Origin and Purpose

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is one of four ancient rough-coated French hounds; an overall good hunting dog.

General Appearance

A well-balanced, short-legged, compact hound, rough-coated, with an alert outlook and a lively bearing.

Characteristics

Strong active hound, capable of a day?s hunting, with a good voice, freely used.

Temperament

Happy, extrovert, independent, yet willing to please.

Size

The measurement at the withers for both male and female should be 13-1/2 to 15 inches (34-38 cm).

Coat

Rough, long without exaggeration, and harsh to the touch with thick undercoat, never silky or woolly. Hounds should be shown untrimmed.

Colour

White and any combination of Lemon, Orange, Tricolour, or Grizzle markings.

Head

Head medium in length, not too wide, the skull is oval in shape when viewed from the front, well cut away under the eyes, stop clearly defined. The occipital bone well developed. Muzzle slightly shorter than from stop to occipital point. Under jaw should be strong and well developed. Nose should be black, large with wide nostrils. Eyes surmounted by long eyebrows standing forward, but not to obscure the eyes. Lips covered with long hair, forming a beard and mustache. Teeth: Scissor bite preferred, level bite accepted. Eyes: Large, dark, almond shape, showing no white, with a friendly intelligent expression. The red of the lower eyelid should not show (haw). Ears: Supple, narrow and fine, covered with long hair folding inwards, ending in an oval shape, when pulled forward reaching to the end of the nose. Ears are set on low, in line with the outer corner of the eye.

Neck

Long and strong, slightly arched, without throatiness, carrying the head proudly.

Forequarters

Shoulders clean and sloping, elbows close to the body. The forelegs straight, a slight crook acceptable. Heavy boned, pasterns strong and slightly sloping. Knuckling over is unacceptable.

Body

Chest deep with prominent sternum, ribs moderately rounded extending well back. Back of medium length, level topline with slight arching over strong loins.

Hindquarters

Strong and muscular with good bend of stifle. Well defined second thigh. Hocks short.

Feet

Hard, well padded. Nails short and strong.

Tail (Stern

Of medium length, set on high, strong at the base, tapering gradually to the tip, well-furnished with hair, carried proudly like the blade of a sabre (gaily).

Gait

The movement should be free at all paces, with great drive. Front action straight and reaching well forward, hocks should turn neither in nor out.

Major Faults

A dog or bitch measuring more than 1/2 inch (l cm) either way.