Fact Sheet: BRUSSELS GRIFFON

(BRUSSELS GRIFFON Dog Breed Profile)

Brussels Griffon weights
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Description:
There are actually three types of Brussels Griffon: 

Belgian Griffon
Brussels Griffon
Petit Griffon. 

All are considered to be toy dogs with a shoulder height of 7 to 8 inches and a weight of 6 to 12 pounds. The stop of the dog is very pronounced and the muzzle is short. The tail of the Griffon is usually docked and the ears can either be clipped or left natural. The coat of this dog comes in two varieties, smooth and rough. The rough coated Griffon has a wiry, longish coat with distinctive facial hair. The coat of the smooth is short and glossy. The Griffon will generally live to be 12 to 15 years old. This dog is also known as the Petit Brabancon and the Griffon Bruxellois.

History:
The first artistically rendered appearance of the Brussels Griffon is in the painting 'The Arnolfini Wedding' by Jan Van Eyck. This masterpiece was created in 1435 and shows the Griffon looking confidently out of the painting. The Griffon was used as a ratter in stables in its native Belgium and it is thought that the original dog was crossed with the Affenpinscher, the Pug, and the King Charles Spaniel to arrive at the dog with which we are familiar today.

Temperament:
The Brussels Griffon makes an excellent companion dog and is cheerful and confident. It loves to cuddle up with its favorite person and will expect plenty of attention. This small dog sometimes needs to be reminded of its size when trying to dominate dogs much larger than it is. The Brussels Griffon tends to bond strongly with one person and should be considered a one person dog. As such, it is probably not a suitable dog for homes with children, especially small ones. However, the Brussels Griffon does get along well with other household pets.

Health Issues:
As with all short-faced breeds, the Brussels Griffon can suffer from breathing problems. It should also be kept as cool as possible when the weather is hot. This breed can also have problems with their eyes, such as cataracts. The Griffon often experiences trouble with whelping and caesarian sections are often called for.

Grooming:
Although the smooth coated Brussels Griffon does not need more than a weekly brushing to keep the coat in good condition, the rough-coated dog will need rather intensive grooming. The dog should be brushed every day to keep mats and tangles from forming. Some people prefer to clip the rough coat shorter for ease of care. It is sometimes necessary to trim the hair on the hindquarters for sanitary reasons.

Living Conditions:
As the Brussels Griffon is exclusively a companion dog, it belongs in the house or apartment with the human with whom it has bonded. It is quite active and playful indoors and will get much of its exercise in this fashion. The Brussels will appreciate a walk every day, however, and should be given the opportunity to stretch its legs. This dog is unable to live outside and as it can suffer from heat stroke easily, should be kept out of the sun during hot weather.

By Scott Allan Lipe For more information on different Dog Breeds, Dog Training and Teacup Puppies for sale including Yorkies, Chihuahuas, and Morkies please visit our websites below. Brussels Griffon Puppies - Puppies or Dogs [http://www.puppies-or-dogs.com] Article Source: EzineArticles

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How to Train a WIREHAIRED POINTING GRIFFON

Wirehaired pointing griffon  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Are you trying to find out how to train a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon? You've come to the right place!

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, a gun dog, is a breed heavily favoured by huntsmen. Its ruggedness in retrieving and tracking game fowls make it an ideal companion even in rough terrain and weather. Icy waters or thick under brushes, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is never daunted. This is why this breed is often referred as the '4-wheel drive of hunting dogs'.

Griffons, or Griffs as some may call it, are developed in Europe by Dutch breeder. He did it by mixing German Griffons with French and German Pointers, Spaniels, Barbets and a Setter. It resulted in a breed ideal for hunting and as a house pet as well.

Griffons are medium-sized dogs. They have muscular limbs and long legs, obviously, built for running and agility. Their thick brows, beards and moustaches give them their distinctive handsome looks. Griffs, also, have rounded feet with webbed toes ideal for swimming.

