Brussels griffon
The Brussels Griffon began as a Belgian stable dog, bred to kill rats in Brussels coach houses, and was refined with Pug and King Charles Spaniel crosses into a small companion with a famously human-looking face.
It comes in rough and smooth coats.
It stands 18 to 25 centimetres, weighs 3.5 to 6 kilograms and lives twelve to fifteen years. It is a brachycephalic breed — the muzzle is very short — and that is the defining health consideration. Temperament is bold, sensitive and enormously attached to its person, with a terrier's confidence in a toy dog's body, and a reputation for being demanding of attention.
- Origin
- Brussels, Belgium; originally a stable ratter
- Size
- 18–25 cm; 3.5–6 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Rough or smooth; the rough coat needs stripping
- Temperament
- Bold, sensitive and intensely attached to its person
- Health
- Brachycephalic airway syndrome, eye injuries, whelping difficulty
Related: Grand basset griffon Vendeen
3 brussels griffon photos, newest first
Living with a brussels griffon
The flat face is the main issue. Look for open nostrils and a visible muzzle, and treat snoring, snorting and noisy breathing at rest as signs of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome rather than breed charm. Surgery helps significantly in affected dogs.
They overheat easily. Avoid exercise in heat, never leave one in a car, and use a harness rather than a collar.
The prominent eyes are exposed and injure easily. Any squinting or cloudiness is urgent.
Most litters are delivered by caesarean because of head size — a fact worth knowing about the breed's welfare generally.
The rough coat needs hand-stripping; the smooth needs a weekly brush. They are sensitive and dislike being left alone.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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