Goldador vs Briquet Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison

The Briquet Griffon Vendeen, a product of France is a hunting down bred down from the Grand Griffon Vendeen. The two dogs are descendants of the Gaul’s Canis sequsius and the Gris de St. Louis hounds. They are one of four dogs with rough coats from the Vendeen area along France’s west coast. Many of these lines were decimated by the Second World War and are still not found in France today.

The Briquet Griffon Vendeen survived the war due to a French dog show judge named Hubert Dezamy, who restored the breed and it is mainly a show dog today. Many of Frances royalty prior to the French Revolution favored the breed as show dogs as well. The Briquet was originally developed for hunting of smaller game and is a scent hound. The larger Grand Griffon Vendeen was used in the hunt for large game, namely wolves and boar.

The Briquet Griffon Vendeen is recognized by the UKC and the FCI but not by the AKC and the breed is hardly known outside of France

Introduced as a designer dog, the Goldador is beautiful – a mix between Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, two of the most popular dog breeds in the world.

The dog was specifically bred to be an excellent working dog, and in fact today he makes the most wonderful guide-, rescue- and therapy dog.

Known also as Golden Labradors, the Goldador is a dog that has many capabilities, one of which is to make a wonderful family pet. As a designer breed, the dog isn’t recognized as a standardized breed by any of the major kennel clubs.

This medium sized dog is stocky and well proportioned. He looks very much like the Grand Griffon Vendeen only smaller. It is less muscular than other hound dogs and it holds its tail up when working. The head is short with a medium/long muzzle. It has low set ears and a flat skull with large, dark eyes and pronounced eyebrows. It also has a mustache.

The Goldador is a large muscular dog standing at between 56 – 61cm in height at the withers and weighing between 27 – 36kg in weight.

His double coat is short and smooth but in can also be longer. It comes in shades of gold or yellow with hints of red, but it can be liver or black too. Goldadors are well-balanced dogs, and just the look in their kind brown eyes makes you realize that this beautiful dog can make a wonderful pet.

He has a well proportioned head with medium length floppy ears, a black nose and a long tail.

Temperament:

Loving, intelligent, loyal and playful, the Goldador is the kind of dog that gets on well with everyone. It’s why he isn’t a particularly good watchdog as he is just too friendly with strangers. You have to be careful though – his rambunctious nature, his energy and playfulness can see him being a bit rough around small children or the elderly. It is why socialization and training are so important for him as then he becomes obedient and more relaxed around everyone.

He loves his human family and never wants to be left on his own for too long. Intelligent and alert, he is an easy dog to train as he makes it easier by being a dog that wants to please.

The Briquet Griffon Vendeen is a smart, attentive and sensitive dog. It is easy to train. They are loyal and bond quickly with their owner/trainer. These are enthusiastic dogs with a lot of stamina and get along with dogs and children. They don’t like to be told what to do. They respond well if you bribe them with treats or play with them. They are patient, extroverted and happy dogs.

Goldadors are intelligent dogs and they’ve been used extensively for guide- and therapy dogs, loving to be useful and busy. Its the kind of dog that thrives in a loving, active family – one that counts him in as a family member.

He makes an exceptional family pet and companion and you can rely on him to be a loyal, loving pet.It’s why the Goldador is becoming such a sought after pet – he simply ticks all the right boxes.

They are bred to be healthy and hardy, but still have some health concerns. These include:

Aseptic Meningitis

This is a frightening disease if you find your dog has it. It is characterized by a high fever and an intense hypersensitivity to touch. Aseptic Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain. It is caused by an infection and the most common ones include:

Ear infections

Sinus infection

Bite wounds – infected

Severe Allergic Reaction to something – may take medication

Ear Infections – long droopy ears can get infected

Deafness – white dog can be born deaf

Hypothyroidism

Hip dysplasia – bone doesn’t fit well into joint

Patellar luxation – dislocated knee cap

Glaucoma- Increased pressure in the eyes

Skin and Food Allergies

Epilepsy - Seizures

Goldadors luckily don’t have many health issues, and as a hybrid, he has fewer health issues than pure breds.

You can say with confidence that a nutritious diet, regular exercise, good grooming, lots of love and attention and visits to the vet if your pet is ill are key aspects for maintaining good health.

There are always going to be some common health problems that your Goldie could get -

Ear Infections:

You’ll need to be checking your Labrador Retriever's floppy ears. They don’t get as much air in them as a dog with erect ears. A dog like the Goldador with floppy ears will need to have his ears cleaned for bacteria. Be very careful how you clean your pet’s ears as you can damage them if you probe too deeply.

Spaying and neutering:

Did you know that by spaying or neutering your Goldador can save them from getting some serious illnesses later on? Speak to your vet about it when your pet reaches 9 months to a year of age.

Obesity:

Goldadors can easily put on weight if they aren’t given enough daily exercise to burn off the calories. Some put on weight after being spayed or neutered and it's important to watch their weight after these procedures. Being overweight puts a lot of extra strain on a dog’s internal organs.

Feeding

Don’t overfeed your Briquet Griffon Vendeen. Give her at least 2 meals of high quality dry food – two and one half to three cups daily.

Health issues

Aseptic Meningitis can result in death.

Ear Infections can cause meningitis

Deafness – born with this

Hypothyroidism

Hip dysplasia – lameness, arthritis

Patellar luxation - lameness

Glaucoma - blindness

Eye Issues -blindness

Skin and Food Allergies

Epilepsy – could be fatal

Exercise and games

Every type of Griffon is a strong hunter and has strong instincts. The Briquet is no different. They need to be able to hunt as this is one of the strongest of scent hounds. They need a fenced in yard at the very least to explore and smell. They also enjoy long walks with new smells. Stay in shape because your Briquet Griffon Vendeen has stamina to share.

They love to play in leu of hunting. The games they love include frisbee, retrieving balls, and learning new tricks. They need mental stimulation as well as physical.

Grooming:

Goom your Goldador regularly. He can either have short- or long hair, but he is a fairly low maintenance dog so a good brush twice a week to remove loose hairs will be good for him.

Diet:

Diet is everything, and by giving your Goldador nutritional food, you can actually lengthen his life. If you’re going to be giving him commercially manufactured food, follow the feeding guidelines on the packaging. Remember there are foods that cater specifically for a dogs age and his energy levels.

Try and give him some home-made food from time to time such as cooked rice, vegetables and chicken as well as some raw meat occasionally as this can ensure his skin and coat remain healthy.

Always provide plenty of cool, fresh water, especially seeing that he will be thirsty after a long walk or other exercise. Dehydration in a dog can be fatal.

Shelter:

Provide your Goldador with a warm, dry place to sleep. Make sure that it offers shelter from the sun and rain and also provides shade.