MyDogBreedsGrand Basset Griffon Vendeen is originated from France but English Water Spaniel is originated from United Kingdom. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen may grow 6 cm / 2 inches shorter than English Water Spaniel. Both Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen and English Water Spaniel are of same weight. Both Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen and English Water Spaniel has same life span. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen may have more litter size than English Water Spaniel. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen requires Moderate maintenance. But English Water Spaniel requires Low maintenance
The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen is a French scenthound that has changed over many centuries and today the area in France where they originate from, has contributed to the dog's looks.
The rocky and thorny region of Vendeé required a hardy breed of dog. Also, hunters wanted a slower hound that they could keep up with, and the idea was to shorten the legs of the dog.
By the end of the 19th century, the Basset Griffon Vendéen was developed. By the 1950s, the Grand was considered a separate breed. and Petit was not banned until 1977.Today the dog is a long-backed and short-legged hunting dog.
The English Water Spaniel breed is extinct and has been since the early 1900’s. It was last seen in the 1930s. The breed was a hunting breed, diving for duck and hunting other waterfowl. Legend has it that Shakespeare was referring to this breed of dog in Macbeth when he refers to the “water rug”. Again, in Two Gentlemen of Verona one of the character states about another that “She hath more qualities than a water-spaniel.’
The English Water Spaniel came along before the Irish Water Spaniel and had a part in the development the Curly Coated Retriever, the American Water Spaniel and the Field Spaniel. The English Water Spaniel looks somewhat like a Poodle/Springer Spaniel cross or a Collie. It is not known whether the English Water Spaniel was part of the development of the Irish Water Spaniel.
When the English Water Spaniel was first developed the UKC had a “Water Spaniels other than Irish” and the English Water Spaniel had no standard written and accepted for it yet. But by 1967 the breed was extinct. Still the American Water Spaniel and the Flat Coated Retriever are believed to be descendants of the English Water Spaniel.
Kept today essentially as a domestic pet, the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is a strongly built dog, a rough-coated scent hound of medium size standing at roughly 39 to 45cm in height and weighing 18 to 20kg.
The coat is medium length, shaggy and wiry. It is essentially white with orange markings. Sometimes he can be tri-colored, having a combination orange, black or tan markings. The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen’s coat is double with a thick, weather-resistant undercoat and a rough, harsh topcoat. In addition to regular brushing, this breed’s coat needs to be hand-stripped once a year.
His legs are straight, and he is longer than he is tall. He is a deep chested dog with long ears and a long tail. He is also noted for his mustache and beard with long eyebrows.
Your Grand Basset is a courageous, happy, confident dog, active and having great stamina.
He is a social, pack dog so he will be wanting plenty of time spent with his owner, failing which the owner should invest in another dog too. He will get on great with children and he is also a pet-friendly breed who will get on well with cats too. He is sharp and alert and responds well to training and socialization.
Resembling the Springer Spaniel, poodle, collie and setter the English Water Spaniel has very little in common with the Irish Water Spaniel in respect to looks. The English has a narrow and somewhat longer head their than other spaniels and they have long furry ears. Their body is stout, and they are shaped like a barrel – more like a Clumber. With long legs and large feet, it is ready to take to the hunt. There coat was waterproof, and their toes were webbed.
This long-backed, short legged hunting dog has a happy, confident personality.
While he was used originally for hunting, he is now commonly kept as a companion dog. He is energetic and independent and will require you having him join you for walks and a ball game too.
Non-aggressive and adaptable he can live in the city or in the countryside so long as he receives plenty of attention and love – then he'll be a splendid pet.
The English Water Spaniel was aloof with strangers but loyal with his hunter. He was a little stubborn and an excellent water dog. They loved being in the water and could enter it without making any noise so as not to frighten his prey. He was highly intelligent and trainable. He also was very affectionate with his people.
There are some Basset Griffon Vendéens that have reached 17 years of age. This is excellent for these dogs and lifestyle, nutrition and exercise can all play a part in the longevity of any dog.
Generally they live to be 10 to 14 years of age. While he is a pretty robust dog, you'll want to be aware of some of the diseases which may require veterinary intervention -
Cancer is a major cause of death in elderly dogs, but if caught early, the dog can be cured. These cancers can be malignant lymphoma, skin cancer, bone cancer or soft tissue sarcomas. You'll notice a lump on your pet or a wound they won't heal. When you notice your dog not feeling well, get him to the vet.
A common form of heart disease in dogs is valvular disease, heartworm disease and myocardial disease. The signs of heart disease in your pet will depend on the severity of the disease and type. As heart disease moves on to congestive heart failure, you'll notice symptoms such as difficulty with breathing, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. You need to get your dog immediately to the vet.
Dog allergies can be caused by pollen, medications, food or insects. You'll notice your pet scratching, he'll have watery eyes and inflamed skin. This inflammatory condition can cause a lot of agony for your pet, driving him mad with pain and the desire to scratch and lick. Relieve his discomfort by getting him to the vet as soon as possible.
The English Water Spaniel is a fairly healthy breed given to some fairly common disorders such as:
Can lead to lameness and arthritis
Arterial fib and flutter and other problems that could lead to death.
This is a disease seem in several “Dwarf” breeds such as Corgis, as well as in many spaniels. This is the canine version of Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS and it is fatal.
If you are going to be feeding your Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen kibble, there are excellent brands that bring out breed-specific formulas for age, size and energy levels of dogs.
Feeding a dog is an individual choice, but good food can increase his longevity. A bit of raw meat mixed into his kibble, or some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken will be excellent for him. This can be a tasty variety to his diet.
Fresh, cool water must always be available at all times.
The Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen’s coat is double and the rough, harsh coat will need brushing twice a week and stripped once a year.
The English Water Spaniel is not an overly energetic dog and has a tendency to over eat. Feed him 1 to 1.5 cups of high quality dry dog food over two meals each day.
In addition to the health issues mentioned earlier, the English Water Spaniel is also prone to:
Pattern baldness – is genetic and occurs on the neck and back of the hind legs.
English Water Spaniels can have these in old age like most other breeds.
Clumps form in the retinal tissue and can lead to blindness
The English Water Spaniel was a worker and an outdoor athlete at a time before organized canine games and activities such as agility and flyball. They loved to swim, and they loved to hunt. Without a job to do they could become barky and destructive.