The Grand Griffon Vendeen is one of the four types of La Vendee hounds that existed in the 16th century. The La Vendee region on the western coast of France is the place of origin of this outstanding hunting breed of dog. Among the four Vendee hounds, the Grand is the largest and reputed to be the oldest as initially only the Grand Griffon Vendeen exist. This breed is believed to be a descendant of the Saint Hubert Hound and the white and tan dogs from Italy. It was speculated that the Nivernais Griffon was also introduced for added endurance and stamina.
The Griffon Fauve de Bretagne, the Chien Gris de St. Louis as well as the Griffon de Bresse have all made contributions to the creation of the Grand Griffon Vendeen. The Grand Griffon Vendeen is a courageous and tenacious hunter. This breed was originally developed to hunt wolves and wild boar. This breed is an excellent scent hound that is used by hunters for hunting roe deer, foxes and other large game with or without a gun. Because of the excellent nose the dog is often used as a limer.
The dog is kept on a leash while following a cold trail. This breed enthusiastically hunts individually or in packs. The dog is a tireless hunter, one that would never baulk at thorny strewn undergrowth, rough or difficult terrain and one that would not think twice to enter the water to pursue a quarry. This hound possesses a keen nose and a loud baying voice that is not unpleasant to the ear. The Grand Griffon Vendeen is a noisy hunter; it loves to hear its voice while pursuing a prey. This trait is most beneficial for the human hunter as the sonorous barking points to the hunter the location of the dog and the prey.
This breed has a well constructed robust body and a distinguished demeanor. The beautiful coat gives the dog an impressive appearance. The dog is a hunter. This active, strong willed and independent hound would always love to hunt whenever given the chance. However, this is not the only reason why the dog has earned the affections of people. The dog is cherished for its good natured personality.
