Did you know?
Sometime in the 1940s, George de Mestral returned from a walk with his dog. Examining the burrs stuck in his dog’s fur, he came up with the idea that led to his invention of Velcro.
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. – George Eliot
Amnohvar Friar’s Tuck
“Tucker”
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (PBGV) comes from France. While his name is quite a mouthful, it provides a good description of him. The word ‘Petit’ means ‘small”. “Basset’ means ‘low-set’. ‘Griffon’ means ‘rough-coated’ and ‘Vendeen’ is the region in France where this dog was originally bred. With a family tree going back to the 16th Century, the PBGV is an ancient and popular hound.
The PBGV is a scent hound, bred to work in packs hunting and driving game. A keen hunter, he uses his nose to trail his quarry through any cover. The smallest of the four breeds of rough-coated French hounds, the PBGV stands between 13.5 and 15 inches (34-38 cm) tall. He has a harsh, rough, double coat of medium length. The coat is white with any combination of lemon, orange, tri-colour, black, or grizzle markings.
Photos displayed courtesy of Richard Heyd, Haidal Reg’d, Alberta
Living up to his reputation as “the happy breed”, the PBGV is an extrovert. Lively, alert, independent but still willing to please, the PBGV is a curious and active hound. As a pack hunter, he will tolerate other dogs well and is affectionate and loving with all members of the family. This is a dog that needs attention and won’t stand for being ignored!
The PBGV has a stubborn streak, but he is highly intelligent and is easily trained. As with all dogs, training and socialization are necessary to develop good manners.
A busy, active, hunter, he needs lots of exercise. Boredom can result in destructive behaviour. Off-leash romping in a secure area only or he’ll follow his nose the first time he scents something interesting. He needs a fenced-in yard but watch that tendency to dig!
Amnohvar Friar’s Tuck
“Tucker”
