Brussels Griffon

The Brussels Griffon is a lady’s little dog – intelligent, sprightly, robust, of compact appearance – reminding one of a cob, and captivating the attention by a quasi−human expression.

Different types of Brussels Griffons

Brussels Griffons are divided into three groups, according to their appearance, and representatives of each group may be, and sometimes are, found in one and the same litter.

First and foremost, both in importance and in beauty, comes the Griffon Bruxellois, a cobby, compact little dog, with wiry red coat, large eyes, short nose, well turned up, and sloping back, very prominent chin, and small ears.

Secondly come the Griffons of any other color, or, as they are termed in Brussels, Griffons Belges. These are very often Griffons of the usual color, with a mis-mark of white or black, or occasionally they may be grey or fawn. But the most approved color, and certainly the most attractive, is black and tan.

The third group of Brussels Griffons is that termed “smooth,” or, in Brussels, Griffons Brabancons. The smooth Griffon is identical with the rough in all points except for being shorthaired. As is well known, smooth Griffons are most useful for breeding rough ones with the desired hard red coat, and many well-known show dogs with rough coats have been bred from smooth ones.

This and many other facts in connection with breeding Griffons will be learnt from experience, always the best teacher.

Origin: Away back in the seventies numbers of miners in Yorkshire and the Midlands are said to have possessed little wiry coated and wiry-disposition red dogs, which accompanied their owners to work, being stowed away in pockets of overcoats until the dinner hour, when they were brought out to share their masters’ meals, perchance chasing a casual rat in between times. Old men of today who remember these little “red tarriers” tell us that they were the originals of the present-day Brussels Griffons, and to the sporting propensities of the aforesaid miners is attributed the gameness which is such a characteristic of their latter-day representatives.

No one who is well acquainted with the Brussels Griffon would claim that the breed dates back, like the Greyhound, to hoary antiquity, or, indeed, that it has any pretensions to have “come over with the Conqueror.” The dog is not less worthy of admiration on that account. It is futile to inquire too closely into his ancestry; like Topsy, “he growled” and we must love him for himself alone.

It is thought that the Affenpinscher may have been involved in the ancestry of this dog. Other breeds, such as the Pug, may also played a part to its development.

Attractive and Distinguish Features of Brussels Griffon

It is hardy, compact, portable, very intelligent, equally smart and alert in appearance, affectionate, very companionable, and, above all, it possesses the special characteristic of wonderful eyes, ever changing in expression, and compared with which the eyes of many other toy breeds appear as a glass bead to a fathomless lake.

Feeding Habits: Brussels Griffons are hardy little dogs, though, like most others, they are more susceptible to damp than to cold. While not greedy, like the Terrier tribe, they are usually good feeders and good doers, and not tiresomely dainty with regard to food, as is so often the case with Toy Spaniels.

It must be admitted that Griffons are not the easiest of dogs to rear, particularly at weaning time. From five to eight weeks is always a critical period in the puppy hood of a Griffon, and it is necessary to supersede their maternal nourishment with extreme caution.

Grooming: Daily brushing for both Brussels Griffon and Belgian Griffon. Glove brush for Griffons Brabancons.

Physical appearance of the Brussels Griffon

Head: Rounded, furnished with somewhat hard, irregular hairs, longer round the eyes, on the nose and cheeks.

Ears: Erect when cropped as in Belgium, semi erect when un-cropped.

Eyes: Very large, black, or nearly black; eyelids edged with black, eyelashes long and black, eyebrows covered with hairs, leaving the eye they encircle perfectly uncovered.

Nose: Always black, short, surrounded with hair converging upward to meet those which surround the eyes. Very pronounced stop.

Lips: Edged with black, furnished with a moustache. A little black in the moustache is not a fault.

Chin: Prominent without showing the teeth, and edged with a small beard.

Chest: Rather wide and deep.

Legs: As straight as possible, of medium length.

Tail: Erect, and docked to two thirds.

Color: In the Griffons Bruxellois, red; in the Griffons Belges, preferably black and tan, but also grey or fawn; in the Petit Brabancon, red or black and tan.

Coat: Harsh and wiry, irregular, rather long and thick. In the Brabancon it is smooth and short.

Weight: Light weight, 5 lb. maximum; and heavy weight, 12lb. maximum.

Height: 18 to 20 cm / 7 to 8 in

Faults to avoid in Brussels Griffon

Light eyes, silky hair on the head, brown nails, teeth showing, a hanging tongue or a brown nose.