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The Nivernais Griffon is a dog whose native homeland is France, where they are still rare, but are gaining in popularity. They were created for the purpose of hunting both large and small game. The bloodlines that were mated to come up with the Nivernais Griffon were Foxhound, Otterhound, and Grand Griffon Vendeen. With this mating came a very versatile dog, comfortable hunting with the pack or on their own. These dogs are sighthounds, hunting primarily with the use of their sight, rather than with their sense of smell. They were originally created to hunt wolves and wild boar.

The breed is accepted for registry in the FCI. They are classified under the "hound dog" category. Although having a registered dog may not mean that much to the average pet owner who is only looking for a loving companion, it does increase the monetary value of the dog for those who want to breed the animal or compete with him or her.

According to breed standards, the Nivernais Griffon should be between 50 and 55 pounds in weight when fully matured. They should be between 21 and 24.5 inches tall, when measured from the ground to the withers. Males will often be larger than females, in both height and weight. The face is rather hairy, with eyebrows and a slight beard. The nose and ears are both dark in color. The ears are held in the flopped position, hanging down the sides of the face. The tail is set high on the body, rather short, and usually held in the upright or extended position.

The Nivernais Griffon is a very hairy dog, more utilitarian than beautiful. The breed has a relatively long and rough coat, which is moderately thick. The breed can come in several coat colors, most of them shades of gray. They may be dark gray, blue gray, black marengo, leonardo, or wolf gray. There may also be some white flecked through the coat and there can also be a white spot on the chest. Their grooming is must be maintained regularly. A daily brushing with a stiff, rubber-bristled brush and a shampoo if absolutely needed will suffice. Do not shampoo if you can avoid it as this will strip the natural oils that the dog already has to protect the coat. This grooming is not for aesthetic appeal, but to ensure that nothing is stuck in the fur and that there are no mats getting started. It will also help to remove some of the loose hairs, keeping shedding down.

Nivernais Griffon are smart dogs and can be trained quickly, as long as there is good human to canine communication. They can be obstinate, so they do best with an experienced owner that is not going to be passive. Training must be consistent, with the human establishing his or her position as "pack leader" from the start. They should never be allowed to take on the role of the "alpha" in the home. That is your position as the owner. If you are firm, consistent and calm, the dog will usually respond well to training and actually enjoy learning the rules.

These dogs are energetic and they must have at least a brisk walk daily, as well as some time for running and playing off the leash. This breed should be kept stimulated, both mentally and physically, to prevent them from becoming bored. They should be socialized from an early age. The Nivernais Griffon makes a great watch dog, due to their high loyalty to the families that they feel inclined to protect. They are pretty much fearless and will defend themselves and their loved ones any time that it becomes necessary.

Learn more about this author, Victoria Tiegert.
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