Brussels Griffon Dog Breed

The brussels griffon is a member of the Toy group of dog breeds. Originally developed in Belgium to hunt vermin, this playful, sensitive breed has become better known as a companion animal, and thus is best suited for singles, seniors, and families (though its sensitivity and moodiness may not be a good mix with younger children).

Some brussels griffon facts: they're small-sized, with short- to medium-length coats that are either rough or smooth in texture; both coat varieties come in varying shades of red, brown, and black, in both solid and mixed patterns. Here are some good (and not so good) qualities of this toy breed:

PROS:

• Very affectionate with family
• Intelligent
• Well-suited to apartment life
• Socializes very well with other pets
• Playful and fun-loving
• Fairly easily trained
• Quite athletic and agile
• Low to moderate grooming required

CONS:

• Tend to be extremely sensitive and moody
• High exercise requirements
• Can suffer separation anxiety if ignored or left alone
• May not get along with children
• Adapts poorly to temperature extremes
• Can be difficult to housetrain
• High barking tendency
• Not suitable for first-time owners

The brussels griffon can be described as being unexpectedly heavy for their small size. Even Though the dog can be as short as 7 inches tall, they can weigh up to 12 pounds. Similar to other small dog breeds, the brussel griffon wants to be with their owner as often as possible. The breed can develop separation anxiety so they generally are not recommended for owners that stay away from home for long periods of time.

Although the brussels griffon may have the tough dog mentality, they are very affectionate with their family. They can be a bit demanding for attention and have been known to misbehave if the feel unnoticed. It is recommended to socialize the breed at a young age so they can be more well rounded as adults. The breed is not recommended for families with younger children as the brussels griffon does not like rambunctious unpredictable behavior, but they do well with other household pets.

The first thing most people notice about the brussels griffon is their unique facial appearance. Some people think their face resembles a monkey's face, while others insist it looks like Star Wars characters. This is due to the breeds dense wiry coat on the face. The breed comes in two coat variations which are smooth coat and rough coat. Since the breed is considered a high energy breed, they will need daily exercise to keep their hyperactivity under control.

The Brussels griffon had its origin in Belgium, where it was allegedly preceded by a dog called a smousje--a small-sized, wire-haired terrier type used to hunt vermin in horse stables. Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, Belgian stable owners began crossbreeding the smousje dogs with other imported breeds like the pug, the affenpinscher, and various toy spaniels, apparently in an attempt to develop a more effective vermin-hunting breed.

Eventually, the Brussels griffon--or as it's known in Europe, the griffon bruxellois--became recognized as a breed all its own. By the latter 1800s, griffons were growing in popularity, particularly because of Belgium's Queen Marie Henriette, who owned and bred them, thus creating acclaim for griffons across Europe. By 1900, the breed was also well-known in England and the U.S., with Britain's Kennel Club officially recognizing the breed in 1898, and the AKC doing so two years later. By this time griffons also included two sub-types: the petit brabancon, which was a smooth-coated variety, and the Belgian griffon, which was wire-haired but had more variety in its coat coloring (the Brussels griffon was typically red).

During World Wars I and II, griffons--as was the case with many dog breeds--shrank greatly in number; dog breeding in general during that time was often difficult and costly, so the world's dog population decreased by a great deal. But a few griffons survived, and the breed's population has increased a bit since the mid-twentieth century. Griffon ownership surged somewhat in the late 1990s, when a Brussels griffon was featured alongside Jack Nicholson in the 1997 film As Good As It Gets.
Today, though several breed clubs exist around the world, Brussels griffons are still relatively few in number.

The Brussels griffon is actually the most common type of three griffon variations, each determined mainly by coat:

• Brussels griffon: The most popular of the three; rough, medium-length coats that are normally red in color
• Belgian griffon: Rough coats that are usually longer in length than the Brussels variety, and come in a variety of colors
• Petit brabancon: Shorter, smooth coats most commonly found in black

Size is fairly consistent among the three variations (an average of 7 inches at the shoulders in height and 10 pounds in weight). Some breeders offer smaller "teacup Brussels griffons" for sale--and while those dogs are indeed tinier (as small as 4 inches in height and 6 pounds in weight), they were developed purely by selective breeding, and are not an actual breed variation.

In the U.S., only two variations exist: the rough-coated Brussels, which includes the Belgian sub-type, and the smooth-coated petit brabancon. (The American Kennel Club recognizes only the Brussels type.) The breed's native Belgium, meanwhile, recognizes all three variants.

Affectionate, sensitive, active, and at times bossy and quite needy, the typical Brussels griffon temperament is one of pure delicacy. Like some other toy breeds, griffons tend to form a deep bond with one or two family members--usually the ones who show them the most love and affection. The griffon is known as a "Velcro dog" breed, because the typical breed member will stick to one person's side as often as it can. These dogs can also be unusually bossy until they get what they want, and will bark and turn destructive if left alone.

Training can be a pleasure--but only if the griffon agrees to learn. They're both intelligent and stubborn, so fun, positive, interactive training methods work best for these dogs. They are also known to be fairly difficult to housetrain.

As alert dogs and frequent barkers, griffons usually make pretty good watchdogs (though some can be a bit timid around unknown people). For the most part, griffons will sound a vocal alarm when faced with a potential threat.

Below are health issues and concerns most common in Brussels Griffons