The Brussels Griffon, the Belgian Griffon and the Petit Brabançon, are companion dogs originating from the Belgian city of Brussels. It can well be said that they are three breeds in one, since they only differ in color and type of hair.
In fact, although the International Cinological Federation (FCI) considers these dogs as three separate breeds, other organizations such as the American Kennel Club and the English Kennel Club recognize three varieties of a single breed called the griffon of Brussels.
If you are thinking of adopting one of these three dog breeds, in this breed file on our site we explain everything you need to know about the Brussels Griffon.
Origin of the Brussels Griffon
The Brussels Griffon, like the Belgian Griffon and the Petit Brabançon, are three breeds of dog that descend from the "Smousje ", an old wire-haired terrier-type dog that inhabited Brussels and was used to eliminate rats and mice in stables. During the 19th century, these Belgian dogs were crossed with pugs and King Charles spaniels, giving rise to the modern Brussels griffons, Belgians and petits brabançons.
The popularity of the three breeds suddenly grew in Belgium and throughout Europe when Queen Maria Henrietta ventured into the breeding and ownership of these animals. However, the subsequent two world wars nearly wiped out the Brussels griffon, the Belgian griffon, and the petit brabançon. Fortunately for the European dog community, some English breeders managed to rescue the breeds, although they never regained their former popularity.
Today, the three Belgian companion dogs are used as pets and in dog shows, and although they are little-known dogs in the world, they are not in danger of disappearing.
Physical Characteristics of the Brussels Griffon
The height at the withers is not indicated in the FCI standard for any of these three dog breeds. However, both the Brussels Griffon, the Belgian and the Petit Brabançon usually have a size between 18 and 20 centimeters, and an ideal weight of 3.5 to 6 kilograms. These dogs are small, stocky, and almost square in body profile But despite their small size and broad chests, they have graceful movements.
The head is the most striking and characteristic feature of the Brussels griffon. In all three cases, the head is large, wide and round. The muzzle is very short, the stop very marked and the nose black. The eyes are large, round and dark. According to the FCI standard, they should not be prominent, but apparently this is a subjective assessment or a criterion that is not 100% met in these three dog breeds. The ears are small, set high and well separated from each other. Unfortunately, the FCI continues to accept amputated ears, even though this practice only harms the animal.
The tail is set high and the dog generally carries it raised. Unfortunately in this case, the FCI standard does not favor animal welfare either, since it accepts the amputated tail even when there is no compelling reason for it. Fortunately, the custom of amputating tails and ears for "aesthetic" reasons is disappearing throughout the world and is already illegal in some countries.
The coat is what distinguishes the three races. In the Brussels Griffon, the hair is hard, long, slightly wavy and with an undercoat of hair. Accepted colors are red and tawny, but some black is also allowed on the headgear.
Brussels Griffon Character
These three little dogs are so close to each other that they even share behavioral characteristics. In general, they are active, alert and courageous dogs, which tend to be very attached to a single person, whom they accompany most of the time. Many of these dogs are a bit nervous, but not excessively.
Although Brussels Griffons, Belgians and Petits Brabançons can be friendly and playful, they can also be shy or aggressive when not properly socialized. These breeds can be more difficult to socialize than other companion dogs, as their character is strong and reckless, and they can get into conflict with other dogs and people who try to dominate them (under the erroneous idea that dogs must be subdued in order to educate them). However, when these dogs are properly socialized from an early age, they can willingly tolerate other dogs, other animals, and strangers.
Since these dogs need a lot of company, tend to follow the same person and have strong personalities, they can easily develop some behavioral problems when they live in the wrong environment. These dogs can develop destructive behaviors, become barkers or even suffer from separation anxiety when they spend a lot of time isolated.
Despite these potential problems, the Brussels Griffon and its canine cousins make excellent pets for adults who have enough time to spend with their dogs. They are not good pets for first-time owners because they demand a lot of attention They are also not good pets for families with children, as these dogs can react badly to noises and sudden movements.
Brussels Griffon Care
Coat care is different for the two griffons and the petit brabançon. For Belgian and Brussels griffons, it is necessary to brush the coat two or three times a week and stripping (manually removing dead hair) about three times a year.
The three breeds are very active and They need a good dose of physical exercise However, due to their size they can do this exercise indoors. Still, it's important to walk dogs daily and give them some playtime. It must be taken into account that they are dogs with flattened snouts that are susceptible to thermal shock, so they should not be exercised intensely when there are high temperatures and in very humid environments.
The needs for companionship and attention are very high in these dogs. The Brussels Griffon, the Belgian Griffon and the Petit Brabançon need to spend most of their time with their family and with the person they are most attached to. They are not dogs to live in a garden or on a patio, but they do enjoy being outdoors when they are accompanied. They adapt well to living in an apartment, but it is better if they live in a quiet area and not in the center of the city.
Brussels Griffon Education
In addition to proper socialization, dog training is very important for these three breeds, as it is necessary to control these small dogs with strong personalities. Traditional training, based on dominance and punishment, does not usually give good results with these breeds. On the contrary, it usually generates more conflict than benefits. On the other hand, positive training styles, such as clicker training, tend to give very good results with the Brussels Griffon, the Belgian Griffon and the Petit Brabançon.
Brussels Griffon He alth
In general, these two griffons and the petit brabançon are usually he althy animals, and do not have dog diseases more often than other breeds. However, it is worth knowing some of the most common he alth problems within these three breeds in order to prevent them. Among such problems are: stenotic nares, exophthalmia (protrusion of the eyeball), eyeball lesions, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, patellar luxation and distichiasis.
