The Griffon Bruxellois (or Brussels Griffon) is a small energetic toy dog, with terrier-like instincts, hailing from Belgium.
There are two varieties of this breed the rough-coated and the less frequently seen smooth-coated. The rough-coated Griffon has a tough, wiry coat accompanied by whiskers and a beard, whilst the smooth-coated variety has a short, flat and glossy coat. In every other way, the varieties are the same, possessing a small, sturdy frame, domed head, flattened face with a short nose and an underbite, and large black eyes. Their coat can be red, black and tan, or black and reddish in colour. The Griffon Bruxellois is a very active and assertive little dog, with bags of personality and a degree of self-importance. They adore the company of their owners and interact well with children, although patience isnt always their strong point. They will, however, love hours of play and being on the receiving end of human attention. They generally get on well with other dogs and household pets, especially with good early socialisation but can be aggressive with unfamiliar dogs. They make good watchdogs, in terms of the noise they can make, although their size prevents them from being actual guard dogs. They will enjoy their daily walks and being busy around the home, always at the heart of the action. They make fun little companions for older people and families with slightly older children.
History
Griffon-type dogs were used to keep down rodents and act as watchdogs as far back as 15th Century Belgium. They also rode in and guarded Belgium hansom cabs (horse-drawn carriages). It shares some similarities with the Affenpinscher, from which is thought to descend, and was later crossed with the pug to produce the smooth-coated variety.
