As you probably know, I am a rare breed. Not many people know what a GBGV is (Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen), and quite frankly there is not a whole lot of information out there on GBGV’s either. We are not fully recognized by the AKC yet, but we are getting close as our numbers in the USA grow. I thought I would list a few of the main points about my breed and talk about how I measure up to the breed standard. I have been told that I am a very good GBGV specimen. There are a lot more specific details on the GBGV breed but I don’t want to bore you with that show dog stuff, so I just picked out some of the more important points, in my GBGV opinion.
Purpose: The GBGV structure was designed to hunt rabbit and hare at a fast pace through the bramble, and over the rough terrain of the Vendee area of France. He is a courageous, passionate and broadly skilled hunter who today is used to hunt not only rabbit and hare but also boar and roe deer. He is active, possessing great stamina for a full days’ hunt and uses his voice freely while on the trail. – Believe me, I am a seriously great hunter that enjoys using my voice freely, and I have not even been formally trained. I have caught well over 20 wabbits in my own yard!
Temperament: Happy and outgoing. Independent and a little stubborn, not easily agitated yet willing to please with firm handling. – I don’t find myself to be stubborn, but Mom seems to think I am. I sure am always happy, even when I’m in trouble I appear happy.
Size: Medium. – Well, I consider myself small but Mom says I am medium. I do wear a size large collar, and share collars with my Kuvasz sister.
Height: 15-18 inches at the withers. – Looking at the measuring stick I come in around 17.5 inches if you flatten out my hair. Please excuse my fur, but it was a rainy day, so it was all curly.
Proportion: Proportion longer than tall as measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks. – Looks like I am in the clear with about 23 inches long and 17.5 tall.
Weight: 40 – 50 pounds. – I am fit at right about 40 pounds.
Hair: A rough and harsh topcoat and a thick weather resistant undercoat in in different colors – white with lemon, orange, black, tricolor or grizzle. – Raising my paw for tricolor and the rough topcoat with a weather resistant undercoat. Sheesh…I sound like a piece of clothing! Also, my coat gets stripped not trimmed or shaved.
Feet: Big and tight padded. Pads firm and solid. – No wonder Mom calls me big foot, I have almost the same size paws as Katie but that is the way they should be I guess.
Tail: Should be long and straight and carried like a saber when walking. – I do carry my tail like a saber and I love to wag it as much as I can! Mom is afraid it may just fall off from all the wagging I do!
Health: The GBGV is one of the hardiest and healthiest dogs around. There have been very few reported hereditary and congenital conditions. – This is true, I am never ill and I cross my paws that I stay that way. One time, all 3 cats and Katie got sick, but not me, I was fine.
Exercise: Because the GBGV is naturally active and energetic, we need a lot of exercise and outdoor activity. – True, but Mom has managed to wear me out pretty much all the time.
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years. – I am only 6, so I can’t bark much on this point.
What does this post have to do with FitDog Friday? The July 2013 Keeping Up With K-9 Kamp Challenge
The challenge this month is to get an idea if you are feeding your dog the right amount of food. As with humans, the core of proper weight management is controlling calories in versus calories out. It’s important to find the right balance to maintain your pet’s weight, help them lose weight or help them gain a few pounds.
As I pointed out above, I am an active hound that needs activity. I have a healthy weight and a fitness schedule. I also recommend the Slimdoggy app. Mom is always skeptical of things like that, so we tested it out. We used the widget from on my sidebar. According to my GBGV calculations (no cheating at all), my sister, Katie burns about 1648 calories a day and what we feed her comes to almost exactly that amount. As for me I burn about 1029 calories a day and my food portions come to about that number as well. We are weighed at least two times a year at the vet, where Katie and I have had almost the exact same weight for the past 6 years. Sure we are up or down a pound or two, here and there, but for our size that is not much. Take a look at the Slimdoggy app and see how your pooch’s calories burned stack up to their size and activity level! The more we hear about this app, the better it gets. The one in the app store gets into some real detail, but we don’t have an iphone, so we can’t test it out. The SlimDoggy App is up for a Petties Award, so don’t forget to cast your vote!
I am joining in the FitDog Friday blog hop sponsored by SlimDoggy, Peggy’s Pet Place and To Dog With Love Stop by and see what other dogs are doing to stay fit!
thanks for the info! I had never heard of the breed until I met you! Barks and licks and love, Dakota
Not many of us around 🙂
Nice breed profile! I’m glad I know a little bit more about the GBGV! I didn’t know that you came in different colors!
Two tone or tricolor. My mom was orange and white and my dad was tricolor.
Great information … love discovering new breeds, and you’re a wonderful ambassador for the breed!
I do my best to promote the GBGV because we are great dogs…but then again are there any dogs that aren’t great?
We are very proud of you and your sis, (and your mom!) for eating the correct amount. That is how you stay lean and healthy.
You are spot on by saying that controlling calories in vs. out is the key. If you are an active dog, you can eat a little more. Less active or injured? Cut back.
This is exactly why we created our app and widget!
And thanks for the great info on GBGVs. You forgot one more attribute of the breed: gorgeous!
Or maybe goofy 🙂 Your app is great and fun too!
We have heard from our buddy Gizmo about this app, sounds like a good one. You are quite the beautiful doggie, we loved learning about you!
Thank you – and that app is awesome!
How interesting to learn more about what kind of doggie you are. I think you are perfect.
I think that too but Mom says I am full of myself 😉
Great post! It’s always fun to learn about other dog breeds…especially ones that we aren’t too familiar with. We think you are awesome! Maybe you should do a breed profile on your sister Katie! You don’t see many of her kind around either…well, at least we don’t where we live! You are both beautiful dogs and your mommy is lucky cause the two of you are very special!
