Spanish Pointer vs Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison

The Spanish Pointer is a large hunting breed. The dog hails from Spain and it is believed that the dog was used to develop other pointing breeds.

It is popular in Spain but fairly unknown beyond Spanish borders. Known as the Burgos Pointer, the official name for the dog is Perdiguero de Burgos.

It is thought that the dog comes from mixing the Pachon Navarra and the Sabueso Espanol. The dog was developed to point out game so they have the typical longish head with the pointing tail.

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen hails from France. They have always been used to hunt game by scent. This dog has always been appreciated for its independence and the fact that is is mentally focused and fit.

These dogs, referred to as the PBGV descend from the larger Griffon Vendeen, which comes in four distinct sizes. The first official French standard for this dog was published in 1898. It was in 1909 that a revised standard for the dog recognized two distinct varieties.

The first PBGVs were imported to the United States in 1983 and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Club of America was founded in 1984.

The body of this dog is true to the Pointer type of dog with the body being muscular and lean.

He stands at between 62 to 67cm in height and weighs about 25 to 30kg. The ears are quite long and floppy and the tail is usually docked to a third of its length.

The coat which is mostly short can be whitish with tan or brown markings with freckling or it can be a brownish shade with darker brown markings.

Temperament:

The Spanish Pointer is a quiet, calm, gentle dog and not at all aggressive. They’re able to get on well with children and other pets.

They’re dogs that love the great outdoors and aren’t suited to city living. They’re dogs that need a good deal of exercise too. Being intelligent the pointer dog will benefit from training and socialization.

Both male and female dogs are much the same in size, standing at between 32 and 40cm and weighing between 15 to 20 kilograms.

These are solid dogs with fairly short legs and a harsh double coat that is medium length and rough. The coloring is essentially white with patches of orange, lemon, tan or black. The dog has a general tousled appearance with quite a bit of hair around the face. The ears are set low and are floppy while the tail is medium length and held high.

Temperament:

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a friendly, social, outgoing dog that is good with children and other dogs. He is stubborn and should be trained and socialized so that he is well mannered around people and so that he also obeys simple commands.

They are quite noisy dogs, ‘talking’ to other dogs with a howl and bark.

Your attractive Spanish Pointer is such an amicable dog that it is a pleasure to have him around you.

He makes such a splendid pet, but only if their intense exercise needs are catered to. He can’t possibly be expected to spend days in a tiny yard with nothing to do. It would be cruel.

Their top priority is to be out in the fields hunting. Nonetheless he gets on well with children and other dogs, and with the right home and environment you’ll be so glad you chose one of these beautiful dogs as your friend.

The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is known for his amicable characteristics. They’re also intelligent, curious dogs and will respond well to training and socialization.

Apart from getting on well with children in the home, they also get on well with other dogs. They’re independent and strong willed and can be inclined to bark a bit to make himself known. It is why he is best suited to a home in the suburbs or countryside where his barking won’t disturb close-living neighbors, although training and socialization should change this habit. With training, this dog can become a most wonderful friend and pet.

The Spanish Pointer is a healthy dog breed that can live to be as old as 15 if he gets the right care.

Like other dogs, they can develop certain health problems, and you want to be aware of cherry eye, ear infections, hip dysplasia and allergies.

Ear Infections:

These dogs just love to swim, and it can be difficult to keep the inside of his ears from moisture.

Unfortunately wax, dirt and moisture can all cause an ear infection. Ear infections can be extremely painful. You’ll see your dog shaking his head and pawing at his ears. There will be redness inside the ear and possibly a discharge too. He will need to see the vet.

Average longevity of these dogs is about 12, 13, or 14 years if he gets looked after well.

Eyes and joints are always a problem with the Petit and several of the eye diseases dogs get can actually lead to blindness.

Corneal wounds are fairly common in dogs. The cornea can be injured and lacerations can damage the eye. You’ll see your pet rubbing at the affected eye.

Hip joints can cause lameness and pain. Dogs can develop hip and joint problems at any age. Joint problems can be better eliminated by providing the dog with good nutrition and exercise. If your dog is obese, joint problems can be more severe. Weight loss can reduce the signs of joint pain in dogs.

Exercise:

As a hunting dog, the Spanish Pointer has always been used to a lot of exercise. If you don’t use him for hunting, you will need to take him on long walks. They just love sniffing around and following a scent. Ball and frisbee games where you get him running will be excellent for him.

Diet:

The Spanish Pointer is a large hunting dog, so when you choose commercially manufactured dog food, make sure it’s for large breed dogs. Also make sure the food is for active dogs too.

The manufacturers of these dog foods know what vitamins and minerals to include for active dogs like these. Read the packaging carefully and avoid the inferior dog foods as they are full of ingredients that can make your dog sick.

Try and feed your Spanish Pointer some home-made food too. Make sure it isn’t spicy, exotic foods as these can cause digestive problems.

Food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots are superb, simple food choices for your canine friend. You can chop it up and add some of this to the dry kibble twice a week as a treat for your pet.

Try and add some raw meat to the diet occasionally as this can be helpful in preventing skin infections.

Never leave your dog without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

The coat of your dog is short so a good brush twice a week will keep it in tip top condition. If he is super active, with a mitt or damp cloth you can wipe down his fur if it has mud stuck to it. It’s your time to check him over for ticks and fleas as well.

These are active dogs and they will like a daily walk to burn off some of their excess energy. They can adapt to living in the city or the countryside but they will certainly need to receive exercise wherever they are. Buy him some toys and a ball and throw it for him – this can be a wonderful form of exercise for your 4-legged friend.

Grooming:

They need to be brushed at least twice a week to avoid matting and tangles. Some people opt to have the coat stripped. This is either done by hand or with a special stripping tool. Some dog owners prefer to hand the dog in for a professional cut, but this can alter the texture of the coat.

Because of the floppy ears, they will need regular ear cleanings to prevent ear infections brought about by dirt, wax and moisture within the ear.

He will also need to have his paw nails clipped. He can’t tell you about aching teeth, so do your canine friend a favor and check inside his mouth to ensure that all his teeth are still in tip top condition. Bad teeth can cause all kinds of illnesses and even affect the heart and kidneys.

Diet:

The nutritional needs of your Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen are very important if your want your pet to enjoy good health.

Vitamins and minerals are an essential part of his nutrition, and luckily the top quality commercially manufactured dog foods see to it that the food has essential nutrients in them. With the best ones, your pet can expect a balanced diet.

Try and avoid the lower quality foods as these have toxic fillers and unhealthy ingredients in them that can make your pet sick.

Give him some home-made food too. You can chop this food up and mix it into his kibble occasionally to give him a healthy tasty treat. The best thing about dogs as pets is that they love their food to be simple and nutritious. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some healthy vegetables such as spinach, carrots and sweet potato will do him the world of good.

If you can, a little bit of raw meat from time to time can also be excellent for him. Make sure he is never without a bowl of fresh, cool water.