Most important facts
- Group
- Hound
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 14–18 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
- Coat
- Rough
- Energy
- High
- Height
- 34–38 cm
- Colours
- White with lemon, orange, grizzle or tricolour
- Shedding
- Moderate
- Est. feeding cost
- ~£30/mo
- Gear to consider
- Slow-feeder bowl, long training lead or no-pull harness, slicker brush and stripping comb for the wiry coat
Typical dry food, adult
About the Basset Griffon Vendeen
The Basset Griffon Vendéen comes from the Vendée on France's Atlantic coast, where rough-coated hounds were bred low and tough enough to hunt rabbit and hare through gorse and briar. The wire coat is working equipment, not styling. British hunters imported the type in the twentieth century and promptly nicknamed it the happy breed, which remains the most accurate single line ever written about it.
Nicknamed the happy breed when it first arrived in Britain, the BGV is extroverted, friendly and rarely quarrelsome. Bred to hunt in packs, they are naturally sociable, get along well with other dogs and form affectionate bonds with children and family alike. The tail rarely stops and the greeting committee never goes off duty.
The pack heritage comes with a firmly independent streak. This is a scent hound first, and an interesting trail can override recall in an instant, so secure fencing and a long line are wise. Scent games, snuffle mats and food puzzles give the nose and the appetite a productive outlet.
Common health conditions
Things Basset Griffon Vendeen owners commonly watch for. Guidance, not veterinary advice.
Idiopathic epilepsy
The breed has a documented predisposition to seizures, often starting around two years old. Affected dogs need lifelong veterinary management.
Hip dysplasia
Screening in breeding stock reduces the risk, and a lean body condition supports the joints under that long back.
Patellar luxation
A slipping kneecap is seen in the breed. A healthy weight through accurate portioning eases the load.
Ear infections
Moisture and wax collect in those long, low-set ears, so check and dry them regularly, especially after wet walks.
Hypothyroidism
An underactive thyroid can slow the metabolism and encourage weight gain, so portions need reviewing if it develops.
Feeding a Basset Griffon Vendeen
A short-legged, long-backed build carrying real scent-hound energy needs calories matched to genuine activity rather than to enthusiasm at the bowl. A complete food with good-quality protein and controlled fat suits the working heritage, with treats counted carefully because this breed is easy to overfeed by accident. Most adults do well on two meals a day.
With hip, kneecap and thyroid conditions all seen in the breed, a joint-supportive recipe is a sensible choice, and portions may need recalculating as metabolism slows with age. The enthusiastic eating style makes a slow feeder worth having. It helps digestion and stretches out the day's great event.
Every dog is different — weight, age and activity all shift what a Basset Griffon Vendeen needs. The turns these breed tendencies into a shortlist matched to your dog’s age, size, budget and needs.
Typical adult weight
14–18 kg
Est. daily calories
610–1,100 kcal
A broad guide for an average-activity adult in good body condition — not veterinary advice. Real needs vary with age, neutering, activity, health and body condition, so no two Basset Griffon Vendeens eat exactly the same. Get a personalised estimate or estimate feeding costs.
- Per day
- ~£1.00
- Per month
- ~£30
- Per year
- ~£365
A broad typical monthly budget guide, not a live price quote. Food format, calorie density, pack size and retailer pricing all change the real cost.
Find the right food for your Basset Griffon Vendeen
Foods ranked to your dog
Answer a few quick questions and the Food Finder ranks foods to your Basset Griffon Vendeen by score, price, life stage and fit.
Breed at a glance
- Exercise needs8/10
- Appetite7/10
- Trainability5/10
- Good with children8/10
- Shedding4/10
- Tolerates being alone4/10
The good & the worth-knowing
The good
- Cheerful and sociable, the happy breed by name
- Thrives on scent work and enrichment
- Good with children and other dogs
Worth knowing
- Recall is unreliable near interesting scents
- Weight gain quickly strains the long back
- The wiry coat needs regular attention
Best matched accessories
All accessories →The collections that suit the breed, judged by the same independent standard.
Common owner questions
How much exercise does a Basset Griffon Vendéen need?
Plenty. At least an hour a day split across two or more walks, plus scent games to satisfy the nose. An under-exercised BGV lets you know about it, loudly. A tired BGV is a quiet one.
Are Basset Griffon Vendéens easy to train?
They are bright but independent, bred to follow scent rather than direction, so recall especially can vanish on a trail. Short, reward-based sessions built on the strong food drive work best, with a secure garden as the backstop.
Is this breed prone to weight gain?
Yes. They are notably food-motivated, and the short-legged, long-backed build means extra weight strains the joints and spine. Weigh the food and feed to their waistline. The Food Finder can work out a sensible daily portion.
Does the wiry coat need much grooming?
Brushing a few times a week keeps it free of tangles and souvenirs from the undergrowth, with periodic hand-stripping or trimming to keep the texture. Check the ears often, because the long, low-set shape invites infections.