ATTENTION— THE GRAND ENTRANCE! by CLAIRE “KITTY” STEIDEL
I n general, the Grand Basset Grif- fon Vendéen has more lengths— from leg length to body, to muz- zle, to tail. We all owe it to the breed to know the details whether we are breeding them or judging them. First Petits are 13"-15" and the Grand is approximately 16"-17½" depending on what organization’s standard you read. Grands are still compact as are PBGVs, but GBGVs are more notice- ably longer than tall with distinctive head. One of the first translations I read proclaimed the Grand was “exag- gerated in all respects”. However, I am guessing the early translator erred: the French intended the standard to be a comparison of the two Basset Vendéen breeds—PBGV and GBGV. The Grand has more of everything, yes, but the Grand is surely not an exaggerated breed. BREED HISTORY This foursome, the Griffon Vendéen Hounds, originated in France, homeland of the hound. The Vendéen group is
unique because usually French hounds were developed in three sizes, not the four sizes of the Vendéen Hound. The particular size evolved to meet hunting needs in a very harsh environment and the prey it pursued in the Vendée dis- trict on France’s western coast. Grand Griffon Vendéen is the larg- est hound; the Briquet Griffon Vendéen is medium sized; Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen the larger of the breeds; and Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, the small- er of the two Basset breeds. All have similar roots (i.e., the Grand Griffon). Two experts from the UK have been breeding, living with and judging this breed far longer than we have here in the US. FROM GAVIN ROBERTSON Comprising Soletraders PBGVs, Gavin Robertson and his wife, Sarah, have had the top PBGV kennel in the UK for the last 10 years. They own and showed to Best in Show at Crufts, the lovely CH Soletrader Peek A Boo, “Jilly”. They have had a wealth of experience
in dogs having made up over 50 UK champions across 6 breeds. Gavin has judged GBGVs at Crufts. When Gavin heard the Grand had moved from FSS to Miscellaneous he had this to say, “Excel- lent news and I’m sure many judges will add this breed to their resumés. So the judges who are approved for PBGVs will think this is an easy breed as it’s just a bigger version of the PBGV— that is wrong, wrong, wrong on so
S how S ight M agazine , A pril 2017 • 251
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