Appearance:

The Brussels griffon is a strange looking tiny dog. It has a smashed in face and dark, bulging eyes. Their nose is right in between their two eyes and their mouth is right underneath. They have small floppy ears and a small body. They are not very big and normally have a docked tail. They are very often compared to an “ewok” which a typed of alien from the famous movie series “Star Wars.” But in reality they resemble a monkey or an affenpinscher. There are three different types of Brussels Griffon. There are the Griffon Bruxellois, Griffon Belge and Petit Brabancon.  There are not many differences between the three. They just have different colored coats and texture of the coat. The Griffon Bruzellois and Griffon Belge have a rough wiry coat. Their coats are short but not as short as the Petit Brabancon. The Petit Brabancon’s coat is similar to a pug’s. It is short and smooth, unlike the other two types. The Griffon Bruzellois’ coat is red or reddish. The Griffon Belge is black or black with tan or red. The Petit Brabancon can be any of those. They are 7 to 8 inches tall and weigh about 6 to 12 pounds.

Personality:

The Brussels Griffon is a happy, little, tiny dog. They are full of life and energy. They are skilled climbers and full of curiosity, but be careful they can get into some serious trouble. They can be comfortable with guests. But they can also be vicious. They need to be socialized or they can become shy and not defensive. It is important to train any dog. Brussels Griffons can be difficult to train. They are not dogs that enjoy pleasing. They are stubborn and strong willed. You must be firm and not give in. If they become dominate things will go downhill from there. Since they are difficult to train they are not great for people who have children. They may snap at children and training them to like children or become comfortable with children is difficult and most people don’t have the will power to make them get along.

Origin:

The Brussels Griffon is from Belgium. It is thought that they are part affenpinscher and part Belgium street dog, which is similar to a fox terrier. And later it was thought to be bred with the pug. Cab drivers used them to attract people and discourage thieves. They were also used as ratters in stables. They were often referred to as the “bearded dog”. This referred to the long patch of hair around the mouth or muzzle area. During the outbreak of World War 1 in the early 1900s they became extremely unpopular. But they are making a comeback.

picture from:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3406/3564251170_4fe723ee9f_o.jpg

http://kotisivukone.fi/files/pikkukopla.tarinoi.fi/kuvat/ulkona_9.5.07_013.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Brussels_Griffon_Rembrant.png