Griffon Nivernais

The Griffon Nivernais is a shaggy grey French hound from the Nivernais, bred to hunt boar and reconstructed twice after near-extinction.

History

It descends from the medieval Chien Gris de Saint-Louis, the grey hounds of the French royal packs, and worked boar in the woods of central France. The Revolution destroyed the packs, and the breed was rebuilt in the late nineteenth century and again after the Second World War, both times from a handful of dogs.

Temperament

The breed is known for being independent, courageous and tenacious, affectionate with its own people and entirely willing to face a boar — which is the point of it.

Care and training

It needs a very great deal of exercise and secure ground. The rough, unkempt coat is deliberate and needs brushing rather than trimming. Training needs patience; this is not a compliant dog.

Health

Generally robust from working selection; nothing is widely documented as breed-specific beyond the ear infections of a drop-eared hound. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.