Briquet Griffon Vendeen

Other names: Medium Vendeen Griffon

Briquet Griffon Vendeen

The Briquet Griffon Vendéen is a medium sized hunting dog from France. After World War II, the breed almost became extinct, but thanks to a French dog show judge, Hubert Dezamy, the breed became more popular. The dogs have very expressive faces with their bushy eyebrows and dark eyes. 

Key facts about the Briquet Griffon Vendeen

Life expectancy :

6

18

11

13

Temperament :

Playful Intelligent Hunter

Size :

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Origins and history

Briquet in the French language means “medium size dog”. It is the only breed to use this text in their name. They have been bred from the Grand Griffon Vendeen, prior to World War I. First recognised by the UK Kennel Club in 1996, the Briquet Griffon Vendeen is bred to hunt roe deer, wild boar and small game. 

FCI breed nomenclature

FCI Group

Group 6 - Scent hounds and related breeds

Section

Section 1 : Scent hounds

Physical characteristics of the Briquet Griffon Vendeen

Adult size

Female : Between 19 and 21 in

Male : Between 20 and 22 in

Weight

Female : Between 62 and 66 lb

Male : Between 62 and 66 lb

Coat colour

Type of coat

Eye colour

Brown

Description

The Briquet Griffon Vendéen is slightly smaller and lighter than his relative, the large dog, Grand Griffon Vendéen. Of medium stature, and robustly built, the Briquet Griffon Vendéen has a narrow skull shape and a long muzzle. It has elegant, long shoulders and a deep, narrow chest. The dog’s ears are set low on the dog’s head and are pointed at the end. The Briquet Griffon Vendéen has dark, expressive eyes. 

Good to know

The Briquet Griffon Vendéen dog is very stubborn. It’s his one main downfall. Although it’s often quite difficult to train a scent hound due to their great intelligence, this dog can be a real challenge. He is a very strong-willed canine, very intelligent and with an intrepid demeanour. He is known to often just ignore your commands, preferring to make his own decisions. Despite this, they make fantastic hunters and companion dogs. 

Temperament

  • 66%

    Affectionate

    Very loving and kind towards their family, the Briquet Griffon Vendéen will form a deep attachment to their master.

  • 100%

    Playful

    The Briquet Griffon Vendéen loves nothing better than playtime and games with the children.

  • 66%

    Calm

    These large dogs need a good run to tire them out. Not always calm unless they are physically and mentally challenged

  • 100%

    Intelligent

    A very intelligent dog breed, the Briquet Griffon Vendéen prefers to have a job to do. They excel at sports, agility training and games of fetch. 

  • 100%

    Hunter

    All Briquet Griffon Vendéen dogs are good hunters. They have strong hunting instincts and need to follow their noses.

  • 66%

    Fearful / wary of strangers

    As a dog that loves to be around his family, the Briquet Griffon Vendéen generally gets along fine with both children and strangers too. However they can often sense when something is amiss, which makes them good guard dogs. 

  • 100%

    Independent

    One of the Briquet Griffon Vendéen’s most annoying traits is his stubbornness. Apart from this, they are quite independent dogs, especially when in the hunting field.

    Behaviour of the Briquet Griffon Vendeen

    • 100%

      Tolerates solitude

      As a hunting breed, this dog will pursue and give chase, happily for most of the day. A Briquet Griffon Vendéen that is housebound will very easily become bored and restless, perhaps showing destructive behaviours. 

    • 33%

      Easy to train / obedience

      The Briquet Griffon Vendéen can be quite challenging when it comes to training routines. The ideal solution is to train using positive reinforcement methods, with a consistent and firm hand. This dog can be trained to work either as part of a pack or independently. 

    • 66%

      Barking

      It’s important that the Briquet Griffon Vendéen has lots of exercise, otherwise he will become an annoying dog. He will show destructive behaviours such as digging up the flower beds, acting hyper in the house, or barking incessantly. 

    • 100%

      Tendency to run away

      As a dog that has a huge prey drive, any outside spaces must be secured with a strong fence. The Briquet Griffon Vendéen may just decide to follow an interesting scent. 

    • 66%

      Destructive

      It’s important that this dog receives adequate exercise to meet his needs, otherwise destructive behaviours may result.

    • 66%

      Greedy / Gluttony

      This medium-sized dog can appear to be hungry most of the time. Adequate, high-quality foodstuff must be provided to meet his dietary needs.

    • 66%

      Guard dog

      As a brilliant family dog, the Briquet Griffon Vendéen gets along well with most people. However, on the other hand, he also makes a good watchdog and can sense when something isn’t right in the home.

    • 33%

      First dog

      As a passionate hunting dog, the Briquet Griffon Vendéen has great stamina. Likewise, they love nothing more than to be outdoors, running for miles. They will only make an ideal first dog for a family or owner that can meet this exercise requirement.

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      Lifestyle

      • 33%

        Briquet Griffon Vendeen in a flat

        The Briquet Griffon Vendéen isn’t suited to living in a flat as he requires lots of space to roam around.

      • 100%

        Need for exercise / Sporty

        This dog breed certainly needs lots of exercise, to meet his energy and physical needs. He requires at least one hour each day of vigorous routines and a large outside space where he can roam freely. 

      • 66%

        Travelling / easy to transport

        It's rather difficult to transport this dog. Certainly not adaptable to public transport. 

        Compatibility

        • 66%

          Briquet Griffon Vendeen and cats

          The Briquet Griffon Vendéen will see a cat as prey, and will probably chase after it.

        • 66%

          Briquet Griffon Vendeen and dogs

          This dog has been bred to work both on his own, and as a pack member when hunting. He does well among other dogs. 

        • 66%

          Briquet Griffon Vendeen and children

          The Briquet Griffon Vendéen will make an ideal pet for children. He won’t mind being involved in playtimes and games, however, he can sometimes get carried away and excited. Caution and supervision when around young children is advised. 

        • 66%

          Briquet Griffon Vendeen and the elderly

          Probably not the most suitable dog breed for an elderly person, merely due to his size and need for lots of daily exercise.

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          Price

          After your initial purchase price for a Briquet Griffon Vendéen puppy, of between £500 and £800, expect to pay a monthly ongoing cost, for which you need to budget between £80 and £130.

          Grooming

          The Briquet Griffon Vendéen isn’t the dog for someone who wants a pristine dog that never has a hair out of place. Even after grooming, this dog’s wiry hair will look dishevelled. A weekly brush at a minimum is needed, with a strong wire brush. It may be necessary to trim the dog’s long facial hair. 

          Shedding

          Light to moderate shedder.

          Nutrition of the Briquet Griffon Vendeen

          This dog needs a high-quality dog feed, specifically manufactured for high energy working dogs. 

          Health of the Briquet Griffon Vendeen

          Life expectancy

          Considered to be quite a healthy dog breed, however as with most hunting dog breeds, they are more prone to injuries sustained in the working field. Their average life expectancy is 11 to 12 years.

          Strong / robust

          The Briquet Griffon Vendéen is a robust and headstrong dog. He works with great enthusiasm and stamina. 

          Withstand heat

          With his dense, thick coat, this breed does not tolerate the heat and warmer temperatures too well.

          Withstand cold

          Because of his thick coat, this dog does not have any problems being outside in all chilly weathers. A Briquet Griffon Vendéen chasing after any prey will pursue it across all terrains, and even through freezing cold water. 

          Tendency to put on weight

          As a very active dog, the Briquet Griffon Vendéen doesn’t tend to gain weight if he is kept well exercised. 

          Common illnesses

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