Of the four varieties of Griffon Vendeen, the Briquet Griffon Vendeen is the least well-known in America. The breed is not recognized by either the American Kennel Club (AKC) or the United Kennel Club (UKC). The dog is recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale, or FCI. The Briquet Griffon Vendeen is growing in popularity as a companion animal in Europe, largely as a result of the breed’s appealing appearance and good nature.
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen, or Medium Griffon Vendeen, is the direct descendant of the Grand Griffon Vendeen. The large Grand Griffon Vendeen was used to hunt large game such as wolves and boar. Hunters desired a smaller dog more suited to hunting small game such as rabbits. Beginning in the 1600s they undertook the process of shrinking the Grand Griffon Vendeen. To do so they bred the smallest examples of the breed, and possibly mixed in smaller French hunting breeds as well. The Comte d’Elva was highly influential in the creation of the breed. The resulting animal closely resembles the Grand Griffon Vendeen but is noticeably smaller. The Briquet Griffon Vendeen almost became extinct as a result of World War II, but the breed was saved from extinction largely through the efforts of French dog fancier Hugh Dezamy.
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen closely resembles the larger Grand Griffon Vendeen, only being somewhat smaller in size and features. The dog also appears somewhat stockier. Although significantly smaller than the Grand Griffon Vendeen, the Briquet Griffon Vendeen is still a medium to large sized breed. The dog is between 19 and 22 inches in height, and typically weighs between 48 and 53 pounds.
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen has a long snout and nose, giving the dog a larger area for scent receptors. The nose is shorter than in the Grand Griffon Vendeen. The breed has low-set and drooping ears, although the ears are not as long as in a breed such as a Basset Hound. The breed has seemingly excessive skin on the lips, giving the dog the appearance of a square muzzle. The breed’s skull is flat, making it appear that the dog has a short head.
As is the case with the Grand Griffon Vendeen, the Briquet Griffon Vendeen has a wiry coat. The breed’s fur is quite coarse, with a dense undercoat. This coat protects the dog from the elements and makes it more capable of working in and around water than many other hound breeds. The Briquet Griffon Vendeen should never have a wooly coat. The breed has a mustache, as well as pronounced eyebrows, which should not cover the eyes. There is an old saying which goes, “A good hound can come in any color,” and the Briquet Griffon Vendeen is an excellent example. These dogs may come in white and orange, white and grey, black and tan, tricolor, fawn, orange, grey, or light brown.
As is the case with many French hounds, the Briquet Griffon Vendeen is considered a sturdy and well-proportioned dog. This breed in particular should never be heavy. This breed is rather muscular, but to a lesser extent than many hound breeds. What muscles are present are not particularly noticeable through the dog’s thick coat.
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen is a playful and intelligent dog, known for its good nature. The breed is very affectionate with its family, and loves to be around people. The breed is also friendly with most strangers. The Briquet Griffon Vendeen forms close bonds with children with whom the breed loves to play. Bored or restless Griffon Vendeens often get snappy or mouthy, so some training is necessary. As a growing number of families across Europe are discovering, the Briquet Griffon Vendeen can make an energetic and loving family pet.
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen was bred as a pack animal. These dogs were required to hunt alongside many other dogs. As a result, the Briquet Griffon Vendeen tends to be very tolerant of, and often affectionate with, other canines. If you are looking for a dog to introduce into a home where other dogs are present, a Briquet Griffon Vendeen may be a good choice for you. However, you should always be careful when introducing new dogs to each other.
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen and its ancestors have been used as hunting dogs for hundreds of years. As a result, the breed has a highly developed prey drive and often shows aggression towards non-canine animals. It is not advisable to keep this breed around non-canine pets, particularly small ones. As with all dogs, proper socialization will resolve many of these problems. However, if you have small pets, a Briquet Griffon Vendeen is probably not the best breed for you.
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen is more receptive to training than the majority of hound breeds. These dogs are known for being quick learners and for being receptive to training. Hound fanciers are likely to be surprised at the obedience that they can receive from a Briquet Griffon Vendeen. However, these dogs are often quite willful and stubborn. You will have to carefully train a Briquet Griffon Vendeen, or it will do whatever it wants. You also must make sure that the dog knows that you are in charge. Even with careful and patient training, you may not see the results that you would with breeds known for their obedience.
This breed is known for being energetic and intelligent. They need to receive a substantial amount of exercise and stimulation; otherwise they can become bored and destructive. A bored Briquet Griffon Vendeen may also become an inappropriate greeter, jumping on you or your guests. An ideal exercise regimen for the breed would combine walking or jogging on a leash with some sort of free running, such as at a dog park. However, these dogs should always be kept on a leash or in a secured area. They have a tendency to go wherever their nose takes them and are very capable of escaping to do so.
The grooming requirements are fairly uniform across both types, please see the "Griffon Vendeen Main Page" for more information.