The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is exactly what its name says it is: Petit (small), Basset (low), Griffon (wire-haired), and Vendeen (French region). The breed harkens back to the sixteenth century, and to its larger, more powerful ancestor, the Griffon Vendéen. The Petit was bred to trail smaller game than what the Grande hunted, namely rabbits, hare, and sometimes birds in the brush and bramble topography of France’s Vendée district.
The first official standard for the Basset Griffon Francais was adopted in 1898, but it was Paul Dezamy, first president of the newly founded Club du Basset Griffon Vendéen, who in 1909 devised the first standard that described the Petit and Grand sizes, both of which could be born in the same litters at the time. Not until the 1950s did the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen get an official breed standard of its own and be regarded a separate breed. Interbreeding the Grand and the Petit sizes, however, was still done, and it wasn’t officially banned by the club until 1975.
The first PBGVs were imported to the United States by Mrs. Elizabeth Streeter of Pennsylvania in 1983 who also whelped the first PBGV litter in the country. Interest in breed really spiked when “Alexander,” 12 week old Canadian born puppy was entered in the rare breed class at the “Super Match” and defeated 3,000 other dogs to win “Best in Match.”
The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America was formed at the AKC Centennial Show in Philadelphia in November 1984, with the first national club event to follow in on March 16, 1986. At that time, fifteen Petits came from all over the United States to compete (as compared to the 80 to 150 PBGVs who, depending upon the part of the country in which the National is held, participate today). The breed gained AKC recognition in 1990. Today, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen counts itself as one of some 28 French hound breeds that still works in its original capacity. PBGVs made their debut at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York in 1992, and in 2013, a PBGV named, “Jilly” defeated 20,000 other dogs to be named Best in Show at Crufts.
Image: Hand painted Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen wall sculpture by Eskandar & Marie-Noelle Magzub
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