The Petit Brabancon was kept around in the 1800’s to ward off ratters in stables. Their origins come from the Pug, King Charles, and Ruby Spaniels as they were crossed together. The Petit Brabancon has a distinct coat option that is harsh and bewhiskered rough along with the smooth side of the coat.
The Brussels griffon is a tiny, compact dog that has an air of self-importance and trots confidently. Its coat can be rough or smooth. It needs a lot of grooming to keep its coat in order. The coat should be brushed several times a week. If you want a toy dog that will be a great lap dog, you need to consider the Petit Brabancon. This small dog has a huge heart and they love to snuggle with their masters.
Personality
Brussels Griffons are confident little dogs that love to play and need daily exercise in the form of a moderate short walk or an indoor game. This breed can be stubborn and bold and needs positive training reinforcements. That’s why it is usually not recommended as a dog for children as their rough play may make the dog fearful or scared. It’s usually good with other dogs and friendly towards strangers, but does tend to bark.<br><br> Petit Brabancons have a huge heart and make for loyal companions. They love to be with their master and snuggle with them. They are not shy or aggressive, but are sensitive to emotions. The Petit Brabancon needs socialization at a young age to learn how to get along with other dogs. They are interested in their surroundings and they are alert and inquisitive. The griffon makes for a great dog for your family as they are loving and kind. They love to play and they do get along well with others. They tend to bond well with one human, but not all members of the family. The Petit Brabancon gets along well with other animals like cats and ferrets.
Breed Characteristics
| Type: | Pure |
| Family: | Terrier |
| Function: | Companion |
| Origin: | Europe |
| Preferred Climate: | Any Climate |
| Group: | Toy |
| Life Span: | 12-15 Years |
| Nicknames: | Belgium Griffon, Petit Brabançon, Nicknames are Griffon; Griff and Bruss |
| Hypoallergenic: | No |
Brussels Griffon Build Information
The Brussels griffon is a tiny, compact dog that has an air of self-importance and trots confidently. Its coat can be rough or smooth. It needs a lot of grooming to keep its coat in order. The coat should be brushed several times a week. If you want a toy dog that will be a great lap dog, you need to consider the Petit Brabancon. This small dog has a huge heart and they love to snuggle with their masters.
| Size: | Toy |
| Length (Male): | 8-12 in. |
| Length (Female): | 8-10 in. |
| Weight: | < 14 lbs |
| Litter Size: | 1 – 3 Puppies |
| Tail Dock or Crop: | Both |
Behaviour and Personality
Brussels Griffons are confident little dogs that love to play and need daily exercise in the form of a moderate short walk or an indoor game. This breed can be stubborn and bold and needs positive training reinforcements. That’s why it is usually not recommended as a dog for children as their rough play may make the dog fearful or scared. It’s usually good with other dogs and friendly towards strangers, but does tend to bark.<br><br> Petit Brabancons have a huge heart and make for loyal companions. They love to be with their master and snuggle with them. They are not shy or aggressive, but are sensitive to emotions. The Petit Brabancon needs socialization at a young age to learn how to get along with other dogs. They are interested in their surroundings and they are alert and inquisitive. The griffon makes for a great dog for your family as they are loving and kind. They love to play and they do get along well with others. They tend to bond well with one human, but not all members of the family. The Petit Brabancon gets along well with other animals like cats and ferrets.
| Activity Level: | Moderately Active |
| Affection Level: | Very Affectionate |
| Aggressiveness Level: | Easy |
| Barking: | Noisy |
| Dominating or Submissive?: | Dominating |
| Energy Level: | Moderately Active |
| Good to Other Pets: | Friendly |
| Guardian Skills: | No |
| Independant: | No |
| Kid Friendliness: | Moderate Friendly |
Appearance
The Petit Brabancon has a mixture of fur textures. They typically have short hair on the back, but they have long hair on their stomach and their face. It is important to brush them often to prevent their fur from becoming matted and greasy. You need to wash them often as well to remove excess dirt from their fur as it can get tangled when they walk.
| Colors: | Black, Black & Tan, Blue, Chocolate, Light Brown, Red, Tan, Wheaten |
| Shedding: | None |
| Grooming: | Low Maintenance |
| Coat Type: | Rough |
Brussels Griffon Common Health Conditions
The Petit Brabancon has some health complications that owners need to be aware of including syringomyelia and chiari-like malformation. If you choose to breed them, you need to be careful with their health. Since they are such a small dog, carrying a large breed is challenging. They can carry 1-3 puppies, but some can end up with six. They will need a Caesarean section if complications occur when they are birthing. They puppies are no more than a few ounces when born and can fit in the palm of your hand. Other health issues they end up with include a cleft palate, eye lacerations, cataracts, heat stroke, and syringomyelia.
Brussels Griffon Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
There are multiple types of Petit Branbancons in popular culture. Different mixes have appeared in films like As Good As It Gets and the popular CBS sitcom, Mike and Molly. Their sweet personality makes them popular lap dogs for many people as they only weigh a few pounds and are easy to carry around and care for. They will live anywhere from 10-15 years with proper diet and exercise. Other names for this toy breed are Brussels Griffon, Belgium Griffon, and Petit Brabançon. Nicknames are Griffon, Bruss, and simply Griff.
| Training: | Easy |
| Hunting Companion: | No |
| Jolly for Jogging: | Yes |
| Sighting Capabilities: | No |
| Ideal for Tracking: | No |
| Retrieving Skills: | No |
| Pointing Breed: | No |
| Herding Skills: | No |
| Dutiful Watchdog: | Yes |
| Security Guard Capable: | No |
| Police Performer: | No |
| Wet Water rescues: | No |
| Assist Disable Owners: | No |
| Dog Sledding: | No |
| Able to Perform Dog Carting: | No |
| Agile/Zippy: | No |
| Fun with Lure Coursing: | No |
| Obedient: | No |
| Possible Schutzhund Work: | No |
| Trainable for Tricks: | Yes |
