Shiffon Dog Breed

Below are the details and specs for the Shiffon dog breed.

The Shiffon is a small dog; the average adult weight is 7 to 12 pounds, and when mature, they stand anywhere from 8 to 11 inches high. They are easy to carry and are best suited for apartments but are adaptable to most any environment save for being outdoors in a cold climate.

Shiffons are great family pets who love kids, playtime and as much attention as they can get — which they may act as if it's never enough! Although they'll bark at strangers, they are also very friendly once introduced to them. Other pets are of great interest to them, and while they may attempt to dominate larger dogs, they will play well with them too.

Despite their small size, Shiffons require a fair to great amount of grooming and exercise. They are bundles of energy that are always on the go, but daily walks and dog park visits are mandatory. They shed a moderate amount and do need to be brushed frequently, bathed fairly occasionally and have their nails trimmed every now and then.

The Shiffon is a very new hybrid dog, and as such, very little history is known about them. Moreover, it is believed they were conceived in China, a possibility that, if a fact, makes the Shiffon's history even more difficult to discover. The histories of the parent breeds — Shih Tzu and Brussels Griffon — are established, and knowing these breeds' backgrounds will help you to understand your Shiffon.

The Shih Tzu breed is believed to be at least 1,000 years old, and Chinese tapestries and other artwork from that time bear this out. Translated into English as "lion dog," these tiny dogs have long-haired faces that resemble lions. The Shih Tzu is believed to have been first bred by Tibetan monks who gave them as gifts to Chinese emperors. Apparently the later dynasties, Ming and Manchu, so adored these dogs that it was punishable by death for anyone not intimately associated with the ruling families to possess a Shih Tzu. The breed was not introduced to the West until 1938, first to English and Dutch royalty and soon thereafter to the United States. By the 1960s, this capable but potentially capricious lapdog — that previously had been kept exclusively by Chinese royalty in their robes and beds for warmth and comfort — had become popular among the general populace of the U.S. The Shih Tzu was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1969.

The Brussels Griffon has a curious history. The breed is one of three variations that came from the Smousje, a "ratter" terrier — a dog that was born to chase and capture rats or at least keep them away — in mid-19th century Belgium. They were used to keep the stables free of rodents; the Griffon was introduced to domiciles for the same reason. The Brussels Griffon was first recognized in 1883 in the first published volume of the Livre des Origines Saint-Hubert (LOSH), which was published by the Royal Society Saint-Hubert. The Brussels Griffon was recognized by the AKC several decades earlier, in 1910.

The Shiffon is a small dog that will take on the traits of its parent breeds, the Shih Tzu and the Brussels Griffon. Not every Shiffon pup will inherit the same characteristics — even those in the same litter will most likely be different from each other — and so it should be expected that some will have more Shih Tzu than Griffon, and vice versa. There are also those that will have a balance of both parent breeds.

There are a few aspects of every Shiffon that are sure to appear, however, and that is their small size, long facial hair and underbite. The coat may be rough or smooth, and the small tail can seem nonexistent if the hair is long.

Your Shiffon is sure to be a bundle of energy, and if not trained early, persistently and with lots of patience, behavior problems (which may well never be reversed) may set in. As they come from two parent breeds, each Shiffon pup's personality will be dependent on how much they get from either side. Some may get more traits from their Shih Tzu side while others may get a majority from the Brussels Griffon side — and then there will be those who get a fair mix from both breeds.

They are extremely jealous of that which belongs to them: their family members, their toys and their territory among anything else they deem "theirs." As they have parent breeds that have for centuries been pampered, Shiffons will almost certainly be demanding too. They are usually unaware that they are very small dogs, and they may try to dominate larger dogs. They are, however, intelligent and fun dogs that are ideal for apartment living. They are forever on the hunt for affection, and they should not be left alone for long periods of time.

Although the parent breeds tend to have ear, eye, kidney, teeth and respiratory problems as well as allergies, Shiffons are bred to have fewer related health complications and also are usually more hypoallergenic. Be sure to keep a close eye on her eyes, ears and mouth due to the long hair that can entrap food, dust and dirt; gently cleaning and drying these areas will help to prevent a lot of problems. Their general life expectancy is about 12 to 15 years.