Dog Breed

Brussels Griffon

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Primary image of Brussels Griffon dog breed
Full Name
Brussels Griffon
Alternate Names
Brussels Griffon Belgium Griffon Petit Brabançon Griffon Belge Brabançon Griffon
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Life Span
12 - 15 years
Weight
8 - 10 pounds
Description

Brussels Griffon, dogs named after Belgiums capital are very sociable, playful, energetic and easily trained. They always try to provide their loved ones with happiness, love and laughter.

Origin
Belgium
Bred For
Hunting and killing rats
Attachments
    Family Considerations
    Child Friendly

    Is the Brussels Griffon good with children?

    Unfortunately, the Brussels Griffon is not automatically well suited with children and we would not recommend for homes with very small children unless early socialization with children is taken seriously.
    Stranger Friendly

    Is the Brussels Griffon friendly with strangers?

    The Brussels Griffon is about average in how friendly they are with strangers. They can be timid or protective, but with proper training and socialization can be fine for any household.
    Dog Friendly

    Is the Brussels Griffon friendly with other dogs?

    The Brussels Griffon is not naturally friendly with other dogs, but with a good amount of early socialization as a puppy they can learn to get along with most breeds of dog. Proper training is required before letting the Brussels Griffon go off-leash or to dog parks.
    Likes to Cuddle

    Does the Brussels Griffon like to cuddle?

    The Brussels Griffon loves physical affection and cuddles. If you're looking for a cuddle partner you may have found the one!
    Playfulness

    Does the Brussels Griffon like to play?

    The Brussels Griffon will almost always be ready for play! The Brussels Griffon is great for a family with children, or otherwise, an environment that is always ready for play.
    Service Dog Ability

    Does the Brussels Griffon make a good service dog?

    Historically, the Brussels Griffon has never been used as a service dog and really would not be a good fit.
    Overall Ease of Breed
    Ease for Novice

    Is the Brussels Griffon good for first-time owners?

    The Brussels Griffon is not the easiest breed for first-time owners, but can certainly still work out if the owner is willing to put the time into training and exercise.
    Training Potential

    How well can the Brussels Griffon be trained?

    The Brussels Griffon is about average when it comes to training potential. The Brussels Griffon can be seen in competitions and can have advanced training, but it would require much dedication and oftentimes professional training.
    Amount of Shedding

    Does the Brussels Griffon shed a lot?

    The Brussels Griffon does shed, but less than average.
    Ease of Grooming

    Is the Brussels Griffon easy to groom?

    The Brussels Griffon requires a good amount of grooming work. It is possible to do it yourself, but you need to plan on dedicating weekly grooming sessions at the minimum.
    Exercise Need

    Does the Brussels Griffon need a lot of exercise?

    The Brussels Griffon requires some daily exercise, but daily walks should be enough. The Brussels Griffon appreciates going outside and on daily walks, but they will be ok without anything overly athletic.
    Personality
    Intelligence

    How smart is the Brussels Griffon?

    The Brussels Griffon has average intelligence. They are smart and witty, but do not need to be constantly challenged mentally, as some other breeds.
    Amount of Barking

    How much does the Brussels Griffon bark? Does the Brussels Griffon bark too much?

    The Brussels Griffon barks a lot. This is important to consider with your living situation- will it be ok when you leave them at home alone or will they disrupt the neighbors? The Brussels Griffon will oftentimes bark just to express their thoughts... even just to be heard!
    Guard Dog Ability

    Is the Brussels Griffon a good guard dog?

    The Brussels Griffon is not typically used as a guard dog, although they can be alert and oftentimes notify you if there is a stranger at the door or otherwise something to be concerned over.
    Tolerates Being Alone

    Is the Brussels Griffon good at staying alone? Is the Brussels Griffon independent?

    The Brussels Griffon considers their owner part of the "pack" and hates being left behind. This can be a good thing for someone looking for an emotional support dog who is loyal and always by their side, but bad if the dog will need to be left at home alone for extended periods.
    Home and Environment Considerations
    Good for Apartment Living

    Is the Brussels Griffon a good apartment dog?

    The Brussels Griffon is an excellent dog breed for an apartment. Some daily exercise is still important, but if they get that then the apartment will be more than enough for them to call home.
    Size

    How big is the Brussels Griffon?

    The Brussels Griffon is one of the smallest dog breeds- suited well for apartment living and very convenient for travel.
    Tolerates Heat

    How much does the Brussels Griffon tolerate hot weather? When is it too hot for a Brussels Griffon?

    The Brussels Griffon can tolerate some heat, but should not be over-exposed to hot weather. In general, they can live in hot weather climates, but would do best with air conditioning or at least a fan in their home, especially where they sleep.
    Tolerates Cold

    How much does the Brussels Griffon tolerate cold weather? When is it too cold for a Brussels Griffon?

    The Brussels Griffon does not tolerate cold weather at all, and we would not recommend having a Brussels Griffon if you live in a cold weather climate.
    Potential to Run Away

    Does the Brussels Griffon try to run away?

    The Brussels Griffon is very unlikely to run away. Of course, precautions should always be taken, and every dog is unique, but with a Brussels Griffon it is very likely they will naturally follow you, even when they are off-leash.
    Physical Characteristics
    General Health

    Is the Brussels Griffon a healthy dog? The health of a Brussels Griffon should be measured not just by how many years they live, but also by how many health issues they've had. It is important to know which health conditions your breed is prone to- hip problems, eye problems, bloating, and arthritis are all common dog health problems.

    The Brussels Griffon is very healthy, but it is still important to feed the Brussels Griffon high-quality food and to live a healthy lifestyle.
    Energy Level

    How energetic is the Brussels Griffon?

    The Brussels Griffon has some energy and requires daily walks, but overall the Brussels Griffon has less energy than average.
    Amount of Drooling

    How much does the Brussels Griffon drool?

    The Brussels Griffon does not drool at all.
    Prey Drive

    Does the Brussels Griffon have a large prey drive? Does the Brussels Griffon like to chase birds, cats, and other small animals?

    The Brussels Griffon has some prey drive, so should not be left alone with very small animals such as birds, mice, or gerbils, but with some gradual introduction should be fine living with a cat in the same home.
    Athleticism

    Is the Brussels Griffon atheltic?

    The Brussels Griffon can have athletic moments, and bursts of speed, but does not have the endurance as other highly athletic dog breeds. They would do great for occasional jogs, but probably not the best for long-distance runs or anything more athletic than that.
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Breed Variations

  1. Toy
  2. Brussels Griffon
The Brussels Griffon is a purebred dog that falls within the larger Toy dog breed group.
Toy group: Toy dogs are primarily characterized by their very small size. But don't let that fool you- if anything their personality and tenacity is higher than the average dog. In fact, even their protective instincts are above average! In fact, because of that it is crucial they get socialization with children and other dogs from an early age. Perhaps out of all dog groups, the toy dog group is the most difficult to put sub-groups into, since the sub groups also include larger dogs, and fall under other groupings. For example, the Pomeranian is a Toy Spitz dog, but there are also large Spitz dogs such as the Samoyed. Because the toy dog is both small and primarily bred for home companionship, they make excellent additions for a wide range of families. There are also practical benefits with toy dogs- they are great for apartment living, and traveling. Toy dogs are also loyal and love to cuddle, making them the ideal lap dog.

Brussels Griffons for adoption

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