Griffon Nivernais Dog Breed

The Griffon Nivernais is a superior hunting breed. These dogs are very friendly, too, but they tend to not be good with children, are frequent barkers, and are best for hunters or at least people with very active lifestyles. Griffon Nivernais puppies are hard to find and may be expensive to adopt and maintain. This breed is not for first-time dog owners, and even if you are experienced with dogs, this breed may be difficult.

PROS

• Very friendly
• Few health problems
• Excellent hunting dog
• Cute in a scraggly way
• Astounding sense of smell
• Great for very active people
• Works and plays well with other dogs

CONS

• Very rare
• Barks a lot
• Looks like a mutt
• Not hypoallergenic
• Not good with kids
• Exceedingly expensive
• Not good for apartment living
• Needs a great amount of exercise
• Prone to chasing non-canine animals

The Griffon Nivernais is a top-notch hunting breed that, at first glance, may not seem so. In fact, you may think out loud, This scraggly, dirty, medium-sized mutt is a bear hunter? The unkempt coat served a purpose, however, for that wiry coat protected them from boars' tusks, and bears' claws, and wolves' teeth. They remain excellent hunting dogs for those who are willing and able to train, maintain and keep these dogs.

The intelligence of the Griffon Nivernais is as remarkable as their history. These dogs work in small packs to take on very large, dangerous animals, and they often succeeded because they could outsmart their prey. These dogs know when to be friendly and they know when to fight, but they will always negotiate to get what they want. As they can think independently, you will find them headstrong even as they are easy to train for basic behavior.

Even if you are experienced with dogs, you may still encounter one issue: barking. These were blue-blooded hunting dogs whose pedigree stretches back several hundred years, and barking loudly is as much their heritage as eating. As royal hunting dogs, they were often not in sight of their masters, and barking was how they communicated location, chase details, and the kill.

This is not a dog for apartment living or for couch potatoes. These dogs require a very active lifestyle, and an ideal home is one where they have very large (and secure, of course) yard to run freely. Long daily walks and extensive visits to the dog park are also needed for exercise and socialization.

The Griffon Nivernais is one of the more healthier purebred dogs. The few ailments they may develop are those typical to dogs their size and dogs in general: poor eyesight (in later years) and joint dysplasia. You should be sure to get health and vet papers with any dog you adopt and visit the vet regularly to help prevent future issues.

The typical lifespan for the Griffon Nivernais is 12 to 14 years.