The Brussels griffin (or griffon), also called the miniature griffin, refers to small, "room" (decorative) dogs. Unfortunately, the breed is not yet very widespread, and there are very few nurseries involved in its breeding. We hope this article will help to increase the popularity of the dog, which is impossible not to fall in love with.
Origin history
Perhaps it’s worth starting with ancient mythology. Some myths speak of Scythian gold guarded by ... griffins. The images of the animal penetrate the whole art of Rome and Ancient Greece. So the first mention of griffins, as you see, can be found even in the heyday of a fairly ancient civilization. True, then they were described as animals with the bodies of lions and the heads of birds.
This story of origin also resembles a myth. But she is so beautiful that I don’t want to refuse her at all.
I must say that the word "griffon" is translated as "stiff coat". Apparently, this is where the name of the breed came from. But back to the story.
The first Brussels griffins were depicted by Van Eyck (Flemish painter) in the painting “The Couple Arnolfini” in 1434. After about 70 years, this dog can be seen next to Henry the Third in a painting written by Jacobo Empoli.
The tiny Brussels griffin at that time was a symbol of the elegance of aristocrats (wealthy ladies considered it a chic addition to their toilet). These dogs often traveled in carriages with their mistresses.
It is believed that the ancestors of griffins, who turned out to be also beautiful and brave rat-catchers, were afferpinchers and ordinary Belgian yard dogs. These animals were inquisitive, lively, alert and unpretentious. True, then the breed Brussels Griffon was just beginning to form. Dogs were significantly larger than those that we used to see today.
By the 19th century, “bearded dogs” “conquered” the coach house of the Belgian monarchs. The breed Brussels Griffon won the heart of Mary Henrietta, Queen of Belgium. By the way, it was she who began to popularize the “bearded man”, actively supporting the annual exhibitions.
The first Brussels griffin is officially registered in the tribe. book (LOSH) in 1883. But at exhibitions he appeared three years earlier, in Brussels. It was a small red-haired dog with long, stiff hair. The sergeant of the police turned out to be the owner of the griffin. Since the breed by that time did not have a clear name, it was recorded as a “police dog”.
The history of the origin of the breed is actually based on many assumptions. We will focus on the most believable.
Of course, afferpinscher became the basis of the breed. To shorten the muzzle, they decided to use the King Charles Spaniel. True, the "infusion" of these bloods occurred already in the 19th century. Thanks to this, the appearance of the griffon has become more noble, but the ability to exterminate rodents has disappeared. Later, a pug was added to the griffon, which managed to take root in Holland. As a result, we received two varieties of coat. The Yorkshire-Terrier and Pekingese breeds also took part in the formation. So the modern breed Brussels Griffin appeared.
Standard
When did the Brussels griffin finally form? The breed standard was adopted relatively recently - March 25, 2003 (No. 80, FCI). According to him, the Brussels griffon should be small, well-balanced, alert, almost square in size, elegant in constitution and movement, and at the same time with a good skeleton. The head, in comparison with the body, is large, expressive, “human” (many pedigrees replace the expression “face” with “face”). The skull is round, wide. Forehead expressed. The coat is stiff, disheveled, straight, longer on the cheekbones and near the eyes, but especially on the chin. The nose is wide, black (nostrils are open), when viewed from the side, it should "lie" in line with the eyes. Black lips should be tight-fitting (the upper covers the lower, but without sagging). Teeth - a complete set (a snack, and the incisors should line up in a clear line, while the upper fangs are parallel to the lower fangs (against each other)). The eyes are expressive, widely spaced, large and round (not convex!), Brown, black around the edges. Proteins are ideally not visible. Eyes are light, small, oval are considered a fault. The ears are relatively small and set high, in an uncropped form, hang forward, semi-stable. The back is straight. The loin is short, slightly convex, and muscular. The chest should be pronounced, when viewed from the side, it seems outstanding. Spring ribs (not flat, not barrel-shaped). The abdomen is tightened (groin line is pronounced). A high-ranking cropped (optional) tail is raised up. A short, broken, twisted tail is a serious flaw. The limbs are widely spaced, parallel. Paws are round with tightly pressed fingers (not spliced), not turned in or out. The claws are dark, preferably black. The movements are powerful, with a good push, parallel. The high rise of the front legs and the amble are disadvantages. The coat is stiff, not curly, requires trimming. The color is red (shades), black is allowed on the mustache and beard. Weight ranges from 3.5-6 kg. Disqualifying defects: white spots, color not marked in FCI Standard, unpigmented nose, lower jaw curve, visible tongue (if the mouth is closed), prominent upper jaw, aggressiveness, excessive shyness. The absence of the testis (or both at once) is also a reason for disqualification.
