shop

The Furry Critter Network

Nivernais Griffon Breed Description

Back to Canine Breed Menu



thm-img


Breed Organization

United Kennel Club (UKC)

Native Country
France

Other Names
Chien De Pays, Griffon Nivernais

Life Expectancy
No Information Available

Litter Size
No Litter Information Available

Breed Group
FCI-Scenthounds

General Description

The Griffon Nivernais is a medium sized dog, with a distinctive rough (shaggy) coat, long drop ears, and a long tail carried up and in a slight curve. The body is longer than most French hounds, and is constructed more for endurance than for speed. As a reconstructed breed, the breed standard goes into much more detail with regards to body proportions, structure, and coat than is usual for a working dog.

Color of the coat is grizzled in general appearance, light grey to boar grey. The coat is agouti, with each hair darker at the base than the tip. White hairs are scattered through the coat. Colors are fawn very slightly overlaid with black, sable overlaid with black (gris loup, wolf grey), and fawn overlaid with blue. There may be a small white spot on the chest.

Breed Standard

Head: Bony, fairly long, lightly boned but not small. Skull nearly flat. Slight stop. Straight nosebridge. Brow bones accentuated by bushy eyebrows. Beard on the chin. Very prominent nose.
Ears: Supple, moderately wide and long, slightly curled toward the tip.
Eyes: Preferably dark.
Body: Long. Neck fairly lightly boned, well-knit, without dewlap. Brisket not broad. Chest let down to elbow. Slight tuck-up. Level loin. Long back.
Tail: Not very long, carried in saber fashion, more tufted in the middle.
Hair: Long, thick, bushy, fairly strong, and hard. Neither woolly nor frizzy.
Coat: Preferably wolf grey or bluish-grey, boar grey, faded black, or salt and pepper, with tan markings on the cheeks, above the eyes, on the inner and lower legs, or fawn with a mixture of black and white hairs, creating a dark cast.
Size: Dog: 55 to 60 cm. (21.5-23.5 in).Bitch: 53 to 58 cm. (21-22.8 in).
Weight: Approx. 25kg (55 lb).


History

The Nivernais Griffon is one of the very old hound breeds used on wolves. His ancestors include the Chien Gris de Saint Louis, as well as Foxhounds and breeds from Auvergne, Vend e, and Bresse. Today's Nivernais Griffon was developed in the Morvan and Ni vre regions of France. A club for this breed was founded in 1925. After a critical period, the Nivernais Griffon has made a comeback and careful selection is improving the breed's structure, speed, and character.


Behavior

This wolf tracker of old is still a hardy, independent, enthusiastic hunter. Although the breed is now calmer and faster, it is still just as robust. The Nivernais Griffon's superb nose and remarkable voice also explain why he is so popular with hunters. He can be affectionate and a good companion, but he needs a firm owner.

He needs space and lots of exercise, as well as frequent combing and brushing.

Function

Hunting Dog, Pet.


Health

A very hearty and robust breed.



Back to Canine Breed Menu

Featured Rescues

"Don't Shop ... Please Adopt"

laptop pro

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.

Our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, we are recognized as a national animal welfare organization. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 2 million supporters across the country.

The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”


laptop pro

Petfinder

If you can’t find the pet you’re looking for on Petfinder, don’t give up. Some shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds, so don’t be afraid to ask! There are also breed-specific rescues for just about every breed, and most of them post their pets on Petfinder. (Petfinder can even e-mail you when a pet that fits your criteria is posted — just click “Save this Search” at the top of your search results page.)


laptop pro

Rescue Me

Jeff Gold, Founder, Rescue Me! Animal Rescue Network

Jeff Gold lives in Watkinsville, Georgia on the same property as Rescue Me's Animal Rehabilitation Center, with 18 rescue animals. Shown with him in the photo to the left are Maggie, Izzie and Cortez. In 2003, after learning there was nobody doing boxer rescue work in Georgia, Gold founded Boxertown, an organization which helped find homes for over 500 boxers during its first two years. Based upon this success, Gold came up with the vision for Rescue Me! ― a network which helps all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals find good homes, anywhere in the world. RescueShelter.com is also a free service of Rescue Me! and provides the world's largest and most up-to-date directory of animal rescue organizations for all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals, including a comprehensive directory of wildlife rehabilitators in over 150 countries.



Top