The petit brabançon, the Brussels griffon, the Belgian griffon, are companion dogs originating from the Belgian city of Brussels that have a lot in common. 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 Brussels Griffon. So it can be said that They are three breeds in one, since they only differ in color and type of hair.
In this article on our site, we are going to show you how the petit brabançon differs from the other 2 breeds, which is basically in the short and smooth coat, and everything you need to know about these pets if you are thinking of adopting one.
Origin of the petit brabançon
Both the petit brabançon breed, the Belgian griffon and the Brussels griffon descend from the "Smousje", an ancient dog wire-haired terrier type who lived in Brussels and was employed to kill rats and mice in stables. During the 19th century, this breed of Belgian dog was crossed with pugs or pugs and with King Charles spaniels, giving rise to the modern petit brabrançons, and Brussels griffons and Belgians.
These three breeds suddenly reached their maximum popularity in Belgium and throughout Europe when Queen Maria Henriette ventured into the breeding and ownership of these dogs. However, the subsequent two world wars almost completely extinguished the Petit Brabançon and the other sister breeds. Fortunately for the European dog community, English breeders managed to rescue the breeds, but they never regained their former popularity. Currently, the three Belgian dog breeds are used as pets and for dog shows, and although they are little-known dogs in the world, they are not in danger of extinction.
Physical characteristics of the petit brabançon
The difference between the Petit Brabançon and the other two breeds is the type of coat, which is short, coarse, smooth and shiny hairThe colors of the two griffons, the Belgian and the Brussels, are accepted, but the mask must always be black. The height at the withers, as in the other two breeds, is not indicated in the FCI standard. However, the three classes usually have a size between 18 and 20 centimeters and an ideal weight for 3.5 to 6 kilograms. These dogs are physically characterized by being small, robust and with a almost square body profile
The head is the most characteristic feature of the petiti brabançon, the Belgian griffon and the Brussels griffon. In all three cases, it 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, the eyes should not be prominent, but apparently this is a subjective assessment. The ears are small, set high and well separated from each other. Unfortunately, the FCI continues to accept amputated ears, even when this practice only represents an inconvenience for the animal.
The tail is set high and the dog generally carries it raised. But in this case, the FCI standard does not favor animal welfare either, since it accepts the amputated tail. Fortunately, the custom of amputating tails and ears for "aesthetic" reasons is disappearing throughout the world and is already illegal in many countries.
Character of the petit brabançon
These three little dogs are so close to each other that they are also very similar in character. In general, they are active, alert and courageous dogs that are 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 all three breed types can be friendly and playful, they can also become shy or aggressive dogs when not properly socialized. In addition, they can be more difficult to socialize than other companion dogs, since their character is strong and reckless, and they can have conflicts with other dogs and with people who try to dominate them. However, when these dogs are properly socialized from when they are puppies, they can willingly tolerate other dogs, other animals and strangers.
The fact that petit brabançons need a lot of company, tend to follow the same person and have a strong personality, makes them they can easily develop some behavioral problems when they live in the wrong environment, such as destructive behaviors, becoming barkers or even suffering from separation anxiety when they spend a lot of time alone. They can also be aggressive or shy when they have not been socialized as puppies.
Apart from these potential problems, the Petit Brabançon and its canine cousins make very good pets for adults who have enough time to spend with their dogs. They are not good pets even for first-time owners because they demand a lot of attention, nor are they good pets for families with children, as these dogs can react quite badly to noises and sudden movements.
Care of the petit brabançon
Both the Petit Brabançon and the Belgian or Brussels Griffon are very active dog breeds that need a lot of physical exercise However, thanks to their size they can do it inside the house, so they do not need large spaces to live. 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.
It is also necessary to highlight the needs for company and attention, which are very high in these dogs. All three breed classes need to spend most of their time with their family and 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 calm and quiet area and not in the center of the city.
For the petit brabançon, occasional brushing is usually sufficient, and they should only be bathed when they are really dirty.
Education of the petit brabançon
Dog training is very important for these three breeds, in addition to correct socialization, since it is necessary to be able 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 inconveniences than benefits. In contrast, positive training styles, such as clicker training, tend to give very good results with Petit Brabançon, Brussels Griffon and Belgian Griffon.
He alth of the petit brabançon
Overall, all three dog breeds are generally he althy, and do not get dog diseases more often than other breeds. Even so, it is necessary to know some of the most common he alth problems within these three breeds in order to prevent them. Such problems include: patellar luxation, distichiasis, stenotic nostrils, exophthalmia (protrusion of the eyeball), eyeball lesions, cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy.