They sport wiry coats that will continue to develop until they reach the mature age of three years old. To let new hair grow, they will need occasional trimming because they are a naturally low-shedding type of breeds. Coat texture may vary depending on their type of food and coat care methods. They come in a variety of colours, including steel grey with brown, white, or chestnut.

Temperament and Training of Wirehaired Pointing Griffons

Griffons are people-oriented dogs. They are highly intelligent and surprisingly very cooperative. When not in the field, they are less excitable as compared to other sporting breeds. Therefore, they are comfortable companions at home.

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon should be socialized extensively when young. This will greatly help their development toward adulthood. And owners must always take the role of a pack leader so the Griffon won't have dominance problems. As naturally dominant dogs, they will try to challenge their masters for the alpha position. If they succeed, they can be very stubborn and it will be difficult for you to manage them.

Although naturally mild-mannered when inside the house, Griffons still need daily exercise to exhaust their stored energy. When they seem overly energetic even at home, it only means that they lack the physical stimulation they direly need. They can be easily bored if not exercised regularly.

On the field, Griffons shine the brightest. They are never finicky about the terrain and weather conditions. They are courageous and persistent trackers. They are excellent swimmers and love to play in the water. Agility training is a very enjoyable activity for Wirehaired Pointing Griffons.

But it is not only in field work that Griffons thrive. They are also suitable for show ring because of their delightful obedience and superior intelligence. They are extremely eager to please and very friendly to either humans or animals. When owning Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, it is imperative to keep them physically and mentally fit. Giving them a job is absolutely beneficial for them. Griffons, however, are not suitable for apartment living. They need wide spaces, like backyards.

If your household has spacious yards for the Griffons and you exercise them well enough, they are easily the most affectionate, and good-natured dogs to be around.

By Ty Brown - Article Source: EzineArticles

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BRUSSELS GRIFFON

Photo by Ger Dekker

Group: Toy
Weight: 8-10 lbs
Height: 7-8 inches

Overview
There are three types of the Griffon, the Brussels Griffon, the Belgian Griffon and the Petit Griffon. The Brussels Griffon was first revealed at the 1880 Brussels exhibition and can also be seen in the paintings of Van Eyck, a Flemish painter. Originally these dogs were kept to keep vermin away, but today these dogs are companion dogs due to their charming character. This breed is well-known for it human-like expression and is also very cheerful.

Temperament
The Brussels Griffon is a very bright dog that is also very alert. This is a pleasant toy dog that makes an ideal companion dog. These dogs are spirited and curious, and they can also be very amusing and entertaining when they want to be. But they will also enjoy just lying on the laps of their owners. This is a very independent dog that also has a controlling streak if they are not rightly taught when young. At the same time, the Griffon is also very receptive, sharp and enjoyable to be around. The Brussels Griffon likes children - but is better if the children they are around are older. Children that are energetic and younger could put this dog in danger seeing that they are so small. This is not an outwardly aggressive dog, but they can be shy with new people and situations. The Brussels griffon prefers a calm setting and will try to avoid confrontation to the best of their ability.

Care
The Brussels Griffon is not a heavy shedding dog and shed very little hair. This is a low maintenance dog that does not require a lot of maintenance. A daily brushing is sufficient to keep their coats in a good condition and to prevent any mats from forming. It is important to also clean the beard around their mouths to avoid cakes from forming.

Training
It is important to be very consistent when training the Brussels Griffon. These dogs lose interest fairly quickly, and obedience classes are very important for these dogs at a young age. A good idea is to make the training sessions fun as this will help to keep the attention of these dogs.

Health problems
The Brussels Griffon does not suffer from canine conditions more or less than any other dog breed. Some of the conditions they have problems with include narrowed nostrils which can sometimes hinder their breathing, prolapse of the eyeball, eyeball lacerations, cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy.

By John M Williams - Article Source: EzineArticles

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