Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen

The PBGV does well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially made or home-prepared with your veterinarian's supervision and approval. Match the diet to your dog's life stage, whether puppy, adult, or senior, and keep clean, fresh water available at all times.

Feed an adult PBGV twice a day. Puppies need to eat more often, about three or four times per day. If your dog eats too quickly, a slow feeder bowl can help. The right amount varies, so use your dog food label as a starting point and ask your vet how much to offer based on your dog's weight, lifestyle, age, and health history.

Some PBGVs gain weight easily, so watch calorie intake and body condition. Treats are useful for training, but too many can lead to excess weight, and it helps to know which human foods are safe for dogs and which are not. As long as you feed a nutritious food formulated to meet established canine nutrition standards, your dog should not need supplements unless your veterinarian recommends them.

The coat is one of the PBGV's most distinctive qualities. The coat should be harsh and thick, with a texture sometimes compared to goat hair, and needs little trimming. Shedding is low, but regular brushing keeps the coat in good shape.

Give your PBGV a complete brushing at least once a week to remove dead hair and prevent mats. After brushing, you should be able to run a comb through the coat easily. The breed club recommends a pin brush or comb. PBGVs do not need a fixed bathing schedule, so bathe your dog when it gets dirty or starts to smell, which for many owners works out to about once a month alongside a nail trim.

The breed has floppy, hairy ears, which makes it easy for moisture, debris, and bacteria to get trapped in the ear canals. Check the ears weekly, remove excess hair and wax, and clean them when they are dirty, contacting your vet if you notice redness, odor, or debris. The PBGV can be prone to some eye conditions, so keep an eye on your dog's eyes and call your veterinarian if you notice cloudiness or redness.

Provide regular dental care with at-home brushing and professional cleanings.

The PBGV is a very active, curious dog who needs a great deal of exercise and room to wander and explore. The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen makes a good companion for a hiker, runner, or biker who wants an active partner, and it is well suited to people and families who enjoy an active lifestyle. These dogs are no couch potatoes.

The PBGV has a strong prey drive and a keen sense of smell. Once it catches a scent, it will follow its nose and ignore everything else, including a passing rabbit or squirrel. For that reason, always exercise it on a leash outside the yard or inside a securely fenced space.

The breed's strong build makes it a good fit for field events like agility, tracking, and scent work. PBGVs also need plenty of mental stimulation, so keep them busy with training sessions, outdoor adventures, and puzzles. They are social dogs who want attention from their humans, and they will let you know when they are not getting enough.

PBGVs have a reputation for being hard to train. In truth they are very intelligent, but they have a mind of their own and a strong, independent hunting instinct. It is not that the PBGV is unwilling to please; its agenda just might differ from yours and seem far more interesting to it. A trainer needs to stay a step ahead to keep it entertained and interested, and a professional trainer can help if needed.

Start socialization and obedience training early to raise a good companion and canine citizen. This is a confident, not timid, breed that is affectionate and loyal with the people it loves. If a PBGV does not get the attention it wants, it will bark about it and find its own, sometimes destructive, ways to stay busy.

PBGVs are very social and usually love both people and other dogs, scoring high for getting along with young children and other dogs, according to the breed club. They enjoy doggy daycare and the dog park, and like any dog they can develop behavioral issues if isolated, so give them quality time with family and canine companions. PBGVs may not suit homes with cats, though some can live with cats after early introductions. Obedience, rally, tracking, scent work, and agility provide training and activity.