Brussels Griffon - Top 10 Interesting Facts

Originally bred to hunt and kill rats, Brussels Griffon is former Belgian street dog that is a distinctive and unusual dog breed.
There are TOP 10 interesting facts about Brussels Griffon.

1) Origin

The Brussels griffon is descended from the German affenpinscher and the Belgian street dog, to produce in the 17th century the griffon, a dog with a rough coat. In the 19th century the griffon was crossed with the pug, producing the smooth coat variety. The breed became a common sight riding in and supposedly guarding Belgium cabs. By the late 1800s the breed had stepped into Belgium dog show rings; their popularity grew and by the early 1900s they were in demand by the Belgium upper class. The first Brussels griffon was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1910. These small dogs are part of the toy group and make an excellent companion pet.

2) Appearance

Brussels griffons are small-sized dogs weighing eight to 12 pounds. A Brussels griffon's height is about 10 inches at the shoulder. Their body is square and their head is large and round with a very short nose. The dogs generally mature at one year, although they reach their full size around six to eight months.

3) Personality

Brussels griffons are very active. They do not make good kennel dogs and prefer being with their owners. They can be demanding and assertive. They are good for apartment dwellers and homes with small backyards, but require daily exercise. They tend to be stubborn and very intelligent. They do not accept harsh punishment and require patience when training.

4) Suspiciousness

Many Brussels Griffons will put on a display of excited ferociousness (in other words, they pitch a fit) when other people or animals approach them or anything they consider "theirs". It sounds funny, but isn't. Without careful socialization, a Brussels Griffon may be suspicious of everyone.

5) Family Dog

Brussels griffons need a large amount of interaction with people. They are good with family dogs and cats, but can be dog aggressive toward strange dogs. Other pets, such as rodents, birds or reptiles, should be kept away from them.

6) Stubborness

Brussels Griffons have a mind of their own and will make you prove that you can make them do things. For example, they are often too quick to sound the alarm, so you must teach them not to bark excessively and to stop barkingwhen you tell them to. This only works if you establish the right relationship between you and your Griffon, where you are the leader and he is the follower.

7) Watchdog

They make excellent watchdogs, but poor guard dogs because of their small size. They can bark excessively if not properly trained. They can become aggressive if threatened by either a stranger or another dog and are fearless, regardless of the size discrepancy.

8) Coat

The Brussels griffon has two types of coats: the rough and smooth. The rough coat is harsh and wiry, while the smooth coat is straight, short, tight and glossy. The rough coat requires clipping and stripping. They require brushing and combing twice a week. The smooth coat needs only a quick brushing weekly. They can be red, black and reddish brown with a black mask and whiskers, black and tan, and solid black.

9) Daily Walks

It is an active toy breed which needs its share of daily walks to release pent up energy. A romp in an open area takes care of most of its exercise needs. This dog is sensitive to warm climate and is prone to heat stroke, so should be adequately protected.

10) Fragility

Too many people acquire a toy breed puppy without understanding how incredibly fragile a toy breed is. You can seriously injure or kill a Brussels Griffon puppy by stepping on him or sitting on him. And Brussels Griffons can seriously injure or kill themselves by leaping from your arms or off the back of your sofa. A larger dog can grab a Brussels Griffon and break his neck with one quick shake. Owning a toy breed means constant supervision and surveillance of what's going on around your tiny dog. Brussels Griffons must always be kept indoors, in a safely fenced yard, or on-leash. They are just too easy to injure when not under your complete control.

Source:
http://www.hillspet.com/en/us/dog-breeds/brussels-griffon
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/brusselsgriffons.html