The Mayor of Fox Den Road
From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog
By Sharon Struth

Why does watching a dog be a dog fill one with happiness?
~Jonathan Safran Foer

Two years after our beloved Wheaten Terrier passed away, it seemed our Miniature Schnauzer might again like a sibling. We selected a dog breed that had been on my radar for more than twenty-five years: a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (pronounced "Puh-TEE Bah-SAY Gree-FOHN VON-day-uhn"), also known as a PBGV, Peeb, or simply a Petite.

It's an unusual hound breed. When strangers stop and ask what type of dog he is, they often respond to his very long name by saying, "Wow, fancy." But the elaborate name of these canines belies their down-to-earth nature and appearance. He's short and long-bodied, like a Bassett, and has scruffy, wiry hair all over his body. Long ears, eager eyes, and a pronounced nose give him a distinct face. His fanlike tail never stops wagging, perhaps why they are known as the happy breed. (Keep reading)