Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison

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.

It is beleived to be the Rottweiler has been developed from the Roman cattle dogs. The Roman empire made a camp in a place at Germany in 74 AD. The area was called as 'das Rote Wil' and later as 'Rottweil'. In the middle ages Rottweiler was used in bear hunting and as a cattle dog. In 1899 the International club for Leonbergers and Rottweiler dogs was formed in Germany. In 19th century due to set in of railways the cattle was moved by railways and the need for the breed declined. When the world war was set in there came a heavy demand for police dogs. Rottweilers played a major role in first and second world war.

In 1921 many German Rottweiler clubs joined together to form ADRK, which is Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub. This is said to be the home club of Rottweiler. American kennel club recognised them in 1931. They become 9th most popular breed in America in 2013.

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.

Temperament:

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.

Rottweilers are good natured, obedient and are very much eager to work. They are calm, confident and an excellent watchdog. They will not make friends immediately. Rottweilers can be said as an all purpose dog since they are suitable as companion and watch dog as well. He is good in herding and guarding as genital feature. Rottweiler must be trained from its younger stage and should not be hit while training. They have high energy level and thus they are interested in doing work if properly trained. There are more possibilities of biting the strangers because of watchdog tendency.

They are very good in herding sheeps as they have a natural gathering style. They are clever and adjusts the barking sound according to the situation. While herding they used to prove the leadership by selecting the dominant one in the flock and challenging it. If they were made to watch a same flock of cattle regularly, then they will develop a bond with them and will be affectionate with them as long as the cattle obeys its commands.

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.

Children friendliness

They are friendly with children and enjoy the company with them. But it is not advised to leave them with children without adult supervision.

Special talents

Rottweilers do not make friends immediately but take time to know about new people. He is an excellent watchdog. Males are quiet in nature but are watchful and females are more affectionate and obey some more. A good training is required for them to obey your orders.

Adaptability

They are not good for apartment life and thus a fenced back yard will be better for them to play and spend the energy. They require companion and will be happy to walk around with you. Hot weather will be some what better for them when compared with cold.

Learning ability

Rottweilers are easy to train because of their high intelligence. The training should be started in their young stage to have best results. They should not be dominated but treated kindly with understanding. They should be comfortable with the surroundings and people. Giving him a reward for training will make him interested in doing it. If he does a mistake then he should not be hit, so that he may get fear and loss his interest in doing it. Punishments will never work for them but rewarding will make him encouraged. Simple commands such as sit and stand shall be taught to them.

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:

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.

Cardiac Problems:

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.

Dermatitis:

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 health issues affecting the eyes of them are Cataract and Progressive Retinal Atropy. Health problems common in their joints are Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia and Panosteitis. They also have chances to get circulatory system problems like Aortic Stenosis and Von Willebrand's Disease. Other common health problems in Rottweiler are Bloat and Cancer.

Hair fall

Mostly people think that Rottweilers don't shed but they are short haired dog and sheds more. They are having double coat that is undercoat and topcoat. The undercoat is softer and protects them in winter and topcoat is rougher and visible. It is said that they will shed in spring and winter seasons. Shedding can be reduced by brushing them.

Diet:

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.

Grooming:

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.

Feeding the puppy

Rottweiler puppies should be given a diet which has protein, carbohydrates and fats. They need different diets in their growing stages. They can be given chicken with bones and vegetables for 4 days in a week. Beef with vegetables can also be given. When feeding them red meat a raw meaty bone can also be included. Fish oil can be given such that starting with 1000 mg and making it to 3000 mg in a time of two weeks.

Feeding the adult

High calories of protein should be provided to them to meet their energy requirements. While buying commercial food it should be checked for the main ingredient to be meat. Protein levels should be more from animals than vegetables. High quality dairy products should be included. Food should not have low quality flavours and preservatives. Healthy fat is necessary for their skin and coat. If these fats are not provided it will cause dandruff and itchy skin.

Points for Good Health

Brushing them weekly once is recommended for their coat and skin. Buying the puppy from reputable breeder will be better. Vaccinations and preventive medicines should be given on right time. Spaying and Neutering should be done to avoid unwanted pregnancy. High quality diet should be maintained. Making them to bath once in a week is advisable. Nails should be trimmed once in every two weeks.

Games and Exercises

Rottweilers like to chase something and Laser pointer will be a good game for them. It will make them busy and also entertain us. But it should be on a limit and they should not get bored. A treat or toy can be hided and they can be made to find it. A bottle should be filled with water and frozen. The frozen bottle can be given to them for playing. In summer time it will make them very happy to play with it. A ball or toy can be thrown and they can be made to fetch it. Walking them is also a good exercise.