Character
The Brussels Griffin inherited many of the qualities of its ancestors. As for the character, here he has absorbed the best features: devotion, calm, confidence. This dog will follow the owner wherever he follows. Griffons are true companions. They are not suitable for people who are not at home for most of the day. Loneliness for the “bearded man” is simply deadly. Griffon is very sensitive in nature. However, he is not shy, not aggressive, not hysterical. Although, I must admit, it becomes very moody when he is too spoiled.
Bearders are smart and good at training. And their lightness and “maneuverability” make it possible to perform even the most intricate circus tricks (of course, with special training).
Socialization, attitude towards children
The Pekingese did not convey to Griffon his dislike of children. On the contrary, the “bearded man” is suitable for the whole family, including the one where there are babies. Griffons are very fond of games with children. By the way, in those families where there is no child, the “bearded man” is looking for another companion - a dog (any breed), a cat, a guinea pig, etc. A special affection for other animals is noticeable with a frequent absence of the owner.
The socialization of “bearded men” in childhood and adolescence also affects behavior at an already more mature (mature) age. Accustom Griffon to communicate with other people and animals is extremely necessary. Of course, this dog can completely "become isolated" on its owner, especially if he gives it a lot of time. However, a person who approaches you risks being bitten. And it's not about aggression. A griffon kid might just be frightened by someone else's hand reaching for him. You must understand: giffons are dogs that rely entirely on their master. They can get lost in unfamiliar situations, be frightened by strangers, etc. That is why early socialization is so necessary. While at home, the Brussels Griffon is confident in everything “one hundred thousand”. He can give a voice when ringing or knocking on the door and even bark at the guest. However, the “bearded man” is not one of those who will make noise for days or nights. Griffons try to avoid confrontation, preferring calm.
A haircut
Smooth-haired griffons do not require any special care - just comb the hair daily (choose brushes with natural bristles), cut off the curl at the tip of the tail and remove the fur growing between the fingers. For tidiness, some breeders prefer to trim the hair around the anus. This ends the haircut of the Brussels griffin.
Stripping
It will be required for a wire-haired dog. This procedure is sometimes called trimming, which is not entirely true. For stripping you need: tweezers, a brush (bristles), a curler (small, small), a comb (preferably double-sided, with frequent teeth on one side and with medium teeth on the other), thinning scissors. Griffon should not look just trimmed, especially at exhibitions. Some “bearded men” due to lack of undercoat can look bald even a month after stripping.
Start the procedure with combing (first with a brush, then with a comb with rare teeth). Lift a little hair on the back and try to pull out a few hairs. Easy removal indicates readiness for stripping. The remaining hair is plucked from the withers, between the shoulder blades, then along the back, along the sides of the tail. The wool is pulled out only in the course of growth, on itself. When removing long hairs on the sides, watch for the evenness (balance) of the contours.
Next is the turn of the hind limbs. Remove thick hairs below the hocks. Now inspect the front legs. Tweeze the longest hairs on them. Do not overdo it - excessive removal can create an elongated paw effect, as opposed to the desired cat paw effect.
Now you can proceed to the shoulders and chest. Here, the longest hairs are also removed. Hair is plucked from the outer surfaces of the shoulders, down to the elbows. Before it should turn out direct.
