Hovawart vs Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison

Hovawart vs Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen - Breed ComparisonGrand Basset Griffon Vendeen is originated from France but Hovawart is originated from Germany. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen may grow 25 cm / 9 inches shorter than Hovawart. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen may weigh 31 kg / 68 pounds lesser than Hovawart. Both Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen and Hovawart has same life span. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen may have more litter size than Hovawart. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen requires Moderate Maintenance. But Hovawart requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
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France
Germany
Height Male:
39 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
58 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
39 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
51 - 68 cm
20 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
18 - 20 kg
39 - 45 pounds
25 - 51 kg
55 - 113 pounds
Weight Female:
18 - 20 kg
39 - 45 pounds
22 - 49 kg
48 - 109 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
7 - 12
6 - 8
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
GBGV, Grand Basset
Hovie
Colors Available:
Yellow, orange, black – tricolor and grizzle.
gold and black, gold, blonde
Coat:
Medium length, shaggy, wiry
long dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

grand basset griffon vendeenThe Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen is a French scenthound that has changed over many centuries and today the area in France where they originate from, has contributed to the dog's looks.

The rocky and thorny region of Vendeé required a hardy breed of dog. Also, hunters wanted a slower hound that they could keep up with, and the idea was to shorten the legs of the dog.

By the end of the 19th century, the Basset Griffon Vendéen was developed. By the 1950s, the Grand was considered a separate breed. and Petit was not banned until 1977.Today the dog is a long-backed and short-legged hunting dog.

hovawartThe Hovawart, is a German Black Forest breed developed as a guard dog for large estates in the medieval era. They first appeared in history in the early 13th century as heroes who saved the German son of a castle lord, despite being injured themselves. The boy they saved grew up to be a German legend. He wrote the oldest German code of law that remained from medieval times. In it he names the Hovawarts as a dog that if you are responsible for hurting, stealing or killing it, you must pay for it or replace it. No other dog had this protection.

In the late fifteenth century Hovawarts were featured in Heinrich Mynsinger’s “The Five Noble Breeds”. This guard dog breed was esteemed on a level with the hunting dogs – their health a question of life or death for their owner. In the 1500’s the popularity of the breed began to fade. The GSD or German Shepard Dog began to replace the Hovawarts as the preferred guard dog.

By the early 20th century the breed had almost disappeared but were saved by breed enthusiasts in the early 1900’s. Zoologist Kurt Konig was prominent in this effort and went looking in the Black Forest area for dogs working on farms. Using the dogs, he found on these farms, Konig began a breeding program crossing the them with Newfoundland’s, Kuvazoks, Leonbergers, GSD, an African hunting dogs and Bernese Mountain Dogs.

By 1922 the first litter of these pups was entered officially into the German Breeding Registry. In 1937 the Hovawart was recognized by the German Kennel Club. However, many members of the breed died in World War II as they were used widely by the military and not many were left by 1945. Once again breed enthusiasts came to the rescue forming a Coburg Hovawart club. This club still exists and in 1964, for the second time, the breed was recognized by the German Kennel Club. Other countries also began to take notice of this working breed.

The Hovawart has many skills in addition hunting and guarding. The Hovawart does not work for people, he works with them as he is a very independent thinker. He is also good at search and rescue and tracking. An owner of this breed must be stronger, smarter, more alert, intentional and consistent than his Hovawart. These are not dogs for the faint of heart or first-timers.

Description

grand basset griffon vendeen puppy - descriptionKept today essentially as a domestic pet, the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is a strongly built dog, a rough-coated scent hound of medium size standing at roughly 39 to 45cm in height and weighing 18 to 20kg.

The coat is medium length, shaggy and wiry. It is essentially white with orange markings. Sometimes he can be tri-colored, having a combination orange, black or tan markings. The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen’s coat is double with a thick, weather-resistant undercoat and a rough, harsh topcoat. In addition to regular brushing, this breed’s coat needs to be hand-stripped once a year.

His legs are straight, and he is longer than he is tall. He is a deep chested dog with long ears and a long tail. He is also noted for his mustache and beard with long eyebrows.

Temperament:

Your Grand Basset is a courageous, happy, confident dog, active and having great stamina.

