By Mambo Dogs teamEditorial review pendingSuggest a correction

Sources for this article

AKC: Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen breed overview

Hound group · France

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen

Also called PBGV, Petit

A scruffy, merry French rabbit hound whose nose runs its life and whose tail rarely stops wagging.

The PBGV is a small, rough-coated scent hound from the Vendée region of France, bred to hunt rabbits through thorny brush. It is friendly, bold and endlessly cheerful, with a loud voice and an independent streak. Owners love its sunny personality and learn to live with its selective hearing.

Original AI-generated breed illustration

Weight

11 to 18 kg

24 to 40 lb

Height

33 to 38 cm

at the shoulder

Life expectancy

12 to 15 yrs

Activity estimate

90 to 120 min

editorial daily planning range

Adult-size estimate

14 months

approximate model input

Life with a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen

Happy is the word that comes up again and again with this breed. PBGVs meet the world tail first, delighted by visitors, other dogs, children and new smells. Their French hunting heritage shows in their stamina, confidence and willingness to follow a scent trail wherever it leads, which is not always where you intended to walk.

The breed was developed in the Vendée, on France's Atlantic coast, where rocky ground and thick hedges demanded a small, sturdy hound with a protective jacket. For many years, small and large Basset Griffons were born in the same litters and sorted by leg length, until breeders separated the Petit into a distinct breed and stopped crossing the two.

Living with a PBGV means sharing your home with a curious, chatty and sometimes mischievous companion. They love company and usually do well with other dogs, reflecting generations of hunting in packs. They can be stubborn, but it is mostly the stubbornness of a dog absorbed by an interesting smell rather than open defiance.

What stands out

Training

PBGVs are intelligent but independent, bred to make decisions on the trail without a handler at their side. They respond best to positive, reward-based training with high-value treats and short, playful sessions. Patience and humor help, because a PBGV often seems to weigh whether a cue is worth its while.

Read the full training guide

Easy to train

Open with strangers

Good with other dogs

A great match for

families with children
homes with other dogs
owners with a securely fenced garden
people who enjoy long, sniffy walks

Think twice if

unreliable recall due to strong scent drive
loud baying and barking
digs and escapes
independent and easily distracted in training

Personality and needs at a glance

Living together

Good with children

Good with other dogs

Open with strangers

Apartment friendly

Copes with alone time

Energy and character

Energy level

Playfulness

Easy to train

Barking

5 means very vocal

Care and climate

Grooming needs

Shedding

Drooling

Handles cold

Handles heat

How much a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen eats

Illustrative calculations for neutered adults at midpoint breed weights, with food at 370 kcal per 100 g and 100 g per cup. These are not measured breed requirements. Use actual weight, the food label and veterinary body-condition advice.

Dog	Weight	Calories	Dry food
Female, relaxed lifestyle	14 kg	690 kcal	185 g (1.8 cups)
Female, typical pet	14 kg	790 kcal	215 g (2.3 cups)
Male, typical pet	16 kg	870 kcal	235 g (2.3 cups)
Male, very active	16 kg	1090 kcal	295 g (3 cups)

Full Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen feeding guide Calculate for my dog

Care guides for the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen

Feeding75 cups, split into two meals. PBGVs adore food and scavenge shamelessly, so weigh portions and store the bag in a closed cupboard.Read more Puppy growthPBGV puppies grow steadily and reach adult height around 10 to 12 months, with full physical maturity at about 14 to 18 months. Their longish body on short legs makes back and joint care worth thinking about from the start.Read more ExerciseAn adult PBGV needs around 60 to 90 minutes of activity daily, and time to sniff is part of that total, not a distraction from it. They enjoy scent games, tracking, hiking and playing with other dogs.Read more GroomingThe rough coat is meant to look natural and slightly tousled, never sculpted. Brush once or twice a week with a pin brush and comb to remove twigs and prevent mats, especially around the beard, ears and legs.Read more HealthPBGVs are generally healthy, but the breed is known to be affected by an inherited glaucoma, lens luxation, hip dysplasia, back problems linked to their body shape, and a painful inflammatory condition affecting the lining of the brain and spinal cord in young dogs. Breeders use DNA tests for the inherited glaucoma and screen hips and eyes.Read more

Things owners are often surprised by

1The name spells out the breed: petit (small), basset (low), griffon (rough-coated), Vendéen (from the Vendée).
2It stands about 34 to 38 cm (13.5 to 15 in), shorter than its cousin the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen.
3Its harsh coat protected it from brambles and thorns when chasing rabbits through dense hedgerows.
4A PBGV named Buddy Holly won Best in Show at Westminster in 2023.
5Breed clubs recommend DNA testing for an inherited form of glaucoma.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen questions

Are PBGVs good with other dogs?

Yes, they are typically very sociable with other dogs, reflecting their pack hunting background. Many enjoy living with a second dog and may be happier with a companion. Introductions should still be gradual, and individual personalities vary. Their easygoing nature makes them strong candidates for multi-dog homes.

Do PBGVs bark a lot?

They are vocal, using barks, bays and howls to communicate. This was useful when hunters needed to follow the pack by ear, but it can be a problem in close living spaces. Training, exercise and mental work reduce the noise, yet a PBGV is unlikely to be a quiet dog. Think about your neighbors before choosing one.

How is a PBGV different from a Basset Hound?

The PBGV is lighter, more agile and has a rough, shaggy coat, while the Basset Hound is heavier, lower to the ground and smooth-coated with much longer ears. PBGVs are generally more energetic and bouncy, with an almost terrier-like enthusiasm. Both are scent hounds with powerful noses and independent minds.

Can a PBGV ever be trusted off lead?

Some can, in fenced areas or after months of recall training, but many owners never fully trust a PBGV in open countryside. Once the nose locks onto a rabbit trail, cues often fade into the background. A long line gives freedom to explore with a safety net, and a secure garden is close to essential.

Can a PBGV be left alone during the day?

PBGVs are social and may bay, dig or chew if left alone for long stretches. Most can learn to cope with three or four hours alone, especially after a good walk and with a stuffed food toy. For full workdays, consider a midday dog walker, daycare, or a second dog for company.

Breeds you might compare

Hound group

Basenji

9 to 12 kg · 12 to 16 years

A Congo hunting dog of ancient lineage that yodels rather than barks and keeps itself clean like a cat.

Hound group

Rhodesian Ridgeback

29 to 41 kg · 10 to 12 years

A sleek African hunting hound built to hold lions at bay, marked by a ridge of hair that grows the wrong way.

Hound group

English Foxhound

25 to 34 kg · 10 to 13 years

A pack hound built to run all day across open country, rarely kept as a pet and demanding when it is.

Sporting group

Brittany

13 to 18 kg · 12 to 14 years

A compact French bird dog built to cover open ground at speed, then freeze on point.

Non-sporting group

English Bulldog

18 to 25 kg · 8 to 10 years

A low-slung, sociable couch companion whose flat face shapes nearly every decision you make about its care.

Terrier group

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

11 to 17 kg · 12 to 14 years

A muscular, grinning people-lover packed into 40 cm (16 in), often gentler with humans than with other dogs.