In Belgium, there are three small terriers which are collectively known
as the Belgian Griffons. They include the Petite Brabancon which is smooth
coated, the Brussels Griffon which has a red rough coat, and the Belgian
Griffon which has a rough coat of colors other than red. They were introduced
to the United States and Great Britain in the 1880s. They are shown separately
in Europe while in the United States and Great Britain, all three are recognized
as one breed, the Brussels Griffon. Originally they were bred to keep vermin
out of stables, particularity those of urban hansom cabs (the equivalent
of today's taxi). Their full ancestry is unknown but believed to be a mixture
of various toy spaniels and terriers.
The Griffons are very affectionate and likeable dogs. They are intelligent,
sensitive and alert with a jaunty good nature. They need and enjoy association
with people. The smooth coated variety needs little grooming other than
brushing and occasional bathing. The rough coated varieties need periodic
hand stripping. Clipping the coat may eliminate the rough feel. The Griffons
enjoy a good romp in a large fenced area.
The head of the Griffon is large and round with a domed forehead. There
is a well defined drop (or stop) between the skull and muzzle. The chin
is large and prominent. The lower jaw is longer than the upper giving the
Griffon an undershot bite. Teeth and tongue should not show when the mouth
is closed. The nose is large and black. The ears are small, set high and
naturally semi erect. If cropped, they are cropped to a very sharp point.
The eyes are large, round and black and set wide apart. The chest is deep
and the back is short and level. The legs are of medium length and well
muscled. The feet are small, round and compact. Tails are usually docked
short. There are two distinct coat types. The rough coat of the Brussels
and Belgian Griffons is wiry and dense. The coat on the head is slightly
longer than elsewhere, forming a fringe around the head and a beard. The
smooth coat is similar to the Boston Terrier or English Bulldog with no
wire hair allowed. Color is as described above. The average height of the
Griffon is between seven and eight inches. The average weight is between
six and twelve pounds.
mzchow@earthlink.net of Kentucky writes:
Know your breeder p; a well-bred Griff is a treasure.
I've lived with six Griffs over the past twelve years. I'm not a breeder.
Rule #1: find a REPUTABLE breeder. The sudden popularity of Griffs caused
by movies and TV exposure, is the cause of breeding "for profit"
that has ruined many other breeds as well. Do your homework. Do NOT buy
on impulse from pet stores or backyard breeders. A GOOD Brussels Griffon
is everything you could want in a dog that is your constant companion. They
are very smart, can be house-trained, and have charming personalities. They
can do obedience and agility work and learn endless tricks, if taught. What
would you expect from a dog that has been caged for months and never taught
anything? Try that with a child and see what you get! You who complain ...
have you taken the dog to a training class? Do you know anything about the
breed standard; ever seen your dog's parents? Don't blame the dog for failing.
YOU are the one who is to blame. Good breeders don't give up their puppies
to people who don't have a good home situation for a Griff. Most young children
play too rough for any Toy breed. The cost of a good quality Griff is high
and they aren't easy to get, because good breeders protect them. If you
are lucky enough to convince a recognized breeder or BG rescue to let you
have one, you will be addicted for life. Please remember, you get the dog
you deserve. Not many people deserve a Griff!
Name withheld by request of U.S. writes:
Best of all breeds.
These are the best little dogs I have owned. To date I've owned six
females. I have put championships, obedience , agility and K9 good citizen
titles on them. They have passed the temperament testing and qualified for
registered therapy dogs. With the proper socalizing (very important) they
grow to be proud, confident dogs. Very eager to please their master when
training with kindness. This breed is very smart and if not treated with
respect you will not get results (can you blame them?). In other words you
get what you give. As far as housebreaking, the same goes. All my girls
are wonderful and very clean. You also get what you pay for, beware of puppymills
and pet shops. If you want quality you're going to have to pay for it.
mmlhelm@aol.com of Connecticut writes:
Not the sweet little dog I thought I was getting.
I recently purchased a Brussels puppy as a second dog. My first is a
sweet little Bichon Frise. I was told he was a sweet little lap dog. He
is always trying to bite my Bichon. He will sleep near or on you but hates
to be held. He can walk, run, and play for hours. I would not recommend
keeping them confined to small spaces. We are having a tough time housebreaking
him. He prefers to do his business in the house and not always on newspaper.