He is a social, pack dog so he will be wanting plenty of time spent with his owner, failing which the owner should invest in another dog too. He will get on great with children and he is also a pet-friendly breed who will get on well with cats too. He is sharp and alert and responds well to training and socialization.

hovawart puppy - descriptionThe Hovawart is a proud and majestic dog and his looks match his character. He looks a bit like the Golden Retriever with a powerful and broad forehead. His skull and muzzle are the same length and his nose is black. His oval eyes are a medium to dark brown and his ears are high set and triangular.

Their chests are strong, broad and deep. The breed has strong legs straight in front with round, strong and compact feet. They are heavy boned with dense, long coats that lie flat and have a slight wave to them. The coat can be black and gold, blond or black.

Characteristics

grand basset griffon vendeen dog - characteristicsThis long-backed, short legged hunting dog has a happy, confident personality.

While he was used originally for hunting, he is now commonly kept as a companion dog. He is energetic and independent and will require you having him join you for walks and a ball game too.

Non-aggressive and adaptable he can live in the city or in the countryside so long as he receives plenty of attention and love – then he'll be a splendid pet.

1.Children friendliness yes, they are good with children.

Special talents

hovawart dog - characteristicsThey have a great sense of smell and a well-balanced personality.

Adaptability

They are not indoor dogs and should have a yard to run in. They do not tolerate hot weather well. They do great out in the country.

Learning ability

They are intelligent independent thinkers. They lengths well with positive reinforcement.

Health Problems

grand basset griffon vendeen puppies - health problemsThere are some Basset Griffon Vendéens that have reached 17 years of age. This is excellent for these dogs and lifestyle, nutrition and exercise can all play a part in the longevity of any dog.

Generally they live to be 10 to 14 years of age. While he is a pretty robust dog, you'll want to be aware of some of the diseases which may require veterinary intervention -

Cancer:

Cancer is a major cause of death in elderly dogs, but if caught early, the dog can be cured. These cancers can be malignant lymphoma, skin cancer, bone cancer or soft tissue sarcomas. You'll notice a lump on your pet or a wound they won't heal. When you notice your dog not feeling well, get him to the vet.

Cardiac Problems:

A common form of heart disease in dogs is valvular disease, heartworm disease and myocardial disease. The signs of heart disease in your pet will depend on the severity of the disease and type. As heart disease moves on to congestive heart failure, you'll notice symptoms such as difficulty with breathing, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. You need to get your dog immediately to the vet.

Dermatitis:

Dog allergies can be caused by pollen, medications, food or insects. You'll notice your pet scratching, he'll have watery eyes and inflamed skin. This inflammatory condition can cause a lot of agony for your pet, driving him mad with pain and the desire to scratch and lick. Relieve his discomfort by getting him to the vet as soon as possible.

hovawart puppies - health problemsThough their isolation protected them from genetic health issues for centuries, once they were being rejuvenated and mixed with other breeds some common issues began to show up. These include:

  • Underactive thyroid
  • Hip Dysplasia – can cause arthritis or lameness
  • Osteochondritis – causes joint pain in shoulders mostly
  • Liver Shunts

Caring The Pet

Diet:

grand basset griffon vendeen dogs - caringIf you are going to be feeding your Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen kibble, there are excellent brands that bring out breed-specific formulas for age, size and energy levels of dogs.

Feeding a dog is an individual choice, but good food can increase his longevity. A bit of raw meat mixed into his kibble, or some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken will be excellent for him. This can be a tasty variety to his diet.

Fresh, cool water must always be available at all times.

Grooming:

The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen’s coat is double and the rough, harsh coat will need brushing twice a week and stripped once a year.

Feeding the puppy

hovawart dogs - caringFeed breed specific high quality dry food for puppies. Feed 1-2 cups in 3-4 meals per day

Feeding the adult

Again Feed breed specific high quality dry food for adults. Feed 2-3 cups per day in 1-2 meals per day.

Points for Good Health

Points for Good Health – Stamina

Games and Exercises

The Hovawart needs plenty of exercise. Remember this is a mountain farm dog used to working all the time. Walk or jog with them daily. They can excel at field trials, obedience, search and rescue, agility, flyball, therapy dog, and service dog.

Comparison with other breeds

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  30. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  33. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison