(870) 269-2376

PO BOX 1218, Mountain View, Arkansas 72560

info@bigbranchcreek.com

General Brussels Griffon Information:
Description, Temperament, Health & Care
 

Getting a puppy from a reputable breeder is only the first step. Care and attention to training, activities, and feeding are just as important in keeping your puppy in the best health possible. We hope this information will help you decide IF a Brussels Griffon is best for you and your family and, if you have the commitment and time that is required by this breed. Please do your research when choosing a puppy or a breeder. Never choose on impulse.

Description
Known as Brussels Griffon in the USA, this "big dog in a small package" is known by several names in Europe (and considered as separate breeds): Griffon Bruxellois (red rough coat), Griffon Belge (rough coat with all other colors except red), or the Petit Brabancon (smooth coat of any color). These rare toy dogs, often described as "monkey dogs", are intelligent, alert, sturdy with a thickset, short body, and a smart, confident carriage. They can have either a rough (wiry & dense) or smooth (short, tight & glossy) coat, often in the same litter. Their coats can be a variety of colors and combinations of colors such as red, belge, black & tan, & black. A black, smooth coat is unacceptable and shows that a Pug has been crossed recently into the pedigree. The head is their most important feature, large and round with its almost human-like expression. They have expressive large, dark eyes with long black eyelashes. Their large black noses are extremely short and set back deeply between their eyes. Their ears can be cropped and tails are usually docked in the USA. Their bodies should be compact with good balance and should weigh between 8-12 pounds. All types of Griffon are considered one breed in the USA.

Temperament
Each Griffon has a distinct personality but can best be described as "I'm all yours & proud of it". Referred to as the "velcro dog", once they have become accustomed to their new environment, they will pick their master and stick faithfully for the rest of their lives. Even though they have a "king of the hill" attitude, they are very sensitive and recover slowly from harsh words. Griffons insist on your company & don't like being left alone, but they can successfully stay by themselves in a secure place. They can fill a large space, but can be content in a small space, making them great apartment/condo dogs who travel well whether on that family vacation or for those who travel with their careers. Griffons are tough, intelligent, little dogs who love to run & jump, but also love to cuddle on your lap, be carried around, and sleep as close to you as possible. They rarely bark, but their vigilance and desire to protect you makes them good watchdogs. Griffons love the world and do very well with children and other pets. However they will not tolerate abuse or mishandling. They are NOT recommended for families with young children.

Health & Care:Health
Brussels Griffon are hardy little dogs, however, they do have special needs that every owner & breeder should be aware of. As with any pure-bred breed, they may develop health problems similar to those toy breeds in it's heritage. Brussels Griffon, as other brachycephalic breeds with "pushed in faces", has special needs to consider. They possess a normal lower jaw (one in proportion to body size), and a compressed upper jaw which can effect the respiratory system and eyes. Luxating Patellas and Hip dysplasia have been diagnosed in Brussels Griffon. While these conditions may be inherited, very few of the hundreds of disorders can actually be identified through genetic testing. The environment & care you provide for your pet, and your own canine education, all play a part in your dog having the best possible health during its lifetime.

Health: Heat & Cold. The Griffon does not tolerate heat or cold well because of their face construction. They cannot pant efficiently in hot weather, and their short nasal passages don't warm air efficiently in cold weather. A Griffie may not survive if it gets too hot or cold. They should never be left in an outdoor kennel, even for a few hours. This is another reason a Griffie is well-suited to apartment life, with regular walks for all that energy.

While your Brussels Griffon may never encounter any of the problems mentioned below, we feel it is important to address them, so that you are aware that they can and have occurred in this breed.

Health: Eye problems seem to be the most serious and widespread of the genetic concerns in the Brussels Griffon. Because the eyes are so prominent, their eye sockets are very shallow. Pulling on a leash too hard, or a blow to the back of the head may cause major eye problems. Walking your dog on a harness, rather than a collar, may be the best choice. Be sure your dog is able to close its eyes completely so as not to dry out the eye surface. Surveys have indicated that cataracts may also be inherited in the Griffon.

Health: Luxating patella is the slipping of the kneecap and can result from an injury or genetic predisposition. LP is rarely debilitating and is diagnosed with varying degrees. LP is quite common in small breeds and can occur at any age. A dog that has difficulty straightening the leg, limps or has pain walking may have LP. Surgery is an option to correct this problem.

