12d • Breed of the Week
Brussels Griffon
The Brussels Griffon is a dog that originated in Brussels, Belgium in the early 1800s. They are also known as the Brussels Bruxellois. At that time they were referred to as the griffons d’ecurie or wire-coated stable dogs. Their start was as rough and tumble rate dogs but it didn’t take long for them to become stylish lap dogs for the wealthy. There is a portrait that was done in 1434 of a dog that some consider a Brussels Griffon but due to the breed not being recognized until 1880 it is considered an ancestor possibly a Smous which was a common stable dog at that time. There is also a life sized statue of a Smous that indicated the Smous was larger than the modern Griffon and had a more well-defined muzzle.
The Brussel Griffon’s original rise to popularity was thanks to Henrietta Maria, Queen of the Belgians, in the 1870s. Thanks to her liking of the breed they became all the rage and kennel keepers of the upper class further refined the breed with a smaller body and a more human like face.
Originally it is thought that the Brussels Griffon was a cross between an Affenpinscher and Yorkshire Terrier but DNA testing has put those thoughts to rest. Such a crossing did exist at one point in the early 1900s thanks to a farmer in Flanders but became entirely extinct during WWI. Instead the modern Brussels Griffon is confirmed to be a cross between Pugs and English Toy Spaniels. This information is documented in a trunk full of papers that was owned by Lady Muriel Handley Spicer who is among the early influential breeders of the Brussels Griffon. The papers were Spicer’s original breeding records and charts not just for her own breeding kennel but also the Belgian kennel club, Société Royale Saint-Hubert.
Much like other breeds we have covered, WWI and WWII effected their numbers greatly and efforts had to be taken to keep the breed alive. The Brussels Griffon after WWI they struggled to gain numbers as a result of breeders being particular about undesirable things such as webbed toes.
In the United States the breed is recognized in two forms: the rough-coated Bruxellois and the smooth-coated Brabançon while in Europe they have three forms: the red coated Brussels Bruxellois, the rough black or black and tan Griffon Beige and the smooth-coated Petit Brabançon.
The popularity of the smooth or the rough coated version depends on where you are but presently it does seem, at least for me, that when the Brussels Griffon is mentioned the rough coated red variety comes to mind. They did see a spike in fandom in 1997 after one appeared in the movie As Good As It Gets starring Jack Nicholson. They are also popular on social media due to their “grumpy” expressions.
2
3 comments
Brussels Griffon
powered by
skool.com/beyond-the-leash-9053
Redirecting prey drive into purpose. Off-leash freedom through Predation Substitution Training
Suggested communities
Powered by