Griffon Bruxellois

The Griffon Bruxellois, or Brussels Griffon, is a toy dog named after its home city of Brussels in Belgium. The name can cover three dogs that share one standard and differ only in coat and color: the Griffon Bruxellois, the Griffon Belge and the smooth-coated Petit Brabançon. Some registries treat them as separate breeds and others as varieties of one.

History

All three descend from the Smousje, a small, rough-coated, terrier-like dog kept in stables to kill rodents. Belgian coachmen were fond of these wiry stable dogs, and in the 19th century they crossed them with imported toy breeds. The Pug and the King Charles Spaniel shaped the modern type. They also brought in the short black coat of the Petit Brabançon, at first considered a fault, and the rich red and black and tan colors.

The breed became popular in the late 19th century with workers and nobles alike. The first Griffon Bruxellois was registered in 1883, in the first volume of the Belgian stud-book. Queen Marie Henriette bred and promoted the dogs and gave them an international following, and clubs were founded in England in 1897 and in the United States in 1945.

The two world wars were disastrous for the breed. By the end of the second, Belgium had almost no Griffons left, and the breed survived through the work of dedicated breeders, especially in the United Kingdom. It has never been numerous and is generally uncommon today.

Appearance

The Griffon is small and sturdy, standing 23 to 28 cm tall and weighing 4 to 5 kg. It has a domed head, a short nose, an underbite and large eyes, which together give the face a human look. The coat is either rough and wiry or short and smooth, in red, black and tan, or black and reddish.

Temperament

The FCI describes the Griffon as well balanced, proud and alert, neither timid nor aggressive, and very attached to its owner. It tends to bond with one person above all. The AKC notes that it copes poorly with being alone and is sensitive enough to react badly to harsh training. Griffons are curious and playful, good with children who do not tease them, and usually get along with other pets, though they may try to boss dogs far larger than themselves.

Care and health

The smooth coat needs little grooming; the rough coat needs attention every week.

The most serious inherited problems are syringomyelia, in which fluid-filled cavities form in the spinal cord, and Chiari-like malformation, which can lead to it. The large eyes and short muzzle leave the eyes exposed to scratches, and cataracts, lens luxation and glaucoma also occur. Puppies are sometimes born with a cleft palate, and some litters need a caesarean. A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.3 years.

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