Brussels Griffon: A Good Choice For Active, Busy People By Connie Limon At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

The Brussels Griffon (Griffon Bruxellois) is the only toy dog in which the coat should be harsh and tough. For this reason the Brussels Griffon probably has a little advantage over the other toy breeds in that he is able to scramble over rough country. He is sturdy and bright and a most useful little companion.

The chief characteristics of a Brussels Griffon are:

• A large head;
• Short undershot jaw;
• Full black eyes;
• Bristling whiskers;
• Rough red coat;
• Cobby body;
• The more monkeyish in expression the better;
• Ears are cropped adding a smart, alert expression.

Breeding the Brussels Griffon

Keep in mind that the Griffon’s origin is of recent date and because of this great care must be exercised in selecting authentic stock. Inbreeding must be carefully guarded against as it is apt to destroy their stamina and intelligence. Intelligence is among the most charming characteristics of this little monkey-face dog. Without intelligence they are not true to type.

In regard to size it should be remembered that it is not the smallest of matrons that produces the smallest pups. A matron of fair size, about 8 pounds, and a small but strong sire is probably the best combination to produce true to type Brussels Griffon. The Griffon was never intended to be extremely small. The best Brussels Griffons of today is probably not much smaller than the original ones.

General appearance

In general appearance of the Brussels Griffon you might say it is a lady’s little dog with high intelligence, robust, compact. His head should be rounded, with hard, irregular hairs, longer around the eyes, on the nose and cheeks. The ears should be cropped to add to his smart and alert expression. Without cropped ears, this expression is lost. His eyes should be very large, black or nearly black, eyelashes long and black, eyebrows covered with hairs, leaving the eyes they encircle uncovered. His nose should always be black, short and surrounded by hair converging upwards and going to meet those which surround his eyes. Lips are edged with black and with a moustache. The chin is prominent. The teeth do not show. His chin is edged with a beard.

The Brussels Griffon has a tail that is erect and cut to two-thirds. His coat is harsh, wiry, irregular, and long.

Weight of a Brussels Griffon at the maximum is ideally nine pounds. Lightest weight ideally is about four to five pounds, which makes the Brussels Griffon a fairly small specimen of a toy breed. He adapts well to small spaces but also is sturdy and rugged enough to roam the countryside. Very little grooming is required after a romp through even the roughest of territories. He is a good choice for active lifestyles, children and adults.

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