A Breed Apart: Brussels Griffon
The Brussels Griffon is a small breed of dog with a rather comical look and a personality to match. They have been described as resembling an Ewok from the Star Wars movies, and it’s not difficult to see why. With its large domed head, short muzzle, large, slightly protruding eyes, over-bite, and a tongue that often sticks out, its easy to see why people make the Ewok comparison. The Brussels also sports a dense red or brown coat and black face markings to complete the picture.
As you might have guessed from the name, the Brussels Griffon hails from the Belgian capital city of Belgium. They were very popular with drivers of horse drawn cabs, who used them to control rodents in their stables. The breeds debut as a show dog was in 1880, when it appeared at the Brussels Expo.
This exposure resulted in the breed becoming more common as companion dogs, and as people became aware of their intelligence and affectionate nature they became popular pets. The Brussels Griffon is a happy, high-spirited, and feisty little dog who loves human company and also gets on well with other dogs and non-canine pets.
These dogs will keep you amused for hours with their antics. The seem to have a knack for comedy, and love performing tricks. But they are also brave little dogs who are very protective, and make good watch dogs. A Griffon is not afraid to take on a much bigger adversary.
This unfortunately also makes them prone to dominance. You’ll need a firm, consistent hand with a Griffon, to make sure he understands his place in the pack hierarchy. If you fail to show leadership with this breed you’re likely to end up with dog who thinks he rules the roost and displays problem behaviors like barking, growling and snapping.It doesn’t have to come to this though, with obedience training, socialization, and enough physical and mental stimulation, the Griffon makes an excellent pet.
The Brussels Griffon is generally a healthy dog breed with few inherited problems, although they may develop eye and respiratory problems and are quite sensitive to heat. The typical lifespan for the breed is 12-15 years.
Grooming does take a bit of time, particularly in the rough coated variety. The dog will need to be brushed every day, to keep it in good condition. The upside is that these dogs shed very little.
These are energetic dogs who, despite their small size, need lots of exercise. The Griffon will need a walk every day and will also enjoy games like tag and fetch. They can live in an apartment provided their exercise needs are met.One last thing you should be aware of is that Griffons are avid climbers. You’ll find to take precautions to prevent them scaling bookshelves and cupboards as they can easily injure themselves. They’ll also climb trees, and if the tree is close to a boundary fence, they may escape from your property.
Finding dog names, for your Brussels Griffon is an easy task, when you know where to look. My recommendation is puppy names hq.com, a site with an extensive database of dog names including 1000s of girl dog names to choose from.
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