Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Breed Profile: Brussels Griffon

The Brussels Griffon is a small sturdy dog with a distinctive face.  Griffons have bulbous eyes, a walrus mustache, a pushed in nose and a prominent lower jaw.  The coat comes in red, belge (black and reddish brown), black and tan, and black.  Coat texture comes in two varieties, wiry and smooth. 


Katie has a black wiry coat.



The smooth-coated are called Brabancons or Petit Brabancon.  The smooth coat is recessive, so naturally the wiry coated Brussels Griffon are more common.  Griffon, after all, means wiry.

At first known as the Griffon d'Ecurie (Stable Griffon), this dog was used in stables as ratters.  The combination of the Affenpinscher and the Belgian street dog (a dog resembling a Fox Terrier) are believed to be the beginnings of the Griffon d' Ecurie.  Later, some Pug, King Charles Spaniel and English Toy Spaniel were added to the mix to create the Brussels Griffon we know today.

Nowadays, the Brussels Griffon's job is companion.  Still, he retains the verve that made him beloved back in his stable days.  The Brussels Griffon tends to be a climber and therefore may "escape".  This is especially problematic because he lacks a homing instinct (this from his Pug heritage, along with the pushed in nose). 

The Brussels Griffon gets along well with other dogs as well as other pets. He can be a little bossy, however (Terrier heritage).  He likes attention and affection, particularly from his favorite loved ones. He is a good watchdog and proves it by barking, sometimes a lot. 


Some Facts Griffon

- life span 12-15 years
- the tail is typically docked to 1/3
- weight:  8-10 pounds
- height at shoulder:  9-11 inches
- also known as:  Griffon Bruxellois, Griffon Belge, Belgian Griffon
- old Belgium folk songs tell of "bearded dogs"


Brussels Griffon Manifesto

I am an indoor dog,  I want to be close to you, guard you, and let you heap praise upon me.




 



Next Breed Profile:   Old English Sheepdog!





See some nice pictures

8 comments:

  1. She almost resmbles a cat.

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  2. Hey, Miss Puddin' of the Daily Pup is sooo cool. I always wanted a Bulldog, English Bull or Boxer. But I had an aunt, who was raised show dogs warn me about the sloppy, slobbering jowls. So I sit on the fence.

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  3. Yep. Miss Puddin is so sweet. Your aunt exaggerates the drool of the Bulldog. It's the Mastiffs and the St Bernards and the Newfoundlands that soak you with their drool! Seriously, I've hung out with Bulldogs and Boxers. They don't drool anymore than a poodle does.

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  4. Replies
    1. Indeed. Katie was the smallest of a group of four dogs living together. She was not technically the most dominant of the bunch but had that strange dignity. I referred to that pack as Katie et al.

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  5. I've met couple of lovely griffons and they are extremely sweet. The latest is black one and is 12 years old and still play as pup, he is a sweetheart!


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