mustache. Shorter muzzle in the Small Vendée Griffon Basset.
Ears:Set on low. Supple, narrow, thin, covered with long hair. Turning considerably inward.
Eyes:Fairly large, dark.
Body:Strong. Long in the Large Vendée Griffon Basset, not as long in the Small Vendée Griffon Basset. Fairly long neck without dewlap. Chest deep and not very broad. Fairly rounded ribs. Solid loin. - Great Vendée Griffon: well-muscled loin. Solid, short back.- Medium Vendée Griffon: loin straight and muscular. Solid, short back.- Large Vendée Griffon Basset: very muscular, broad croup. Long, broad, staight back.- Small Vendée Griffon Basset: well-muscled, fairly broad croup. Muscular, straight loin.
Tail:Set on high, fairly long, thick at the base, tufted, tapering toward the tip. Carried in saber fashion.
Hair:Not excessively long, harsh to the touch, neither silky nor woolly. Thick undercoat. Eyebrows well pronounced in the Great Vendée Griffon, sometimes bushy in the Medium Vendée Griffon. Moderate feathering in the Vendée Griffon Bassets.
Coat:- Solid-color: a shade of fawn, hare, whitish-grey.- Bicolor: white and orange, white and black, white and grey, white and tan.- Tricolor: white, black and tan. Whitish hare. White, grey, and tan.
Size:- Great Vendée Griffon: 60 to 65 cm. (23.5-25.5 in).- Medium Vendée Griffon: 48 to 55 cm. (19-21.7 in).- Large Vendée Griffon Basset: 38 to 42 cm. (15-16.5 in).- Small Vendée Griffon Basset: 34 to 38 cm. (13.5-15 in).
Weight:- Great Vendée Griffon: approx. 35 kg. (77 lb).- Medium Vendée Griffon: approx. 29 kg. (64 lb).- Large Vendée Griffon Basset: approx. 18 kg. (39.7 lb).- Small Vendée Griffon Basset: approx. 15 kg. (33 lb).
Group:Scendthounds and related breeds