Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Perro de Presa Mallorquin - Breed Comparison

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.

Known by several other names such as Majorca Mastiff, Perro Dogo, Ca de Bou and Mallorquin Bulldog among others, the Perro de Presa Mallorquin was almost extinct after World War II.

The British brought their own dogs with them into the Balearics, crossing them with native mastiffs. They were used for fighting, explaining why this dog also got the name Ca de Bou as it means Bull Dog.

It is believed that the dogs were crossed with the Perro de Pastor Mallorquin, Alano Espanol and the Bulldog.

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.

The Perro de Presa Mallorquin is a strong medium-to-large sized deep chested dog standing at between 52 and 58cm in height and weighing between 30 and 39kg, both male and female.

This is a molosser-type dog with a strong, powerful build and large head. The skin around the face is thick and loose. The coat of the dog is short and rough and the color is fawn to light brown and reddish tan shade He can also be brindle too or black with tan markings.

The jaw is strong, the ears short and floppy though they have always been traditionally cropped. When left they can be folded backward. The tail is long, set low and reaches to the hock.

Temperament:

This is an intelligent dog who is going to require training and socialization if you want to manage it properly. Training and socializing a dog can be very helpful and help a dog like this to be more obedient and well behaved.

As a puppy growing up with kids who have been taught to treat animals kindly and with respect, the Perro de Presa Mallorquin can get on well with children. However, if you’re bringing an older dog into your home, the very nature of the dog may mean it not getting on with children.

This dog is quiet by nature and will be loving and loyal towards his owner, being protective towards him. He is strong-willed and will do best with a strong, firm, kind, patient dog owner who is consistent.

He is active and will fit into life in the suburbs or the countryside as opposed to life on a tiny property in the city.

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.

Your Perro de Presa Mallorquin is a loving dog, albeit it a bit stubborn. The key to having a dog with a sound temperament is to have him trained and socialized as this will do him the world of good and make him obedient and more balanced.

Irresponsible dog owners like to tie dogs like this up and leave them in the yard day after day to guard the home. They’re to blame when the dog becomes bored, frustrated and destructive.

Brought up correctly and given the right amount of love and care, the Perro de Presa Mallorquin is a brave, confident, quiet dog that can become a loyal and loving pet and companion.

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.

To avoid some of the common dog illnesses there are, you want to give your pet the best care possible. Of course there are always some dog illnesses that plague a dog and where he will require veterinary intervention. Hip dysplasia is one and larger dogs are more prone to getting this joint disease which can be very debilitating for your dog.

Other health issues can include osteosarcoma and lymphoma which are types of cancer Eye problems such as ectropion or entropion of the eyelids is where you'll find the eyelids turning either outwards or inwards. Also be aware of cataracts of the eyes as well as Cherry eye.

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.

Exercise:

Your Perro de Presa Mallorquin is going to need a walk every day if you want him to be physically and mentally sound. He loves to sniff around and see the world beyond his garden.

Grooming:

This is a low maintenance breed, requiring a brush twice a week just to maintain the coat in its heathy state and to remove loose hairs.

Diet:

This purebred dog will need an adequate diet to keep him in tip top shape. He likes his food and because he is big and energetic, will require commercially manufactured dog food that is high in good quality protein. In fact always check the packaging that protein sources are among the top ingredients listed.

Growing puppies will require 4 helpings of food a day which can later become 2 meals a day.Try to include some home-made food for him. It doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact dogs want simplicity and consistency with their food so that they don’t get upset stomachs.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach chopped up and added into the kibble occasionally can be a wonderful tasty treat for your pet. It is also a good idea to try and give him some raw meat from time to time as well.

Avoid all spicy, unusual foods for your pet – he doesn’t want any surprises when it comes to his food. Ensure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool water available.