Chances are you have seen and loved the dog in Jack Nicholson starrer As Good as It Gets. That cute little dog is a Griffon Bruxellois or Brussels Griffon also known by various other names like the Brabancon or petit Brabancon, Brussels terrier and even as Stable E’curie (Little street urchins). In this guide, we will study everything one needs to know about raising a Griffon Bruxellois puppy along with some interesting facts about this beautiful breed.
Facts about the Brabancon / Griffon Bruxellois
- The Griffon Bruxellois was first developed in Belgium for keeping vermin in stables under control and also for alerting owners to strangers.
- Several breeds have gone into the making of today’s Griffon Bruxellois including the pug, the German Affenpinscher , the ruby red English spaniel and Irish terrier.
- Once the breed was introduced to Britain, it was highly sought after and people were willing to pay huge amounts of money for Griffons with beautiful red coats. So high was their demand that some unscrupulous breeders even went as far as dyeing their dog’s coats red.
- Griffon Bruxellois is the perfect Little Lady’s Dog. It has the right combination of intelligence, good looks, sprightly robustness and compact appearance.
- Belgium’s Queen Mary was greatly interested in the Griffon. Upon her death, her griffon named Whin was entrusted to a servant and even received a legacy of £ 2000 to enjoy for the remainder of his life.
- A griffon bruxellois named Kiki was seen in the 2001 film Gosford Park.
- The wirehaired pointing Griffon and Griffon Bruxellois have no relation whatsoever and are two distinct breeds.
Characteristic features
- This toy dog is known for its monkey face, a short, thick body, large round skull and an undershot chin. It has a black nose with wide open nostrils which enables it to breathe easily.
- Griffon Bruxellois come in two coat types: smooth and rough. The former is made with short thick hair whereas the latter is wiry and dense. They come in 4 different coat colors-red, belge (black and reddish brown), black and tan and black.
- Griffon Bruxellois height – 8 to 10 inches; weight between 8 to 12 pounds.
- The petit Brabancon or the smooth coated Griffon is a handsome dog with a ‘clean shaven’ face. It is often mistaken for a pug.
Where to find a Griffon Bruxellois
If your heart is set on a Griffon Bruxellois puppy, your first step is to look out for reputed breeders in USA. The official club of the Griffon Bruxellois in America is known as the ABGA club. You can find many registered breeders on this site. The average Brussels griffon price could lie in the range of $800 to $1000 depending on the bloodline and the breeder. You could actually try looking for rescue griffon Bruxellois at a local dog shelters. After all; adopting a dog is always better than buying one. Not only is it cheaper than paying a breeder, you’d also be saving a dog‘s life.
Temperament
This dog has a mischievous, monkey like face with a personality to match. The rough coated variety is especially fun, energetic and lively. Whether you live in the town or the country, in a small house or a large mansion; this dog can make one amusing, lively pet for your household. The Griffon breed is quite easy to train and you will always find a Griffon Bruxellois in every dog show around the world. They have received great accolades for their performance in agility and obedience trials. Their terrier blood ancestry makes them lively, alert and ever the ones commanding attention. Your Griffon Bruxellois is fearless, determined and very confident. He gets along well with other animals and can hold on his own but might even stand up to animals larger than himself. That is why you must always monitor your Griffon around unknown dogs larger than him. In general, this is a happy, affectionate and adaptable little dog that loves to please its master/mistress but could be a bit shy around strangers.
Training your Griffon
Start training your Griffon Bruxellois the moment he comes into your life unless you want a pet that is the devil incarnate. Griffons can be very bossy and won’t hesitate to do as they please. That is why training is important to show him who the boss is. This breed has the propensity to pull out flowers from the gardens. If only they knew how to differentiate between weeds and flowers they would make such valuable help to ardent gardeners. So do train your pet what is and isn’t acceptable right from the beginning. Also socialize your pet by introducing him to people and dogs in your circles. This way, your dog will not hesitate or be shy in unfamiliar setups. You can also enroll your pet in obedience classes near you. Always use consistency and patience while training your Griffon; avoid resorting to harsh training methods.
Grooming
The younger your pup is when he is first introduced to grooming, the more likely he will take to later grooming routines amenably. Invest in good quality brushes and a grooming table to place your pup upon. This will make grooming easier. Thankfully, this sweet tempered dog does not shed too much and doctors often recommend this breed to allergic people. However, regular grooming at home or at professional facilities can prevent mats and tangles in hair and also eliminate ticks and fleas. Besides, your pet will look forward to these grooming sessions as a time to bond with you.
Health issues
This is a normally healthy breed with a life span of 10 to 15 years. Some common health issues seen in the Griffon Bruxellois are cleft palate, syringomyelia (fluid filled cavities within the spinal cord, near the brain), glaucoma and other eyes issues. Luxating patella is also seen in many Griffons.