The Griffon Nivernais is a breed of hound dog from France that is about the size of a small dog. It has a long, rough, shaggy coat that makes it look a bit dirty.
The dog's head isn't too long, but it has thick eyebrows and ears that hang down. Overall, this scenthound is a little bit longer than it is tall, which helps it walk smoothly and keep going for a long time.
The Griffon Nivernais is a very lively breed that loves to be outside and would do best in a busy home.
The Griffon Nivernais is usually very loving with its family, but it can be a little shy around strangers.
This dog can also have a stubborn side, which can make teaching harder at times. Also, this breed is known for being loud, though each dog can be different in this way.
Affection Level High Friendliness Medium Kid-Friendly Medium Pet-Friendly Medium Exercise Needs High
Playfulness Medium Energy Level High Trainability Medium Intelligence Medium Tendency to Bark High Amount of Shedding Medium
The Griffon Nivernais comes from dogs that lived in France in the 1200s. These dogs were used to hunt, especially for wild boar and wolves, and keep land safe.
But by the 1800s, almost all of the breed had died out because faster dogs had been made. Then, in the early 1900s, people who liked Griffon Nivernais tried to rebuild the breed.
They crossed some of the last dogs of the breed with other dogs, like the French foxhound, the Griffon Vendéen, and the otterhound. Even though this Griffon Nivernais is smaller than its ancestors, it looks very much like them.
Even now, the breed is hard to find, especially outside of France. The American Kennel Club doesn't accept it as a real dog. The United Kennel Club, on the other hand, puts it in the Scenthound Group.