Great idea, she might like to be featured!
Well, I learned something new today! And, I think you fit the breed standard perfectly!
Thank you!
You’re one of my favorite breeds, even though I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting a GBGV in person. The health factor is great– we love golden retrievers but sadly learned they have a 60% chance of developing cancer in their lifetime.
I think the more the dogs are bred the more problems pop up in general, but since we are still pretty few in numbers we are a bit stronger. Cancer is so scary!
Looks like you are the pawfect GBGV specimen Emma and that doesn’t surprise us at all…You’re beautiful and fit and represent your breed well
Thank you, I do my best 🙂
You measure up to be one great pup!
Awww…blushing under my face fur 🙂
Wow!! You sound like a great dog… all I could think about with those stats is that you’d make a great agility dog!! Hope to see more of you guys around!
We are pretty good with agility I have heard, but I have never tried it. We just have to be careful of jumping with our long backs.
We think you are a purrfect 10!!!
Arrooooo!!!
Thanks for telling us so much about your breed Emma. I always love learning about different dogs, and I really did not know too much about GBGVs. Nice that your breed has not been overbred and are pretty darn healthy. That’s always awesome!
Interesting about the ap for the calories. Here I try to go by what my dogs look like, and adjust their portions from there. Meadow eats nearly as much as either Toby or Leah, and she is half their weight, but younger and much more active.
Toby is the hardest to monitor, his weight swings very easily between 80 and 90 lbs! Ideally he should be smack in the middle, and five pounds either way makes a big difference in him! When he falls five pounds he looks undernourished and when he’s up five pounds he looks fat, so I do my best to keep him in the middle and am constantly adjusting his food amounts.
We have always judged our food like you do which is why we thought we would just see what the app had to say and we were spot on, so I think if you keep an eye on things you are good. Glad you enjoyed learning about my breed. 🙂
I leaned something today. LOVE your 1st photo. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
Thanks! That was from our professional shoot in the winter. Love that photographer!
An awesome post today Ms Emma! Keep up the good work!
Thank you!
Looks like the GBGV has a lot in common with a Dachshund. The breeding purposed, temperament and some physical traits are the same. No wonder we are such good friends 🙂
My breeder in England also breeds Dachshunds. You guys are just a bit smaller, but when I am soaking wet and you can see my shape I look a lot like a Dachshund!
That first picture is extra extra CUTE!!!!
Thanks 🙂
Emma, I love your breed because of you! Some of your personality traits are similar to my beagles, I think it must be a hunting/hound dog thing. Are you considered in the hound dog family? I’m guessing it would be difficult to find your breed in this country?
Your Mom is doing such a great job with your feeding, and your activity levels.
We are scent hounds but a bit different than Beagles. We are pack hunters and love to howl but we have a very loud “fog horn” type of voice. Just this year a few people have had litters here, but previously most dogs were imported as litters are pretty infrequent in the US. We try our best to stay healthy and fit!
I had no idea what those initials meant. I still struggle with GSD – LOL. So if you were bred for a purpose, why wouldn’t you be recognized by the AKC? Where were you born? And do you have any siblings living with you? If no, would like one?
First time here so I’m being crazy nosy!
I was born in England, Mom flew there and picked me up and brought me to Germany where we lived and then back to the US. To be full AKC a breed has to reach a certain number of animals and meet other criteria. Until Dec. 2012 there were only 150 total GBGV’s in the USA, so we had been FSS for several years and now that we hit 150 we move up another step towards full recognition. We are recognized pretty much everywhere but here. You see us in all the big shows like Crufts in the UK. I have my older Kuvasz sister but some day Mom says she will get me a GBGV little sister. We shall see 🙂 Thanks for visiting, come by again 🙂 I am all about fun with some health and fitness mixed in.
Wow Emma,
My ancestor-doggies were also brought into existence to hunt wabbits and other small “game”. I also have a long body! They think that my ancestor-doggies originated in Egypt or around there, maybe 2000 years ago! One funny difference between us is that I have very very long legs. Can you guess who I am?
Matilda the Greyhound,
(and my blog is transforming itself as we speak, into a dot org instead of a dot com. Mom is completely baffled. My walker/best friend came over to help, and everyone has a headache now. Not me).
We switched to self hosted the end of May, great move. Mom knew we needed to do it but BlogPaws pushed her into it. We let WP do the transfer for us. The cost was worth saving us the stress. Good luck to you 🙂 It will all work out!
I’ve heard of your breed before, knew what a GBGV looked like, but nothing else. Love learning more. Great post!
Thank you. People knowing about my breed are few and far between, so I thought it might be good to talk about it.
Emma, you are beautiful breed! Wooooowooooooo, Ku http://www.haikubyku.com
Thank you 🙂
Another brilliant post – but we already knew you were perfect! BOL
Oh, you are too sweet 🙂
Great explanation of your breed and how you keep your weight even. You would probably get a long with Storm. She has been known to get a rabbit now and again. 🙂
Getting wabbits is the best but my mom doesn’t seem real happy when I bring her one.
We had never heard of you before Emma, you measure up just pawfectly to us, youz a real beauty xx00xx
Mollie and Alfie
I would think you would see more of my kind where you live, but we aren’t a big popular breed anywhere I guess, but that is ok.
great breed info there Ems, thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks, Misaki!
We feed raw so it’s a bit harder to determine calories (at least for me.) The dogs get weighed twice a year (or more) at the vet and we base their food intake on that. Right now they seem to be holding steady with a weight our vet is please with so we’re going to stick with what we’re doing. 🙂 Loved learning more about your breed!
What ever works, as long as the dogs are in shape and healthy!