Health: Poodle eye is when there is excessive tearing and staining in the eye region. Some of the reasons for the tearing might be blocked tear ducts, acidity(pH) of the tears, bacterial or yeast infections, genetics, teething, irritation, allergies, smoke or other environmental pollutants, shampoos & chemicals, diet, food allergies, or just irritation caused by facial hairs in the eye. Diagnosing the cause and effecting the remedies is the key to correcting poodle eye in Brussels Griffons. Using saline eye drops daily will safely and gently clean eyes. One homemade remedy is to mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide (3%) with milk of magnesia and apply liberally to the stained area. Let dry. Wash thoroughly and follow with conditioner. Repeat as needed.

Health: Hip Displaysia is joint malformation that occurs when the ball and socket are misaligned, loosely fitted, or misshapen. As with other weaknesses due to their small size, hip displaysia can be inherited and causes arthritic pain and limited mobility. There are good medications on the market to ease these arthritic pains, but surgery may be needed as the dog ages.

Health & Care: Care

Care: Grooming should begin while your dog is still a puppy. Griffons are very clean dogs which require regular brushing and should be groomed at least every three months to maintain handsome appearances. Light brushing is all that is required to keep the coat healthy and good looking. Hand stripping, or using a stripping comb, will be necessary if you want to show your dog. The Griffon's mane has longer durable hair which should be combed to frame the expressive face.

Care: Eyes and ears should be checked regularly. Keep hair clipped around the eyes to avoid excessive tearing. Eyes can often become irritated, due to hair in eyes or simply inadequate tear drainage due to the shape of the eye area. Keeping the eyes and folds of the face clean & groomed may eliminate this problem. If ears are not kept clean, ear mites can be attracted & infections can result, which can also increase tear staining. Because the Griffon sheds very little, the hair does not fall from the ears as in a shedding dog. Some owners prefer to pull these hairs out with tweezers. This will aid in keeping the ears clean and healthy. Clip nails regularly & clip hair from between the pads of the feet.

Care: Environment. Although active, these sturdy little dogs should really live indoors and will do fine without a yard. They should never be confined to a patio or kennel. Keeping a large crate inside with a soft blanket and toys** can be a quiet, secure place for your pet to sleep at night. A Griffie is happiest sitting next to you in your home, with the occasional rowdy play session. Your Griffie will love to walk with you, keeping an eye on you as much as the surroundings.

Care: Food & water: Feed your Griffie a high quality dog food. We prefer a dry food, not canned, with an occasional beef bone to chew. In our research, we have discovered that more medical problems have been diagnosed since manufactured dog food has been the mainstream diet of pets. We are working toward a more natural approach to food & care products for our dogs. We alternate between using Bil-jac & Royal Canin dog foods. In our research we have discovered that Bil-jac is more readily absorbed into a dog's body. Because there are less "filler" products & no dyes, our dogs eat less & have less to eliminate from their systems. Royal Canin is also an excellent food with years of research continuing to go into each type. There are breed-specific foods as well as foods designed for the different life needs of your pet. If you change dog food manufacturers, please do your homework & make the change slowly, to keep your puppy from developing diarrhea or stomach problems. Keep clean, fresh water available for you dog at all times.

**A note on toys, be careful about leaving toys with your dog unsupervised for long periods of time. There are a lot of dog toys available, but most of them can be very dangerous. We do NOT give our dogs chicken bones, plastic toys, rawhide or smoked products. Stuffed toys are fun, but the stuffing & squeakers can easily be pulled out and swallowed by an active dog. Chicken bones are brittle and can be very dangerous if the splinters are swallowed. Plastic toys can also be torn and the bits swallowed. Any foreign objects ingested by your pet can tear stomach or intestines, causing internal problems. Rawhide is something we never give our dogs, because the bits they chew off can swell inside them. This can be extremely dangerous especially to a puppy. Smoked products cause your pet to ingest unnatural & harmful additives.

We let our dogs have natural beef bones, cooked chicken necks, knuckle bones, large stuffed toys, beef hooves & high quality chew toys. Some people control the hooves, because they can be fattening to older dogs. We keep watch while they are playing with the stuffed toys, and take the bones and hooves away when they get small enough to be swallowed.