Pyredoodle vs Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen hails from France. They have always been used to hunt game by scent. This dog has always been appreciated for its independence and the fact that is is mentally focused and fit.

These dogs, referred to as the PBGV descend from the larger Griffon Vendeen, which comes in four distinct sizes. The first official French standard for this dog was published in 1898. It was in 1909 that a revised standard for the dog recognized two distinct varieties.

The first PBGVs were imported to the United States in 1983 and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Club of America was founded in 1984.

These dogs only originated in the 1980s, and as a designer dog they are a cross between a Standard Poodle and the Great Pyrenees, both ancient dog breeds.

The breeders were looking for a non-shedding variation of both these popular breeds. This dog isn’t part of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) list of dogs.

Both male and female dogs are much the same in size, standing at between 32 and 40cm and weighing between 15 to 20 kilograms.

These are solid dogs with fairly short legs and a harsh double coat that is medium length and rough. The coloring is essentially white with patches of orange, lemon, tan or black. The dog has a general tousled appearance with quite a bit of hair around the face. The ears are set low and are floppy while the tail is medium length and held high.

Temperament:

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a friendly, social, outgoing dog that is good with children and other dogs. He is stubborn and should be trained and socialized so that he is well mannered around people and so that he also obeys simple commands.

They are quite noisy dogs, ‘talking’ to other dogs with a howl and bark.

The Pyredoodle is a large dog standing at between 60 and 86cm in height and weighing about 38 to 46kg.

The coat varies quite a bit, depending on which breed the dog leans towards. Colors can be white, cream, apricot, silver or black. Essentially the coat is a thick double-coat of medium length hair which is fairly straight or wavy.

The dog is a low shedder, thought to have a hypoallergenic coat. Floppy ears mean you will need to check inside the ears for redness and infection brought on by an excess wax build-up, dirt and moisture. If you allow your Pyredoodle to become a parent, the can produce between 2 to 4 puppies.

Temperament:

Coming from dogs with good temperaments, the Pyredoodle comes as being good natured. He plays well with children and gets on well with other animals in the house.

He is protective and takes his role as watchdog seriously. You can be sure he is going to be a loyal family dog. His high intelligence means he can be trained and socialized with ease and then he becomes obedient and well mannered.

He is good with children, and even though he is looked upon as being sweet natured, he still makes a great watchdog and protector of his human family.

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is known for his amicable characteristics. They’re also intelligent, curious dogs and will respond well to training and socialization.

Apart from getting on well with children in the home, they also get on well with other dogs. They’re independent and strong willed and can be inclined to bark a bit to make himself known. It is why he is best suited to a home in the suburbs or countryside where his barking won’t disturb close-living neighbors, although training and socialization should change this habit. With training, this dog can become a most wonderful friend and pet.

Attractive to look at, independent in nature, the Pyredoodle also has watchdog characteristics, being a protector of his human family.

Like any dog, and particularly big dogs, it is important to train the Pyredoodle otherwise he could be too active and unruly when he comes indoors.

The Pyredoodle will absolutely thrive in a loving home where the people enjoy an active lifestyle.

The Pyredoodle comes from too excellent dog breeds. Both breeds make excellent watch dogs, they’re intelligent dogs who can be easily be trained. You can expect your crossbreed dog to be a loving, loyal, devoted pet who will add a wonderful dimension to your household.

Average longevity of these dogs is about 12, 13, or 14 years if he gets looked after well.

Eyes and joints are always a problem with the Petit and several of the eye diseases dogs get can actually lead to blindness.

Corneal wounds are fairly common in dogs. The cornea can be injured and lacerations can damage the eye. You’ll see your pet rubbing at the affected eye.

Hip joints can cause lameness and pain. Dogs can develop hip and joint problems at any age. Joint problems can be better eliminated by providing the dog with good nutrition and exercise. If your dog is obese, joint problems can be more severe. Weight loss can reduce the signs of joint pain in dogs.

Designer dogs are often bred with the idea to eliminate some of the typical, common health issues that plague most dogs. These are among others, bloat, cancer, hip dysplasia, skin issues, ear infections, obesity, dental disease and others.

It is highly unlikely that your lively Pyredoodle will succumb to any of the major dog illnesses, but you need to watch him and get him to the vet when you see him displaying unnatural symptoms.

It is beneficial for your pet's health to have it neutered or spayed if you aren't interested in the dog having puppies.

These are active dogs and they will like a daily walk to burn off some of their excess energy. They can adapt to living in the city or the countryside but they will certainly need to receive exercise wherever they are. Buy him some toys and a ball and throw it for him – this can be a wonderful form of exercise for your 4-legged friend.

Grooming:

They need to be brushed at least twice a week to avoid matting and tangles. Some people opt to have the coat stripped. This is either done by hand or with a special stripping tool. Some dog owners prefer to hand the dog in for a professional cut, but this can alter the texture of the coat.

Because of the floppy ears, they will need regular ear cleanings to prevent ear infections brought about by dirt, wax and moisture within the ear.

He will also need to have his paw nails clipped. He can’t tell you about aching teeth, so do your canine friend a favor and check inside his mouth to ensure that all his teeth are still in tip top condition. Bad teeth can cause all kinds of illnesses and even affect the heart and kidneys.

Diet:

The nutritional needs of your Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are very important if your want your pet to enjoy good health.

Vitamins and minerals are an essential part of his nutrition, and luckily the top quality commercially manufactured dog foods see to it that the food has essential nutrients in them. With the best ones, your pet can expect a balanced diet.

Try and avoid the lower quality foods as these have toxic fillers and unhealthy ingredients in them that can make your pet sick.

Give him some home-made food too. You can chop this food up and mix it into his kibble occasionally to give him a healthy tasty treat. The best thing about dogs as pets is that they love their food to be simple and nutritious. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some healthy vegetables such as spinach, carrots and sweet potato will do him the world of good.

If you can, a little bit of raw meat from time to time can also be excellent for him. Make sure he is never without a bowl of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

The Pyredoodle is a large dog who will need regular exercise. Apart from walks every day, he’ll need ball- and rope games, throwing the frisbee, hide and seek games as well as games and toys that keep him mentally active as well.

Diet:

With the Pyredoodle, never try to skimp on his food and buy the cheapest there is. He’ll get sick often because of the unwholesome ingredients such as colorants, preservatives, fillers and very few vitamins and minerals.

If you choose one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure it is the high quality ones. Give him a treat now and again by providing him with tasty home-cooked food. It doesn’t have to be every day, just once or twice a week.

An excellent choice of food is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach, all chopped up and added to the dry kibble. When you can, try and include a little bit of raw meat too. Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

The Pyredoodle can have a coat which can be either short and thick or it can be longer, wavy or quite curly. Grooming will be aimed at removing any loose hairs the dog has by brushing twice a week. The dog is a low shedder.

His floppy ears may mean you needing to check the insides to ensure they are free from infection. Other grooming for this dog includes trimming the nails, checking his eyes and looking inside his mouth for rotting teeth. A bad tooth can be terribly painful for your pet but it can also cause problems with other body parts such as the heart and kidneys.

Get your pet immediately to the vet if you suspect anything that can be detrimental to your dog’s health.