Griffon Nivernais

Also called Griffon-Vendéen-Nivernais (early name)

Recognised breedFCI group 6Short profile

From France (Nivernais and the Morvan hills, central France).1 2

At a glance the quick version

Height, male55 to 62 cm1 3

Height, female53 to 60 cm1 3

Sizelarge

excellent nose

brave but sensible

great stamina on rough ground

1 3

Coat and looks how to spot one

long, shaggy, rough

A lean but strong hound, slightly longer than tall and built for stamina. The coat is long, harsh and tousled, with bristly brows, a light moustache and hairy ears, giving a thoughtful, rather wistful face.1 3

Colourswolf greyblue greywild-boar grey (grizzle)fawn darkened with black hairstan markings on head and legs1 3

Personality what they are like

Courageous and self-reliant, with a strong will of its own. It learns its hunting job easily but benefits from early, steady obedience training.1 3 2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Bred for long days after wild boar in difficult country, so it needs a lot of exercise and outlets for scenting.1 3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The shaggy, weatherproof coat needs regular brushing to stay neat; check ears and beard after walks.1 3

Company who they like around

Traditionally hunts in small packs, so it is used to working alongside other dogs.3 1

The story where it all began

Shaggy hounds kept by farmers and nobles in central France hunted wolf and boar for centuries, but the old type faded after the French Revolution. From 1925 hunters in the Morvan rebuilt it, adding Griffon Vendéen, Foxhound and Otterhound blood, and founded a breed club the same year.1 2 3

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
It was once called the Griffon-Vendéen-Nivernais.3
2
Admirers have called it a wild boar hunter without equal.3
3
Tan markings are bold in puppies and tend to fade as the dog grows up.3
4
Its rebuilders modelled it on the old Celtic hound type known as Canes Segusii.2

Recognised by the official bits

FCI: Standard no. 17, Group 6 Scent hounds, Section 1.2 Medium-sized hounds.1
UKC: Scenthound Group; recognised 1 January 1995.3
Société Centrale Canine: Recognised in France.2

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Griffon Nivernais. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

Brushingevery week
Bathevery 8 weeks
Hand strippingHand stripping keeps the harsh texture; clipping also worksevery 12 weeks
Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year

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Griffon Bleu de Gascogne

Griffon Fauve de Bretagne

Grand Griffon Vendéen

Otterhound

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

FCI standard no. 17 Griffon Nivernais fci.beused for origin, recognition, height, coat, colour, temperament, history
Griffon Nivernais (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.orgused for history, facts, recognition
UKC Griffon Nivernais standard ukcdogs.comused for recognition, height, coat, colour, temperament, history

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.