He is always grunting, growling and crying. If you talk to him he answers
you in a weird high-pitched voice. He is very determined and tries and tries
until he accomplishes what he wants such as jumping on the bed. He is very
clownish and dances around on his back legs. It has taken a while to get
used to him. If he was one of my children he would be the one that would
turn my hair gray!
wjbair@i2k.net of Michigan writes:
Wonderful companions!
Throughout our 46 years of marriage, my husband and I have been fortunate
to be owned intermittenly by three Brussels Griffons. What a precious little
delightful, affectionate and intelligent companion they are. It's impossible
to misunderstand their feelings just by the way they cock their beautiful
heads when you talk to them. I feel sorry for the lady in these comments
who says she doesn't like her Griff. All I can say is it sounds as though
she should NOT EVER own an animal/pet. I only hope your little Griff has
found a new home that is worthy of her love and faithfulness and that you
have not maimed her dear little life.
Name withheld by request of New Zealand writes:
Smells horrible and is huge.
My Brussels Griffon is a brat. When we first got her we were told they
were smallish (medium cat size). This is not true. She pees everywhere and
escapes all the time; sheds all over my clothes and furniture; knows no
tricks, can't even sit or stay. She bites strangers. I can't buy her any
cute little harnesses, or collars, because she is too big. She gets gooey
eyes which have to be cleaned every day. She has an enlarged heart. She
never cuddles and would rather attack our cat than sit near us. She is not
a lap dog and hates children under twelve.
colleen@socal.rr.com of the U.S. writes:
A great companion.
I am an owner of a Brussels Griffon and after having had several dogs
during my lifetime, this is the best there is for me. She is a constant
companion and will follow from room to room. She is very intelligent and
looks almost human as she listens to my instructions. She is fun to be around
and approaches every new experience with joy. I would not recommend this
dog for a family with small children since the dog is small and could be
easily hurt. Mine is trained, walks on a leash well, knows her routine although
still a puppy. This is a great dog.
Name withheld by request of Australia writes:
Bloody awful.
I can't stand my Brussels Griffon. She pees everywhere, eats everything,
barks constantly, hates children, and is so dirty and unhygienic. She always
bites my kids and they are scared of her. We want to give her away but she
cost a couple of hundred dollars and my husband likes her. Personally, I
would never suggest anyone to buy one. I was told how quiet and tiny they
are, gosh that is untrue! When she is in heat she bleeds everywhere and
climbs up the gate to escape. I can understand why they aren't popular.
My girl has had hip problems and this is apparently common in the breed.
They are demons!
purpleones@aol.com of Tennessee writes:
These dogs are not very "dog-like."
I have now had the pleasure of owning three of these marvelous little
dogs. All three had very distinct personalities but also some similar characteristics.
None of my Griffs (all were male) would play much, if at all, with typical
dog toys. They did not like to chase things, chew things, pull at things
or any other typical dog playtime activities. Their favorite thing was (and
still is) to be with me. Whatever I am doing, they want to be there and
participate. I am self-employed and have a retail bird store attached to
my home. My boys love to be in the shop working with me (they of course
are lounging on their snuggle balls) and they are fantastic at greeting
customers and letting me know that someone is coming in. I have heard them
described as "Velcro dogs," and I absolutely agree with that assessment.
If anyone is contemplating adding one to the family, the negatives to this
breed are heavy shedding (in the smooth coat variety) and difficulty housebreaking.
I finally got smart and took up all the carpet in my house. Laminate flooring
is the way to go with as many animals as I have.
I absolutely adore my boys (I still have two at this time) and can't imagine
my life without one of these little dogs. Just be prepared to spend plenty
of time with them because then you will get the complete experience of having
a Griff. I would guess that a Griff left alone for large periods of time
would not thrive quite as well.
I have personally not had any major health problems with any of the three,
but two have had some problems with bladder/urinary tract matters. The toughest
thing about owning a Griff is finding one to purchase. They are difficult
to locate and from what I have been told, may be due to breeding difficulties
and problems with actually delivering healthy puppies. Try to find a breeder
you trust and who seems to be reputable.