Brussels Griffon

The Brussels Griffon is derived from a small hard-haired Brussels dog called "Smousje" and is also at the origin of the Petit Brabançon and the Belgian Griffon. The Smousje was used to guard carriages and hunt rats from the stable. Representations of small hard-haired griffons resembling the Brussels Griffon are made as early as the seventeenth century. In the nineteenth century, ruby King Charles Spaniels (red coat) and Pugs are crossed with the Smousje, fixing the current type of small Belgian dogs. The Yorkshire, the Affenpinscher, and the Miniature Schnauzer may have participated in the development of the breed. In 1883, the first small Belgian dogs (Petit Brabançon, Brussels Griffon, and Belgian Griffon) were registered in the Saint Hubert book of origins (LOSH) managed by the Royal Saint-Hubert Society. They were popular in the early twentieth century, notably thanks to the interest shown to them by Marie-Henriette of Habsburg-Lorraine, second queen of the Belgians. With 60 registrations in the French book of origins (LOF) in 2012, the Brussels Griffon is one of the least known breeds in Group 9 of the International Cynological Federation "companion and toy dogs".

The Brussels Griffon is described in the FCI standard as a balanced, alert dog, very attached to its master, and vigilant. It must be neither fearful nor aggressive. Due to its great liveliness, it is not recommended for masters having children.

The FCI standard for the Brussels Griffon, although it is numbered differently for the three breeds of small Belgian dogs, is common to all three breeds. The Brussels Griffon is a small dog, of robust gait with well-developed bone structure and elegant. The body is practically inscriptible in a square. Attached high, the docked tail is shortened by one third. The undocked tail is carried raised with the tip directed toward the back. The limbs are parallel, of good bone structure and sufficiently spaced. The head represents the most characteristic part of the body. The hard and ruffled hair is longer above the eyes, on the muzzle, cheeks, and chin. Fairly large compared to the body, the head has a very short muzzle whose length does not exceed 1.5 cm. The wide nose with well-open nostrils is at the same height as the eyes. The tip of the nose is raised toward the rear, which seen in profile, places the chin, nose, and forehead on the same line. Well spaced, the eyes are large and round, dark brown in color. Attached high, the small ears are carried semi-erect. If the ears are docked, they are carried erect and pointed. The coat is hard, slightly wavy, with undercoat. The beard and mustaches begin below the eye line and well cover the muzzle and cheeks. Longer hair forms eyebrows above the eyes. The coat is red or reddish. A little black on the beard and mustache is tolerated.

The hard-haired coat of the Brussels Griffon requires regular grooming. The skull, as well as the ears and stop, must be carefully plucked to leave only very short hair, the beard and mustaches remaining as long as possible. Plucking is recommended rather than clipping, which would tend to soften the hard hair.