The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is derived, like all bassets, from hounds of superior size, in this case the Grand Griffon. The first selections were made at the end of the 19th century by the Comte d’Elva who was looking for subjects with "straight legs ". But it was Paul Dezamy who was especially responsible for fixing the type. He understood that in order to catch a hare, dogs of a certain size were needed. He fixed that size at about 43 cm. Today used primarily when hunting with a gun, it is capable of hunting all furry game, from the rabbit to wild boar.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Behaviour : Fast, well voiced, a passionate hunter; courageous, loves bramble and scrub. Temperament : A little stubborn but nevertheless well behaved. It is up to the master to take command. HEAD CRANIAL REGION : Skull : Without heaviness, convex, elongated and not too wide, well chiselled below the eyes. Occipital bone well developed.  Stop : Frontal indentation well defined. FACIAL REGION : Nose : Prominent. Nostrils well open. Black and developed, except for white and orange coats where a brown nose is tolerated. Muzzle : Square at its extremity, noticeably longer than the skull, very slightly convex. Lips : Quite pendulous, covering well the lower jaw and giving the front of the muzzle a square profile. They are well covered with moustaches. Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strongly developed, scissor bite. Eyes : Of oval shape, large, dark, not showing white; friendly and intelligent expression. The conjunctiva must not be apparent. Leathers : Supple, narrow and fine, covered with long hair and ending in an elongated oval, well turned inwards. Low set, below the eye. They must be able to reach beyond the end of the nose. NECK : Long, robust and well muscled. Strong at set-on. Without dewlap. BODY : Really that of a basset but avoiding an exaggerated length. Back : Long, broad and really straight, never saddle-backed, and starting to arch its junction with the loin; withers very slightly protruding. Loin : Solid, well muscled, slightly arched. Chest : Quite broad and well let down to elbow level. Ribs : Rounded, never flat nor cylindrical. Thorax slightly less broad at elbow level to facilitate the movement. Flank : Rather full, belly never tucked up. TAIL  Thick at the base, tapering progressively, set quite high, carried saber fashion or slightly curved but never on the back or bent at the tip. Rather long. LIMBS Overall view : Bone structure developed but lean. It should be understood that bone quality is not a question of volume but of density. FOREQUARTERS : They must be straight with a thick forearm and a very slightly defined but very solid carpal joint (wrist). Shoulder : Long, clean and oblique. Elbow: Should be neither too close to body nor loose. Forearm : Thick, wrists (carpus) should never touch. HINDQUARTERS : Overall view : Solid and well directed in the axis of the body. Hip (Iliac crest) : Apparent. Thigh : Strongly muscled but not too rounded, bone structure and articulations very solid. Hock : Wide and angulated, must never be straight. Seen from the rear, it should not appear turned outwards or inwards. FEET : Strong and tight with hard pads and solid nails; good pigmentation of pads and nails is desirable. GAIT / MOVEMENT : The dog in action must give an impression of resistance and ease; the movement must be free and harmonious. SKIN : Quite thick, often marbled in the tricoloured subjects. No dewlap. COAT HAIR : Hard, not too long and flat, never silky or woolly. The fringes should not be too abundant; the belly and inside of the thighs must not be bare; eyebrows well pronounced but not covering the eye. COLOUR : Black with white spotting (white and 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. SIZE : Height at withers :                 Males     from   40 to 44 cm.          Females    from   39 to 43 cm. With a tolerance of 1cm more or less.