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Hound Handbook
Insurance guide
Breed profile

Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen

The tallest of the French basset hounds: rough-coated, cheerful and sociable, with a nose that overrides its ears.

A rough-coated white Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen with grey and tan markings lies on a red tartan blanket
Rough-coated, cheerful and happy to make itself comfortable.Photo: Walbharri / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Weight
18–20 kg40–44 lb
Height
39–44 cm15–17 in
Lifespan
12–14 yrs
Group
Hound
Origin
France
Popularity
#200 US#159 UK · 2025

Known for: Good with other dogsFamily dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Cheerful, Sociable, Determined, Independent.

Health problems to know about

  • Epilepsy
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Eye disease (ophthalmologist screening recommended)

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Two hours of exercise a day on lead or in secure areas. Weekly brushing and hand-stripping a few times a year. Check ears weekly.

A good fit for

Active families, multi-dog homes, people who enjoy a sociable hound.

Probably not ideal for

Owners wanting off-lead reliability, close neighbours, homes with small pets.

Sources

  1. Royal Kennel Club: Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen breed information
  2. Basset Griffon Vendeen Club (UK): Health
  3. American Kennel Club: Hound Group health testing requirements
  4. Wikipedia: Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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