A single standard used for both the Petit and Grand was developed in 1907 by Paul Dezamy, as both where whelped from the same litter with only the height difference separating them, the Petit standing 34 to 38cms. (approx. 13 to 15 inches) and the Grand 38 to 42 cms (approx. 15 to 17 inches). It was not until the 1950s that the Petit was given an official standard of its own and so finally considered a separate breed. Finally in 1975 interbreeding of Grand Bassets and Petit Bassets was disallowed but still to this day you will often find a Petit displaying Grand characteristics and visa versa, so it is very important that both breeders and judges are aware of the difference between these two breeds. -

THE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 'PETIT' AND THE 'GRAND'

First and the most obvious is the height different but the Grand Basset compared to the Petit is considered to have more of everything. He has a longer, body, muzzle, tail and ears. His coat is longer and rougher and his legs often longer. Therefore a Petit should be penalized if he is not compact, or his ears extend beyond the end of his muzzle, if he has too much length to his foreface or an overly long tail.

PBGV's HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA

PBGV's were actually introduced to Australia back in 1973, around the similar time they were introduced to the UK and even before they arrived in the USA by Mrs Edie Hurling of NSW and Mrs Troy . One of the first to step onto Australian soil was the dog brought out by Mrs Hurling , "Jomil Ajax" who was bred in France by Mrs Seiffert and Mrs Wells and registered by them in England .

He was an orange and white dog and was shortly followed by a bitch Claudette from the same people. Although there were three litters born in 1977,78 and 79, due to breeding difficulties and mostly male puppies being born, along with the high cost of importing dogs and the long quarantine associated with this at the time, the breed slowly died out completely in Australia. It is interesting to note that one of the puppies bred by Mrs Hurling "Ch Majesty Zelbeck" gained his CD and is regarded to be the first PBGV in the world to hold an obedience Title. (Quite an achievement for Australia in the history of the breed!)

In the late nineties, the breed has had another resurgence in Australia, with the importation of PBGV's from the USA by Bonhaven Kennels in NSW and then from the UK by Ebbtide Kennels in Queensland, which has now relocated in Victoria, along with the Danish, French, USA and UK lines imported by my husband and I to our Rokeena Kennel. Hopefully this time, with the amount and variation of bloodlines brought to this country now, and with careful breeding and selection, the PBGV's future will be secure and Australia will be able produce strong, healthy world class dogs in the future. This success will also be enhanced and more assured by the arrival of the first PBGV's to Australia's close neighbor - New Zealand. Martin & Wendy Hewitt along with John & Sandra Green have imported four PBGV's from the UK and have established a thriving foundation for the breed's future there and with the distance and quarantine regulations not as prohibitive as from the Northern Hemisphere, the use of bloodlines between the two countries will add to the success of the growing gene pool developing for the breed 'Downunder'.