The Briquet Griffon Vendeen temperament features a variety of appealing traits. He’s a highly active, friendly, and intelligent dog that adores his family. Doesn’t he sound like the perfect family companion?
Well, not all the Briquet Griffon Vendeen traits make him an easy fit into certain households. His strong-willed personality ensures he’d be a poor fit for a first-time owner as training him is an overwhelming challenge.
With opposing traits like these, it’s apparent you’ll need a firm grasp of his behaviors before making a final decision. So, keep reading and learn all you need to know about the Briquet Griffon Vendeen temperament.
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen Temperament and Personality
Highly Active
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen exercise needs are among the most extensive of any dog breed. He’ll require an hour of daily activity to keep him content and healthy. And it can’t be all from a single source such as one long walk.
You’ll instead need multiple sources of exercise to keep him from getting bored. He tends to enjoy activities that provide him a challenge such as fetch or dog sports. He’s known to excel greatly at both hunting and agility.
If you don’t meet this requirement, he’ll start resorting to misbehaving. It’s his way of showing you that he isn’t pleased with the job you're doing. It’s not uncommon for him to entirely ignore commands when he feels his daily exercise wasn’t enough.
Friendly
Maybe the best part of the Briquet Griffon Vendeen temperament is his friendly personality. He’s known to get along other dogs and people incredibly well. This friendliness even extends to overly eager children, which most breeds don’t find amusing.
He doesn’t mind interacting with strangers either. You won’t have to shield him from people as you walk up the street like with some other breeds. This trait makes him a fantastic candidate to take into public as he’ll end up being an attention-grabbing star.
Intelligent
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen temperament does consist of having a high IQ. He has the capability of learning a lot of commands as he grasps new concepts quickly when he's motivated.
His level of intelligence also gives him the ability to make independent decisions. This trait could end up causing you issues during training. He tends to think his opinions and ways are more important than yours.
And even when he’s fully trained, he’ll ignore your commands when/if he finds something intriguing enough.
Strong-Willed
The worst part about the Briquet Griffon Vendeen temperament is his strong-will. If he thinks his way of doing something is right, you’ll have a hard time changing his mind. Breaking through the stubborn wall that he puts up will time a lot of time and effort.
He’s going to challenge you daily with his hardheadedness. Even when he’s fully trained, he’ll keep finding new and exciting ways to cause you stress. If anything, your life will never become dull with him roaming around your home causing trouble.
Protective
His set of traits makes the Briquet Griffon Vendeen temperament ideal for taking upon the guard dog role. You see he has a unique sense of knowing when something isn’t right.
This sense makes him incredible at picking out what might represent a threat. If he does notice a potential issue, he’ll quickly alert his owner with a bark. But this barking never becomes excessive, which is a trait that separates him from his fellow hunting dogs.
High Prey Drive
The hunting instincts inside the Briquet Griffon Vendenn temperament bring up one more potential issue. He will not be a good companion for a family with smaller pets such as cats.
He’ll end up chasing them around your home and making their lives miserable. Gerbils, ferrets, and other similar animals would be terrible fits alongside a BGV as well. We should mention that he doesn’t have issues with smaller dogs.
Social
This breed loves spending time with his family. It’s not uncommon for him to join in whatever activity you might be doing. From swimming to a game of whiffle ball, he will try and become a part of it.
In fact, the Briquet Griffon Vendeen temperament makes him quite the social butterfly. He will not see a situation where he doesn’t want to be the center of attention. And his cute appearance certainly helps in this regard as well.
A Quick Look At Briquet Griffon Vendeen History
There isn’t much that’s complicated about this breed's history. It all starts back in the 17th century when Grand Griffon Vendeens were used as large game hunters. Many people wanted a dog that could have the same success with smaller prey such as rabbits.
Comte d’Elva and a few unnamed breeders took upon themselves to satisfy this want. They took the smallest Grand Griffon Vendeens and crossbred them with French scent hounds. The result was what we consider a Briquet Griffon Vendeen, also known as the Medium Vendeen Griffon, today.
He proved useful in his role as a small game hunter, and his popularity rose considerably. It continued rising until the horrific events of World War II took place. Like many other breeds, his extinction was considered a realistic possibility during this period.
But he was saved thanks to a French dog show judge named Hubert Dezamy. His work brought a steady increase to the breed’s population numbers. The breed’s still used as hunting dog these days, but many have become full-time companions.
His renewed popularity even led to him getting recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1996.
An Overview of the Briquet Griffon Vendeen Appearance
This breed has a medium build, and his measurements come off as average within the dog community:
- The Briquet Griffon Vendeen weight: 48 to 53 pounds
- The Briquet Griffon Vendeen height: 19 to 21 inches
He’ll have a rough, long, and unmistakable double coat. This coat can come in numerous coloring combinations featuring the accepted Briquet Griffon Vendeen colors:
- Cream
- Fawn
- White
- Black
His head will feature a somewhat domed, short skull with a muzzle that matches its length. He’ll also have a brown or black nose, which will depend on his coat color. His brown eyes will be round and hidden by the surplus of hair.
His folded ears will suffer the same fate and become obscured by the excess hair. People consider his frame to be little more chunky than muscular. But he still features a slightly athletic build that comes with a deep, thin chest.
Important Briquet Griffon Vendeen Training Information
Training this breed isn’t for the faint of heart. You see his hunting past gave him an independent nature, which can be detrimental during training sessions. This behavior will need managing by socializing and training him from an early age.
The Medium Vendeen Griffon’s independent streak is also why he isn’t a good fit for new owners. He’ll most likely overwhelm them with his stubbornness. If you do take on the challenge, the key to successful training sessions is positive reinforcement techniques.
