Briquet Griffon Vendéen Rescue Dogs for Adoption

If you are thinking about taking in a Briquet Griffon Vendéen from a rescue centre, you are making a wonderful but demanding decision. These French scent hounds, originally bred for the tireless hunting of small game over rough terrain, are rare outside their home country. Even so, individual dogs do turn up from time to time in animal welfare organisations or with specialist hunting dog rescues, looking for a new home. With a height at the withers of 50 to 55 cm in males and a weight of 20 to 24 kg, the dog you are bringing home is a medium-sized, robust and extremely people-oriented companion who, given the right amount of exercise and stimulation, will stand loyally by your side for life.

When such a friendly dog, so fond of children, loses its home, it is rarely because the previous owners lacked affection. More often it is down to changed life circumstances or false expectations of the breed. The shaggy, charming looks can sometimes disguise the fact that this dog is a hunter through and through. Typical reasons for giving a dog up include:

• Underestimated need for exercise and hunting drive: With a high energy level (4 out of 5), the breed needs plenty of exercise and nose work. Plain walks on a short lead will not tire these dogs out.
• Demanding training: As a scent hound, the Briquet is bred to follow trails independently. Training him calls for patience and consistency. Without that guidance, he sets off tracking.
• Living in a city: The breed is hardly suited to life in a cramped city flat. Scent hounds also have a resonant voice, which can lead to conflict in blocks of flats.

If you would like to adopt a Briquet Griffon Vendéen, you will get a lively, very sociable dog who usually gets on extremely well with other dogs. Because he forms a close bond with his people, he often suffers in a shelter from the loss of the people he is attached to. Give him time to build trust, and be prepared for his recall in open country to be overridden at first by his powerful nose.

Keeping an eye on specific health issues

Briquet Griffon Vendéens from good breeding are considered robust scent hounds with a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, but, as is typical for the breed, they are prone to problems with the eyes, joints and ears. Known risks include hip dysplasia (HD) – screening for which is part of the recommended health standard for the breed – as well as elbow dysplasia (ED). Eye conditions such as primary open-angle glaucoma (ADAMTS17-associated) and generalised progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), as well as an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), also occur in the breed.

Health-focused breeders have the parent dogs’ hips, elbows and eyes examined clinically or by X-ray, use the established DNA test for ADAMTS17-associated glaucoma (so that carriers are only mated with clear partners), and know their lines well in order to reduce the risk of hypothyroidism too. With a shelter dog (or one from irresponsible backyard breeders), you often do not know what screening the parents had. So stick to a clear grooming routine in everyday life: the wiry coat is easy to care for, but you need to check the long drop ears regularly and keep them clean to prevent inflammation. Also make sure the exercise you give him is gentle on the joints.

A puppy from a breeder usually costs between 1,500 and 2,500 euros. If you take a dog from a shelter, you pay an adoption fee, which is usually considerably lower. Vaccinations, microchip and an initial examination are usually covered for shelter dogs; ask to see the paperwork and check it carefully. It is best to set the money you save aside straight away as a cushion: for good-quality starter equipment (including a well-fitting safety harness and a long line) and for any veterinary checks that may be advisable of the joints, eyes or thyroid levels after he moves in.

• Safety first: Use a long line consistently during the first few months. As soon as the Briquet catches the scent of game, he often tunes out his surroundings.
• Nose work as the key to bonding: Tracking together, mantrailing or search games give your new companion suitable mental and physical exercise and bring you together as a team.
• Offer calm and structure: A regular daily routine helps this sensitive hunting dog to work off the stress of his time in the shelter.