Then the breasts are stripped (front surface and to the bottom point).
The tummy and place in the genitals are trimmed either with a typewriter (No. 10) or with scissors.
Examine the dog standing on the table. If there are single hairs that violate a harmonious look, remove them.
Now proceed to the head. Begin plucking behind the eyes, grabbing small tufts of hair. Gradually move to the ears and the crown of the head. Remember to leave long hairs to form your eyebrows. Pull behind the ears (back surface), heading down towards the chest. Do not stop. Continue to remove hairs, moving down, on the sides of the neck, towards the jaw. Your task is the formation of a distinct beard and its simultaneous “dissolution” with the fur located on the chest. It is necessary to pluck the hair and behind the beard (it is better to comb or collect it) to the throat in such a way as to highlight the head by obtaining a clear line of the neck. Remove long hairs from ear canals. Wool along the edge of the ears is better to trim carefully, which will give them a more perfect look.
The space between the eyes (the forehead-face transition) is a particularly sensitive area. Be careful. The hairs at the edges of the eyes are removed with either tweezers or safe scissors. The hair on the beard, bordering the ears, is sheared from the corner in a clearly straight line. Cut the hair between the fingers and the bottom of the foot.
Wash the hyphon with a mild, natural shampoo.
It is enough to strip domestic dogs completely twice a year, but with the show this procedure is carried out in stages: first the limbs with sides, then the back, then the head.
Where to get a griffon?
This is best done in a nursery, in a breeding factory, in a club. The Brussels griffin (puppies cost 15-40 thousand rubles) rarely appears on the markets. And the danger of getting a sick mongrel instead of a thoroughbred healthy puppy on the so-called "houses" is quite great. You can look through newspapers and specialized magazines with ads (including online publications). But it is better to contact the nearest dog training club directly. It is desirable that it refers to the international cynological system (for example, FCI). In this club you will be given the contacts of the breeders involved in the Brussels Griffin breed. Kennels, as a rule, guarantee not only high quality dogs, but also “guide” their puppies throughout their lives, maintaining close contacts with their new owners.
At what age do you get a griffon?
This issue should be resolved with the breeder. On the one hand, it is better to take a dog already bred and fully vaccinated. But in this case, the puppy will cost more. Yes, natures, especially impressionable, will worry: “Have you been well fed?” But do they really offend you? ” etc. Therefore, if you consider it necessary (and most importantly - possible), take the course of vaccinations yourself. So you will know for sure that the puppy is glanced on time, and the vaccinations are done on time, and he has the best nutrition.
Puppy selection
This is no less complicated than choosing a nursery. The Brussels Griffin (photo in the article), as already mentioned, is a rather rare breed, so do not rely on a large number of litters preparing for sale. You might even have to sign up and get in line. Do not forget: a good breeder will not sell the puppy to the first person he comes across, and therefore he will look at you just like you do to him.
When choosing a puppy, make sure that he is a formed personality. A properly grown baby will not be aggressive or overly shy. If you decide to take a puppy at the age of, say, one and a half months, then socialization will fall on your shoulders.
And what if you have to buy a bred dog? All puppies are charming, but you can’t go about feelings. In addition to excellent appearance, the griffon must have a cheerful disposition, be sociable, playful. Natural shyness always differs from excessive passivity and unmotivated aggression. A small griffon should be well-fed (be careful - a swollen abdomen can indicate a worminess), with clear eyes (without secretions), with a wet nose (but not a runny nose), without a hernia, without dewclaws, without parasites.
Bred puppies are sold with puppy cards and veterinary passports, which are marked with previous vaccinations. Arrange with the breeder for a joint visit to the veterinarian on the day of purchase (this is a kind of insurance for both parties). If you plan to show Griffon at exhibitions in the future, take an interest in expert assessments of parents and relatives - the higher they are, the more chances your puppy has to become a winner.