We should also mention that it’s essential you apply these techniques with a firm and consistent approach. He will not respect a handler that doesn’t assert himself as a leader. But never try harsh training methods as a way to convey your alpha status.
These harsher methods will only make him resent you. You should also know that he does well with training in both hunting and other dogs sports such as agility.
Helpful Dog Training Resource:
For help with training your Briquet Griffon Vendeen dog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen Grooming
Taking care of this breed’s grooming requirements is no picnic. His long, harsh coat tends to pick up a variety of natural substances such as dirt, burrs, and mud. This trait means he'll require daily brushing with the following tools for the best results:
- Wire brush
- Comb
- Slicker brush
These tools will help keep his coat from matting and debris-free. The good news is he’s a light shedder, and the daily brushing should keep the effects minimal. He also doesn’t need frequent bathing, but you should keep an eye on his cleanliness.
If he does need a bath, ensure you use a vet-approved shampoo. This product will make sure he doesn’t suffer from any rashes or other skin irritations. And his other grooming requirements are what any breed would require:
- Trimming nails
- Teeth brushing
- Checking ears for buildups
Relevant Briquet Griffon Vendeen Health Issues
The Briquet Griffon Vendeen lifespan is 10 to 12 years meaning it’s a healthy breed. But some health issues still do cause him problems:
- Skin Allergies
- Hyperthyroidism
- Food Allergies
- Canine Hip Dysplasia
- Deafness
- Ear Infections
- Eye Problems
Making sure you visit your vet regularly could keep you ahead of these potential issues. Experts recommend one every six months. These visits will provide you with insight about ways to ensure he reaches at least that 14-year mark.
If you plan on getting a Medium Vendeen Griffon puppy, his parents should have the following procedures done:
- Ear exam that's done by a veterinarian.
- A test conducted on their hips by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
- An up-to-date eye exam performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist. The test's results should be on file with either the Canine Health Information Center or OFA.
Having all three of these procedures will lower your puppy's risk of suffering these issues. If the breeder you talk to doesn’t provide them, it’s time you find a new one.
Note: Don't let the many issues above scare you. The best way to approach health problems is to prevent them in the first place. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is a great place to start. Get a copy to keep at home. It will help you prevent the painful health issues that can plague your lovely Briquet Griffon Vendeen pet from expressing his winning personality and maximizing his life expectancy.
Finding Your Briquet Griffon Vendeen
Briquet Griffon Vendeen For Sale
Finding reputable Briquet Griffon Vendeen breeders within the United States will be tough. It’s going to be difficult anywhere besides France. But if you want to buy one, there’s a couple of ways you could about doing it.
The first thing to understand is there isn’t a BGV club located in the US. The lack of one and him not being in the American Kennel Club means you have one option. You’ll have to use sites like Terrificpets.com.
These websites will direct you towards the nearest breeder with a litter and give you the contact information. But there’s a problem with using these sites. You see the breeders on them don’t have to follow any rules before posting their litters.
This issue means the chances you meet a terrible breeder is higher than using the AKC or a club site. Due to this, it becomes essential you set up a meeting at the breeding facilities before purchasing.
It’ll offer you a chance to evaluate whether everything seems right about the situation. Looking out for the following red flags could speed up this process:
Bad Breeder Red Flags
- Lack of proper paperwork
- Unfit breeding facilities
- Multiple litters of Briquet Griffon Vendeen puppies
- Doesn’t provide references
- Won’t give you a health guarantee
Estimated Cost of a Briquet Griffon Vendeen Puppy
If the breeder passes your test, a Briquet Griffon Vendeen price should be between $400 and $600. It’ll end up depending on various factors such as bloodlines, shipping costs, and medical history.
Briquet Griffon Vendeen For Adoption
The adoption options aren’t much better. There isn’t a Briquet Griffon Vendeen rescue within the United States either, which severely limits your options. It seems you have two routes to choose from as a potential adopter.
The first option is using sites like Terrificpets.com and filtering the search with adopting rather than buying. It’ll work much like the buying option would by providing the contact information of shelters and rescues holding a BGV.
If this route doesn’t work out, you can try going to a local shelter or humane society. It’s highly unlikely a BGV will be at one of these facilities. But you never know what kind of dogs end up entering these places.
Plus, it gives you the chance to express your interest in the breed. You can even offer them your contact information. This action provides them with someone to call when/if a BGV does enter their facility.
If you do find an adoptable BGV, there’s going to be some questions you’ll want answered. You should ask the shelter/rescue about any topic that’ll make you feel more comfortable with this process. The following examples would be good starting points:
- Temperament
- Activity Level
- Previous Owner
- Medical History
- Family History
These discussions will give you a better idea about whether he’s a good fit in your home. It’ll also help make his transition into your home more comfortable.
Estimated Cost of Adoption Fee
His price will end up depending on a few things such as age, medical expenses, boarding costs, etc. But you can reasonably expect the adoption fee to range between $30 and $300. This range is the standard for adopting a dog.
Conclusion: Is the Briquet Griffon Vendeen a Good Fit For Your Home?
If you want a highly active exercise partner, the Briquet Griffon Vendeen temperament would be a perfect fit. His endless energy will be able to keep up with any activity you end up doing.
But if you want a low-energy dog, he will not fit into your household. His activity requirements will overwhelm you and cause you serious issues. He’s also not an ideal fit for first-time or small non-canine pet owners.
Calvin is the co-founder and one of the main contributors to dogtemperament.com. He has been an avid dog lover all his life. He enjoys researching and sharing great ideas on how you can avoid common pitfalls of dog ownership and build the most loving and enjoyable relationship with your dog.