Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen

Originating from the Vendéen region of France for which it was named, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (PBGV) is a small, shaggy hound dog that was initially bred to hunt small game. One of four ancient hound breeds from France, the PBGV is the smaller version of its larger counterpart, the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen (GBGV). The GBGV was phenomenal at tracking and taking down large game such as deer and wild boar but had difficulty accessing smaller prey and navigating tight spaces in the dense underbrush. In response, breeders were able to maintain all the GBGV's hunting prowess and tracking skills and condense them into a more compact, or petit, breed.