Overview
The PBGV, as nearly everyone calls it, is the smaller of the two basset hounds from the Vendee in western France, bred to hunt rabbit and hare through rough bramble country in packs. It is long and low with a tousled, harsh coat, a beard, and an expression of permanent good humour.
They are extroverts: happy, busy, loud and affectionate with everyone. They are also hounds, with the independence and single-mindedness that come with the job. Training a PBGV is possible; relying on that training when a rabbit runs is not.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour and a quarter a day in two walks keeps most adults content, and they have more stamina than their legs suggest. A rough, scrubby route gives them what they want, which is scent and cover to push through.
The coat handles weather well and sheds mud once dry, but it collects seeds, twigs and burrs. Expect a beard full of whatever the hedgerow offered.
On the walk
- Recall: Poor, and worse on scent. A PBGV follows its nose until the trail ends, and that could be a mile away. Secure fields only.
- Voice: Loud, frequent and musical. They bay when excited, when they find a scent and when they are bored. Pick routes where that is acceptable.
- Other dogs: Friendly and gregarious, bred to live in a pack. They suit group walks well and rarely take offence.
- Digging and cover: They will push into brambles and dig at rabbit holes. Check the coat and ears afterwards and watch the low chest for scratches.
Tips for professional walkers
- Use a long line on any route that is not fenced, and attach it to a harness rather than a collar.
- Carry a comb for the beard and check the long ears for seeds and ticks after every walk.
- Bring high-value treats and practise recall as a game, knowing it is a game.
What to ask the owner
- Has the dog ever gone off on a scent, and how was it recovered?
- What does the owner do about barking, and is there a quiet cue that works?
- Any back or ear problems the vet is watching?