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The Belgian Griffons, also known as the Griffon Belge, the Griffon Bruxellois, the Brussels Griffon, the Petit Brabancon, and the Belgian Griffon, is a sweet little dog with a huge personality. These dogs were bred, as far as it has been determined, from mating Irish Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers, Affenpinschers, and English Toy Spaniels. These dogs were used by cab drivers of the 17th century in Brussels to keep the barns free of rats and other vermin. Today, the breed is quite rare, but they are often kept as family pets and companion dogs.

This breed is accepted for registry in the CKC, the FCI, the APRI, and the NKC. In all of these organizations, they are classified under the "terrier" dog category. Although having a registered dog may not mean that much to the average pet owner who is only looking for a loving companion, it does increase the monetary value of the dog for those who want to breed the animal or compete with him or her.

The Belgian Griffons is a little dog with a large, round head that has a short, "squished" muzzle. According to breed standards, the dogs should be between 7 and 8 inches tall, when measured from the ground to the withers. Their weight can vary a bit, but they should be between 6 and 12 pounds, with males typically being slightly larger than females of the breed. The ears are held in the flopped position when left natural and set high on the head. There are some that have their ears cropped to stand semi-erect. The eyes and the nose are black in color. The eyes are wide set and relatively large, with long eyelashes. The teeth should meet in an overbite. The tail is short, typically docked, and set rather high on the body.

The coat of the Belgian Griffon is short to medium in length and rough in texture. The acceptable coat colors are red, belge, red and brown, black and tan, and solid black. Their grooming is not easy and must be kept up to ensure that nothing is stuck in the fur and to prevent matting. Almost daily brushing is needed to keep this coat healthy and looking good. The breed is wonderful for those with pet allergies as they do not shed any hair.

They are highly intelligent dogs and can be trained quickly if they want to be, but they are often not all that inclined towards potty-training in particular. This can be a problem for many owners. Crate or puppy pad training can be helpful in this. Training must be consistent, with the human establishing his or her position as "pack leader" from the start. If you are patient, consistent and calm, the dog will respond well to training and learn quickly.

They are affectionate and loving with their families. They are both playful and charming. This breed enjoys being with his or her family and friends above all else and is also good with children and other pets. The dog is very loyal and alert to any sense of approaching danger. This makes them very good watchdogs. They are not guard dogs, certainly, but they will let you know with a sharp bark that someone is coming. They are very active and need to have room to run, but that room can be in an apartment or any size of home. They should also have a brisk walk daily. These little dogs are wonderful companions for the person who wants a true friend, but should never be obtained by soomeone who prefers a dog that requires little care or attention. They will want to be your sidekick for life.

Learn more about this author, Victoria Tiegert.
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