Briquet Griffon Vendeen

Appearance

The Briquet Griffon Vendéen, as its name suggests, is a smaller descendant of the larger Grand Griffon Vendéen. As you can imagine, these dogs have a striking resemblance to its ancestor. The ideal Briquet Griffon Vendéen has a muscular build and should be a medium-sized dog.

Their narrow skull is as long as their muzzle, and they should be parallel. Their tiny ears fold inwards and do not even reach the end of their snout when pulled forward. Their eyes are wide and black, and they have an attentive expression on their faces. Their necks and shoulders are both long and graceful, providing a confident appearance. Their back should never give a stretched appearance, and their deep chest should be relatively small. The Briquet has well-muscled long legs. Their tapering tail curves slightly but should never arch over their back.

Coat type and color

This breed's thick and rough, shaggy coat is perhaps its most distinguishing attribute. They have a distinctive appearance due to their mustache and very bushy eyebrows. The following are the acceptable coat colors:

• White and orange
• Tri-color
• White and black
• Fawn with black

Temperament

Briquet Griffon Vendéen's temperament is noted for their extroverted and friendly nature, which, combined with their attractive appearance, are just a few leading reasons these dogs are becoming more popular as companions than conventional hunters.

They make excellent family dogs since they get along great with strange dogs and people (even strangers and children). They have a fantastic sense of what is wrong, making them far better protection dogs compared to other French hunting dogs. They don't bark excessively, even though they innately alert the family when prompted by possible prey or situations they notice that disturb them. This is another useful distinction from many other hunting dogs.

They do, however, have one flaw: they're stubborn. Many scenthounds are considered relatively challenging to train; the Briquet's intelligence, fearless personality, and strong-willed temperament may make them a real headache. They have even been known to disregard directions once completely trained since they prefer making their own judgments.

They also require a lot of activity. If they don't get enough of it, they might grow restless and prone to misbehaving. Despite these flaws, they make excellent friends and hunters when adequately trained, led, and socialized. They are loyal, dedicated, affectionate, and cheerful dogs who enjoy attention and family engagement.

Care guide

The Briquet Griffon Vendéen's care guide has to include all things more traditional companion breeds need. These dogs need to be trained, socialized, groomed, and exercised. You can talk to your vet about the optimal care your dog might need, and we are sure they will give you plenty of great advice. Here's what the Briquet Griffon Vendéen's care guide includes.

Grooming

For those looking for a spotless dog with nary stray hair, Briquet is not the ideal choice. Even after grooming, this dog's wiry hair is supposed to look disheveled. To avoid matting, give them a good brushing session at least once a week. Their thick double-layered coat should be brushed thoroughly, so it is best to use a wire brush.

After being outside for lengthy periods, hunting Briquets' coats should be inspected for debris that got lodged in their fur. If very long facial hair is causing problems for the dog, some owners will need to trim it.

To keep their ears in good shape, they will need to be cared for regularly. The drooping ears, like those of many other similar breeds, make them prone to ear infections if not cleaned regularly. Dip cotton balls in dog-safe ear cleaners to do this.

If the breed's nails do not wear down naturally, they will need to be cut. If the owner leaves their nails excessively long, they might twist and break, resulting in infections. The owner needs to ensure they brush their dog's teeth. This aspect of grooming and care is often overlooked. Still, plaque and tartar can cause all sorts of life-threatening infections and complications.

Training

The breed standard for the Briquet Griffon Vendéen really should include the phrase "not quick to obey," which should give potential owners an idea of what to expect with this breed. They're known for being stubborn and willful, requiring a lot of force to do even easy chores. Use positive training methods, like praise, pets, and food-based rewards, for the best results.

Their intellect implies that, despite their autonomous nature, they can potentially be very well trained.

Exercise needs

The Briquet, a companion that genuinely enjoys working, should be allowed to search and hunt whenever possible. This will allow them to follow their natural instincts and gain a sense of success. What's more important, it will also keep them occupied and give them the significant amount of exercise they need.

This dog enjoys being outside and should be given time off the leash to explore and sniff. Large homes with plenty of space would be excellent. Yet, the property should be secured with a proper fence to prevent your Briquet Griffon Vendéen from following a seductive smell and getting lost.

If this breed's activity needs aren't addressed, they'll become unpleasant pets that will develop behavioral issues like digging, barking excessively, and behaving hyperactively in the house.

Socialization

Hunting breeds like the Briquet Griffon Vendéen need to be properly socialized. They have a high prey instinct, and if you want a dog that knows how to behave, you need to make sure the dog knows what the allowed behavior means. Introduce your dog to various sights, sounds, dogs, and people. It is the only way to ensure your dog doesn't become overly shy, fearful, or aggressive.

Briquet Griffon Vendeen and kids

The Briquet Griffon Vendeen makes an excellent family dog who will keep the whole family entertained. They are usually friendly and tolerant of children, and when the games begin, these dogs will be among the first to join in. They are ardent players; thus, they may be better suited for children who aren't easily pushed over when playing.

Briquet Griffon Vendeen and other pets

Most dogs get along with this breed as long as they are not aggressive. These dogs might even peacefully coexist with cats. They typically behave on walks, especially if you socialize them with other pets early on. It is the only way to get the dog used to be around them. It does, however, run after smaller pets, such as rabbits, making it unsuitable for living alongside rodents.

Health

Although generally considered a healthy breed, the truth remains that Briquet Griffon Vendeens was mostly utilized for hunting in the past. This likely served them well. However, there are a few conditions worth highlighting, including:

• Ear infections - Ear infections are prevalent in dogs with droopy ears. As a result of the lack of air, water, and filth can become lodged in the ear canal.
• Allergies - Allergies, regardless of breed, are among the most prevalent conditions addressed by veterinarians.
• Hypothyroidism - The issue of the underactive thyroid is more common in middle-aged and older canines. Owners may note that their dogs have "slowed down," gained fat, lost muscular mass, and developed skin issues and poor coat quality.

Briquet Griffon Vendeen breeders

The Briquet Griffon Vendeen doesn't fall in the category of the most popular dog breeds in the world. That means getting in touch with a breeder can be challenging. If you're absolutely adamant about getting one of these dogs, you should make sure you find an excellent Briquet Griffon Vendeen breeder. That might prove challenging since most of them are located in France.

Nevertheless, don't succumb to the idea of getting a dog from a questionable source. These dogs can be prone to diseases if not carefully bred. Be patient, and we are sure you will find someone that can get you a healthy puppy with the best possible start in life.

World Dog Finder team

The general public is better aware of either the Bassett Griffon Vendéen, which is a smaller but more popular pet and a dog show contender or the bigger Grand Griffon Vendéen The charming Briquet Griffon Vendéen comes in the middle of the three breeds that originate in the Vendée region of western France. This breed is descended straight from the larger breed we mentioned since breeders carefully selected the tiniest Grand Griffon Vendéens in order to create a completely new French hunting breed. Other hunting dogs could have been added when the breed was created. However, there are no records that can confirm this theory.

The Briquet Griffon Vendéen's creation was aimed at aiding hunters in following the smaller game. Large prey, such as deer or bears, was still reserved for the more adapted and larger Grand Griffon Vendéen, better suited to perform these duties. This breed originated in France in the 1600s.

The total number of individual Briquet Griffon Vendéens was significantly impacted during both World Wars, as it did for many other breeds, and their numbers became dangerously low. This dog is still an uncommon breed that is rarely seen outside of their native France. The Briquet was accepted into the UKC's scent hound category in 1996. It is now employed as a hunting breed, playful family pet, and companion.