In the beginning.

When you lose a much loved dog there is inevitably a period of sadness as you have had really happy times together. This is Alfie. We had him 8 years. At one year old he was a rescue dog from the RSPCA and at first he was a great challenge. He was, however, quite a star wherever we took him. Passers-by stopped us to talk to him and ask us what kind of a dog he was.
As he was a rescue dog we didn't really know, but one person said he was a particular kind of french hound - a GBGV (Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen) probably crossed with something else. He had a friendly, kindly and good fun personality so when he died we decided to try to get a 'proper' Alfie. 


I did some research and discovered a local breeder who had some GBGV puppies for sale. She asked me "Why this breed?" I told the tale of Alfie and she identified him as the puppy from a colleague's dog that had had a 'romantic episode' with an Old English Sheepdog.  So the mystery of Alfie's breeding was resolved.

However, this time we wanted a pedigree GBGV so went along to choose a puppy from the litter. In the middle of January we brought home a tricolour, long-legged, 9 week old GBGV puppy.

Week One - He's got very big paws.

We haven't had a puppy for a long time as our most recent dogs have been older, 'rescued' from the RSPCA.It is a bit of a culture shock to have a small and needy animal in the house that needs to pee and poo regularly. Predictably it goes on the carpet if you are not quick enough to note the signs and get him in the garden to toilet. He had been taught to pee on command but walking round the garden saying "pss,pss,pss" or "busy,busy,busy" is quite an interesting occupation! I guess the neighbours think we have gone a bit bonkers. It has proved worth the effort though as we have had remarkably few wet patches on the carpet and only two number twos in the house.

Not suprisely he has very sharp teeth that like, my slippers, the hems of trousers and the hands of willing participants in his games of 'chew the nearest object'. Our smallest grandchildren run for the sofas when he appears. He manages to jump all feet off the ground at once when trying to land on a convenient lap. His legs are still not long enough to manage it yet - but watch this space!

We have purchased a dog crate that he seems to like. This gives him a safe haven when the going gets rough with us or the grandchildren and affords us some peace when the going get rough with us or the grandchildren. There are also child/dog proof gates strategically placed between rooms in the house to determine dog and/or children's play areas.

I have perfected the 'scary monster' pose and noise that keeps him out of the dining room when we are eating. Used sparingly it works a treat.

The 'clicker' is a wonderful tool to reward his behaviour when he sits and waits for the words 'go to it' before he eats. I am now working on the 'down' command. 

Tiny walks have been the order of the day this week letting him off the lead and blowing the whistle for his return.  As he doesn't like walking across the road I have to carry him, also to put him into the car. I hope he gets better at this!!

He prefers the front garden with the procession of other dogs, horses and friendly people. He managed to get through the wire once and the gate did not present a great barrier either to his attempts to join the greater outdoors.