Griffon Bruxellois
A small, rough-coated red Belgian companion with an expressive, almost human face and a big personality.
At a glance
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 3.5–6 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 30–45 min a day
- Grooming
- Regular trips to a groomer
- Coat
- Wire-haired, short
- Colours
- Red
- Bred for
- Companionship
- Country of origin
- Belgium
- FCI
- Group 9, no. 80 · Companion & toy dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 2/5 – Low |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 5/5 – Very high |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with heat | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with cold | 2/5 – Low |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a close companion that stays near you
- live in a flat or small house
- are home much of the day
Think twice if you …
- have boisterous young children
- need a dog that copes with long periods alone
- live somewhere very hot
Care
Temperament
Confident, curious and very attached to its family, the Griffon is lively at home and can be wary of strangers. It is sensitive and does not enjoy rough play.
Exercise
Moderate needs: a couple of walks a day and indoor games are enough; avoid strenuous exercise in heat.
Grooming
The wiry coat is kept tidy by hand-stripping a few times a year plus weekly brushing; the beard needs regular cleaning.
Training
Clever but stubborn, it responds best to gentle, consistent reward-based training; house training can take time.
Health
As a short-faced breed it can be prone to breathing difficulties, eye injuries and patellar luxation, and Chiari-like malformation with syringomyelia occurs in the breed. Ask the breeder for eye, knee and breathing assessments and any MRI results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Eye examination
- Kneecaps (patella)
- Breathing (BOAS)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Griffon Bruxellois grew out of the small rough-haired dogs kept in Brussels stables and cabs to keep rats down. In the nineteenth century they were crossed with toy spaniels and pugs, giving the short face and domed head, and Queen Marie Henriette helped make the breed fashionable.
Today it is a devoted house companion that tends to attach strongly to one or two people. Its bearded face is unusually expressive, and owners often describe it as thoughtful and opinionated. It fits well in city homes, but it does not like being left alone and can be sensitive to rough handling, so a calm household suits it best.
Did you know?
Belgium recognises three related breeds from the same root: the red rough-coated Griffon Bruxellois, the dark rough-coated Griffon Belge and the smooth-coated Petit Brabançon.