# Griffon Bruxellois Also known as: Brussels Griffon, Belgian Griffon, Griffon Belge, Petit Brabançon - **Group:** Companion & Toy (FCI group 9) - **Size:** Small - **Origin:** Belgium - **Height:** 18–28 cm - **Weight:** 3.5–6 kg - **Life expectancy:** 12–15 years - **Temperament:** Alert, Affectionate, Sensitive, Curious, Proud - **FCI standard:** No. 81 A tiny Belgian companion with a human-like face, domed head and big dark eyes. Sensitive, loyal and full of personality, it bonds closely with its person. ## Overview The Griffon Bruxellois is a small, sturdy toy dog with a short nose, domed head, underbite and almost human expression. It comes in rough-coated and smooth-coated forms, treated as varieties of one breed in many standards. It is a lively, curious and attached companion that wants to be close to its people and does not like being left alone. Gentle handling brings out its best. ## History The breed descends from the Smousje, a rough-coated little ratter kept in Brussels stables. Coachmen bred these Griffons d'Ecurie with imported toy breeds in the 19th century, and Pugs and King Charles Spaniels shaped the modern type and brought the smooth coat and red and black colours. Queen Marie Henriette helped make it fashionable. Both world wars nearly wiped it out in Belgium, and British breeders helped save it. It remains uncommon, though the film As Good as It Gets raised its profile. ## Appearance A small, sturdy dog standing roughly 23 to 28 cm and weighing about 4 to 5 kg. It has a domed skull, a very short nose, large dark eyes and a prominent chin with an underbite. The rough coat is wiry, while the smooth coat is short and flat. Colours are red, black and tan, or black and reddish. Docking and cropping are illegal in most of Europe. ## Temperament Griffons are proud, alert and very attached to their owner, often choosing one favourite person. They are curious, clever and have a great memory, yet they can be impatient and stubborn. They are good with considerate children and usually get along with other pets, but they have no idea of their size and may challenge much larger dogs. Harsh corrections upset them, so gentle, reward-based training works best. ## Care and exercise Exercise needs are modest: short walks and indoor play are enough. They do not like being alone for long and suit people who are home a lot. The smooth coat needs little care, while the rough coat needs weekly brushing and periodic hand stripping. Eyes should be checked regularly because they are large and exposed. ## Health Syringomyelia and Chiari-like malformation are serious concerns, so breeding dogs should be screened. Eye problems such as lacerations, cataracts, lens luxation and glaucoma are common. Cleft palate and whelping difficulties can occur. Life span averages about 13 years. ## Ratings (1 to 5) - Energy: 3 - Exercise needs: 2 - Grooming: 3 - Shedding: 2 - Trainability: 3 - Barking: 3 - Good with children: 3 - Good with other dogs: 3 Page: https://techtools.cz/tools/dog-atlas/griffon-bruxellois Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griffon_Bruxellois · https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q38889 Photo: Arne Fagerholt (CC BY 3.0), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monkey_Bizniz_Drama_Queen.jpg Profile written by an AI model from the sources above.