Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

For a long time the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen had the same standard as the Grand basset, only the size was different (from 34 to 38 cm). The result in utilization was not very brilliant, because they were semi-crooked and as heavy as the Grand basset. That is why that M. Abel Dezamy created a separate standard for them. To define this hound, let us remember what Paul Daubigne wrote: “It is no longer a small Vendeen by simple reduction of the height, but a small Basset harmoniously reduced in all his proportions and in its volume, that is naturally endowed with all moral qualities which presuppose the passion for hunting”. A team of Petit Bassets won the first edition of the France’s Cup on rabbit.

Small, active and vigorous hound, with a slightly elongated body. Proud tail carriage. Coat hard and long without exaggeration. Expressive head; leathers well turned inwards, covered with long hair and set below the level of the eye, not too long.

Devil in the country, angel in the house, that’s our Basset. It’s a passionate hunter that must, from an early age, get used to obeying. Perfect assistant to the hunter with a gun on territories of medium size, specialist for rabbit, but no other game escapes from it.

Passionate hunter, courageous, likes the bramble and scrub. Docile but wilful and passionate.

Skull: Slightly domed, not too elongated nor very broad, well chiselled under the eyes, the occipital protuberance quite developed.
Stop: Frontal indentation defined.
Nose: Prominent, well developed. Nostrils open, black apart from the white and orange coats where a brown nose is tolerated.
Muzzle: Much shorter than that of the Grand Basset but never the less very slightly elongated and straight. Muzzle square at its end.
Lips: Covered with abundant moustaches.

Quite large with an intelligent expression, showing no white. The conjunctiva must not be apparent. The brows surmounting the eyes stand forward but must not obscure the eyes. Eyes should be of a dark colour.

Supple, narrow and fine, covered with long hair, ending in a slight oval, turned inwards and not quite reaching the end of the muzzle. Well set below the level of the eye.

Scissor bite.

Long and strong; well muscled; strong at set on; without dewlap; carried head proudly.

Limbs: Bone structure quite strong but in proportion to size
Shoulders: Clean, oblique, well attached to the body.
Forearm: Well developed.
Wrist (Carpus): Very slightly defined.

Back: Straight, topline level.
Loin: Muscled.
Croup: Well muscled and quite wide.
Chest: Not too wide. Rather deep, reaching the elbow level.
Ribs: Moderately rounded.

Limbs: Bone structure quite strong but in proportion to size
Thigh: Muscled and only slightly rounded.
Hock: Quite wide, slightly angulated, never completely straight.

Not too strong, pads hard, toes very tight, nails solid. Good pigmentation of the pads is desirable.

Set high, quite thick at its base, tapering evenly to its tip; rather short, carried sabre fashion.

Very free and effortless.

Harsh but not too long, never silky or woolly.
Skin: Quite thick, often marbled in tricolour subjects.

Black with white spotting (white with black). Black with tan markings (black and tan). Black with light tan markings. Fawn with white spotting (white and orange). Fawn with black mantle and white spotting (tricolour). Fawn with black overlay. Pale fawn with black overlay and white spotting. Pale fawn with black overlay. Traditional names: hare colour, wolf colour, badger colour or wild boar colour.

Height at withers: From 34 to 38 cm with a tolerance of 1cm more or less.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect on the health and welfare of the breed.

FAULTS:
- Head:
- Too short.
- Flat skull.
- Depigmentation of nose, lips or eyelids.
- Short muzzle.
- Pincer bite.
- Light eye.
- Leathers set high, long, insufficiently turned in or lacking hair.

Body:
- Too long or too short, lacking harmony.
- Topline insufficiently firm.
- Slanting croup.

Tail
- Deviated stern.

Limbs
- Insufficient bone.
- Lack of angulation.
- Slack in pasterns.

Coat
- Not dense enough, fine hair.

Temperament
- Timid subject

ELIMINATING FAULTS:
- Fearful or aggressive subject.
- Lack of type.
- Overshot or undershot mouth.
- Wall eye. Eyes of different colours (Heterochromia)
- Lack of space in the sternal region. Ribs too narrow towards the lower part.
- Kinky tail.
- Crooked or half-crooked forelegs.
- Woolly coat.
- Self-coloured black or white coat.
- Important depigmentation
- Size outside the standard.
- Noticeable invalidating fault. Anatomical malformation.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.