Griffon Bruxellois

Other names : Brussels Griffon, Griffon, Belgium Griffon

Photo: adult dog of Griffon Bruxellois breed
Photo: puppy of Griffon Bruxellois breed
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Life expectancy

The Griffon Bruxellois has a life expectancy of between 12 and 14 years

Temperament

Size

Small

Adult size

Female Between 8 and 11 in
Male Between 8 and 11 in

Adult weight

Female Between 7 and 13 lb
Male Between 7 and 13 lb
Coat colour
Red
Type of coat
Short Long Hard
Eye colour
Brown

Purchase price

The Griffon Bruxellois costs between £800 and £985

Good to know

More details about the Griffon Bruxellois

Griffon Bruxellois: Origins and history

This Belgian toy-terrier can trace his lineage to the “Smousje,” a common hunter in the Brussels area from where the Griffon takes his name. The Smousje was cross-bred with such unlikely suiters as the Affenpinscher, Ruby King Charles Spaniel and the Pug, and the keen dog observer can spot elements of each of these distinguished dogs in today’s Griffon.
Developing as an ardent rat-catcher, the Bruxellois found work with the common people and the aristocracy alike, where his fine character and peculiar looks won him favour; Queen Marie Henriette was a particular fan, and took to breeding the little dogs and distributing them across Europe. He arrived in England in the 1890s, where he quickly won over small bands of enthusiasts, and indeed he has the British to thank for his survival through two world wars, when his numbers were decimated.
Of late he has achieved some considerable celebrity, appearing in the paintings of Mary Cassatt, films such as Gosford Park, Sweet November, The First Wives Club, and Teaching Mrs. Tingle; his cousin, the Petit Brabançon, played Carter’s morbid dog in the sitcom Spin City; and the Ewok connection is no coincidence, since George Lucas was an owner, and the Star Wars design team drew inspiration from the short fellow. 
But the Griffon Bruxellois received his greatest popularity boost following the 1997 movie As Good As It Gets: six Griffs - Timer, Sprout, Debbie, Billy, Parfait, and Jill – took it in turns to play Verdell, the dog of Greg Kinnear’s character, Simon Bishop. So adorable was their collective performance, the ripples of demand were felt by Griffon breeders across the movie-going territories.

FCI classification of the Griffon Bruxellois

  • Group 9 - Companion and Toy Dogs

  • Section 3 : Small Belgian Dogs

Training a Griffon Bruxellois

His intelligence and sociability make the Griff a good subject for education; however, his wilfulness and sensitivity may inhibit his progress if he is treated too harshly or pushed beyond his comfort zone.

Griffon Bruxellois: Purchase price

The average price for a Griffon Bruxellois dog is between £800 - £985. If the dog is registered at the Kennel Club its price will be higher.

The Griffon Bruxellois can cost around £50 - £60 per month to feed and maintain.

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