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Brussels Griffon breed guide
The American Kennel Club calls the Brussels Griffon a humanlike toy of complex character with enough personality for 10 ordinary dogs, smart, devoted and comically self-important.
Big, almost human eyes behind a fringed beard and mustache are the signature of the breed.
Temperament
It is a sensitive companion for discerning grownups. Brussels Griffons have a high degree of intelligence and bond strongly with their owners, which makes them easy to train.
Many Brussels Griffons excel in canine events. They are happiest doing activities together with their people.
Lifespan
Brussels Griffons live 12 to 15 years. Breeders screen for heart problems, cataracts, patella luxation and hip dysplasia.
Like all flat-faced breeds, Brussels Griffons may have breathing problems in sunny, hot or humid weather. They usually snore.
Care
Two types of coat come with the two types of Brussels Griffon, smooth and rough. The smooth coat needs weekly brushing, daily during the shedding seasons of a week or two in spring and fall, plus an occasional bath.
Griffons need at least a half-hour of moderate exercise a day and love to romp and play. A game of chasing the ball is fun for both dog and owner.
History
Griffon-type dogs were well known in Europe for centuries. Van Eyck's 1434 portrait of the Arnolfini Couple shows a distant ancestor, a small griffon-type dog with a longer muzzle than today's flat-faced version.
The Brussels Griffon's story properly begins in Brussels in the early 1800s, where it rose from rough-and-tumble rat dog to sophisticated laptop companion. Coachmen kept small terrier-type dogs to hold down the rat population in their stables.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 3 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 4 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 3 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 4 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 4 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 3 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |