Belgian Griffon

History of the Belgian Griffon breed

The Belgian Griffon is a breed whose history is "documented" on Renaissance canvases. Confirmation of this is the famous "Portrait of the Arnolfini Couple" by Van Eyck, in which a miniature dog with a Griffin appearance is selected to the hem of the dress of a female figure. Images of shaggy pets are also found on engravings by Albrecht Durer, which allows us to determine the approximate age of the breed, which is almost 600 years old. By the way, it is still not possible to find out which dogs gave the Belgian griffons such a touching exterior. Affenpinchers and ruby Cavalier King Charles spaniels are most often suspected in this case, to whose blood the genes of pugs and Yorks were later mixed.

At first, the ancestors of the griffons lived in stables and were engaged in not the most noble craft. More specifically, the animals were purposefully bred to catch rats that ate horse oats. After a while, the local nobility became interested in tiny dogs – the funny appearance and toy dimensions turned griffons into funny pets, which were convenient to keep in rooms or take to balls. Everyone who had at least minimal ideas about breeding immediately rushed to satisfy the needs of the beau monde, as a result, the Belgian kingdom was flooded with small dogs with stiff fur and flattened faces.

The "Belgians" have been celebrated at exhibitions since 1883, although at that time they were united into one breed with by Brussels griffons . At about the same time, breeders of Foggy Albion became interested in animals, so soon the Belgian griffons began to leave for England directly from the exhibition rings. In 1904, the breed was finally standardized and completely separated from its relatives – petit brabancons and "Bruxelles" , which increased its popularity among Western and European dog breeders.

Important point: in order to obtain healthy offspring, Belgian griffons are allowed to knit both with each other and with other representatives of the group of small Belgian dogs ( by Brussels griffons , petit brabancons ).

Video: Belgian Griffon

Belgian Griffon breed standard

Belgian Griffon, small brabanson and brussels griffon divide one standard of appearance into three, despite the fact that there are significant differences between the breeds that are visible to the naked eye. For example, identify "Bruxelles" and Belgian griffons can be exclusively by color, which cannot be said about petit brabancons , which, unlike their shaggy relatives, have a short and perfectly straight coat. As for the "Belgians" themselves, they are funny little eyes with hairy faces, more like not dogs, but heroes of European folklore – bearded gnomes and trolls.

Head

The Belgian griffon has a moderately large rounded head with a massive, convex forehead and pronounced foot. The muzzle of purebred individuals of the classical brachycephalic type has a length of no more than 1.5 cm .

Jaws, teeth, lips

The lower jaw is wide and has a curved shape, which allows it to protrude beyond the upper teeth. As a result: all Belgian griffons have a noticeable snack. The animal's teeth are arranged tightly and in a line, while it is important that all incisors are available. The lips should have a black color and fit snugly to the jaws. In addition, when the dog's mouth is closed, the tongue and front teeth should not be visible through it.

Nose

A large, coal-black colored lobe with expanded nostrils is located at eye level. The tip of the nose is slightly "pulled" back.

Eyes

The breed has large, widely spaced, but not bulging eyes. The incision of the eyelids is rounded, completely hiding the white of the eye. The edge of the eyelid has a black border. The preferred color of the iris is dark brown.

Ears

For small Belgian dogs, both normal and cropped ears are acceptable. The uncooped organ has a semi-erect "structure" and slightly hangs forward, but in no case sideways. Cropped ears have a pointed shape and stand strictly vertically (puppies' ears are temporarily glued to give a more stable position). The ear cloth itself is very miniature, set high.

Neck

Necks of Belgian griffons of moderate length, smoothly turning into the withers.

Body

Griffons have a square body format, that is, the length of the body is equal to the height of the animal at the withers. The back and lumbar area are shortened, but moderately muscular and of good width. The croup is flat or slightly inclined. The chest is developed, reaching the elbow joints, the abdomen is taut with a clearly marked groin area.

Limbs

The front legs are distinguished by a strong backbone, as well as a wide parallel delivery. The shoulders of the dog with distinct angles of articulation, the elbows are held tightly to the body. The hind limbs are strong, parallel to each other, in harmonious balance with the front legs. The hock joints are located low, without inversion to the inner and outer sides. Griffons' paws are miniature, with tightly assembled fingers and pads of uniform black color. In motion, the hind legs of the animal provide a powerful push, while the forelimbs are not carried too high.

Tail

Like the ears, the tails of the Belgian griffons can be cut off by ⅓ from the natural length, or they can be left in their natural form. A normal tail is distinguished by a high fit and an elevated position when the tip is not twisted and does not touch the back.

Wool

Double-type coat: with a rough, slightly wavy spine and a moderately developed undercoat. On the muzzle of the dog, hair eyebrows, beard and mustache are clearly marked, which makes it look like a fairy-tale creature. The hair on these areas is much longer than on other areas of the body.

Color

The Belgian griffon is characterized by a black or black-and-tan coat color. The scorch marks should have uniform pigmentation and be placed on the front legs from the pasterns to the paws, and on the hind legs – in the area between the paws and hock joints. In addition, tan marks may occur on the cheekbones, sternum, under the lower eyelids, around the anus, on the inside of the ear and chin. The presence of a small proportion of white hairs on the chest is undesirable, but acceptable.

Disqualifying vices

To get a ban on participation in exhibition events, the Belgian griffon must have the following exterior defects:

• depigmented or slightly pigmented lobe;
• tongue falling out from behind closed lips;
• white spots on wool;
• the upper jaw is too long, hanging over the lower one;
• skewed lower jaw;
• atypical colors (all except coal-black and black-and-tan).

Dogs with cryptorchidism and behavioral abnormalities (cowardly and embittered) are also subject to disqualification.

The character of the Belgian Griffon

Belgian griffons are pets, comfortable in every sense. Playful, but not annoying, emotional, but easily controlled, these funny little eyes are observant and subtly feel when the owner needs to cheer up, and when it's better not to be zealous and go about their business. At the same time, human orientation is considered the main advantage of the breed, which is especially valuable in cases when the animal's society is designed to brighten up everyday life, for example, for people with limited mobility and elderly owners.

Griffons do not compete with representatives of the domestic fauna. Moreover, they absolutely do not care with whom to share their living space: with rodents, a cat family or arrogant shepherds. These tiny pacifists are ready to do anything to preserve a peaceful atmosphere and quickly find their niche in the hierarchical system of the animal world. However, do not confuse conflict-free with outright cowardice. The "Belgians" react very much to provocations and injustice on the part of their own kind, so if some great dane threatened your ward on the street, the tiny "bearded man" will not be too lazy to respond to rudeness with a loud bark.

Belgian griffons have a hard time putting up with loneliness, so it is desirable that the animal lives in a family where there will always be someone from the household nearby. In addition, the breed has an amazing memory for faces and actions – the pet does not just recognize friends appearing in your house, but also builds an individual line of behavior for each. In the company of people from the inner circle, the Belgian Griffon keeps relaxed, confidential and friendly, coming up with a variety of tricks and harmless pranks to attract attention to his own person. But strangers at the first encounter with a representative of this breed have to pass a check. At the sight of a stranger, the griffon turns on a mode of mild suspicion, which gradually fades to nothing if the two-legged "alien" does not try to offend the animal or the owner.

Belgian griffons do not suffer from melancholy and depression, they are on a wave of positivity and willingly engage in gaming activities. At the same time, for entertainment, clockwork "bearded men" always need a companion, which both the owner and any four-legged creature who is ready to perceive the griffon as an equal can become.

Education and training

It is easy to fall under the charm of small Belgian dogs, but do not forget that a spoiled animal, even if it is as charming as the Belgian griffon, is a big problem. In addition, at the age of four months, tiny "moustaches" begin to encroach on the status of a leader and try to ignore the authority of the owner. At first, such efforts look ridiculous. However, the further the pet goes in its disobedience, the more discomfort it threatens a person who is forced to coexist in the same territory with an ill-mannered dog.

It is relatively easy to correct the habits of Belgian griffons. The breed is distinguished by intelligence and does not suffer from donkey stubbornness. At 2.5 months, puppies should undergo socialization, that is, learn to calmly perceive the touch of the owner's hands, not be afraid of extraneous rustles and respond to their own nickname. At the same time, it is worth considering that babies who have not overcome the three-month age limit have a hypersensitive psyche that slows down the learning process. For this reason, young individuals should not be pressed and shouted at. It is better to stimulate them with a treat as the command is successfully executed.

It is also not worth demonstrating excessive loyalty, so if you are not sure that a pet interested in an interesting activity will want to hear the demand, you should temporarily suspend the lesson. Remember, the command must always be executed. Let it be slow at first and with a distraction to extraneous factors, but eventually the goal should be achieved. For this reason, dog handlers strongly advise against making repetitions of requirements. Young griffon will quickly realize that the owner is ready to wait, and in the future will try to respond to commands after he redoes more important, in his opinion, things.

Teenage griffons are big fans of eating, plus at this age they have an extremely acute sense of smell. Often driven by gastronomic instincts, the "Belgians" resort to begging, but you should not be led to the tender pseudo-hungry views of the animal in any case. Keep in mind that the food from your table should not be in front of your pet's nose, otherwise it will be unrealistic to teach him to hypnotize with the gaze of the dining household. Growling and attempts to bite a person are also typical features of the maturing Belgian griffon. It is necessary to stop spontaneous aggression abruptly and without malice. It is enough to shake the diverging dog by the collar or press him to the floor so that he realizes that he has overdone his dominance.

Maintenance and care

Despite the pronounced companionship qualities, the Belgian Griffon is a decorative dog, demanding temperature and comfort. On the street, representatives of the breed go out exclusively for a walk and for toilet needs, preferring to spend the rest of the time at home, in the company of the owner. In the apartment, the pet should have a separate corner with a comfortable couch or basket, as well as several inviolable things (toys) that the animal is not obliged to share with family members and other four-legged inhabitants.

A cage or indoor aviary is not the most beloved thing by the Belgian griffon, but it is an indispensable design for the owner when it is necessary to protect the dog from the same thing. It is better to put the animal in an improvised "bullpen" less often. For example, it is advisable to do this if the puppy sins with destructive behavior and remains alone at home. However, it is necessary to arrange the process of "imprisonment" in such a way that the baby does not perceive it as punishment. Over time, griffon gets used to the time constraints of space and patiently tolerates them, unless the case drags on for several hours.

Hygiene

It is up to the owner to manage the molting of the "Belgian": the dogs do not shed their fur on their own, which obliges the owner to trim (plucking the wool). Pet pets are trimmed twice a year, and the procedure is carried out not seasonally, but as the wool matures. It is very simple to understand that the Belgian griffon's hair is ready for renewal. Matured wool becomes dull and weakly held in the hair follicles. As an example: if you pulled the griffon by the shaggy strands sticking out, and they remained in your hands, while the dog did not react to the action in any way – this is a signal that it's time to "pinch" the animal.

You can remove the hair manually, or you can use a trimming knife, and the thoroughness of the procedure should be adjusted depending on the season. For example, for the winter, it is better to leave the undercoat for the griffon, which will act as a warming sweatshirt, and in the spring it is worth removing the hair more carefully so that the dog is not hot. To teach a pet to calmly treat trimming should be from puppy age. At 3 months of age, the Belgian griffon can be pinched in the body and neck area, and at 6 months the dog is supposed to be trimmed completely.

They always begin to remove wool from the neck area, acting with sharp movements on hair growth – this is the only way to minimize unpleasant sensations. The capture area should be small. Trying to pull out the bunches thicker, you will not speed up the process, but you will cause the pet discomfort. The classic trimming sequence of the Belgian griffon: neck – back – sides – hips – legs to the hocks. The tail is plucked by hand, very carefully, in bundles of several hairs, because there are many sensitive nerve endings in this part of the body.

The head of the Belgian griffon is also plucked without the use of trimming tools. The area of the beard is left untouched. The final touches are the neat cutting of the wool on the bridge of the nose and inside the auricle with a typewriter, trimming the line of the mustache and beard with scissors, as well as hygienic milling in the anal area. In the intervals between trimmings, Belgian griffons are supposed to be combed with a stripping brush, which removes dead hairs, stimulates blood circulation in the upper layers of the skin and gives shine to the coat. And for daily combing, an ordinary rare comb is suitable.

It is better to bathe Belgian griffons who do not travel to dog shows and exhibitions once every couple of months and always with the use of shampoo for wire-haired breeds. But it is recommended to wash the paws daily after walking through the city streets. Once a week, it is worth carefully examining the inside of the pet's ear and removing the sulfur plaque accumulated there with a cotton swab soaked in hydrogen peroxide or boiled and cooled vegetable oil. If you notice that the "Belgian" vigorously shakes his ears, tries to scratch them with his paw and squeals in addition – urgently visit the veterinarian. It's probably an infection or ear mites.

Otherwise, the care of the Belgian griffon does not require special skills. Once a month, it is useful for the dog to shorten its claws, and once a week it needs to brush its teeth, without ignoring the hard-to-reach posterior molars. Cleaning the oral cavity is a mandatory procedure for the breed, and it needs to be taken seriously. Due to the specific structure of the jaws and the displacement of the salivary ducts, the teeth of the Belgian griffon quickly become overgrown with tartar if they are not systematically cared for. In addition, after each feeding, it is worth walking along the dog's muzzle with a clean cloth – the moustaches and beards of griffons often dip into a bowl of food, acquiring an untidy appearance.

Important: Under the eyes of the "Belgians" there are small folds disguised by a mustache, into which tear fluid flows. The moist environment attracts bacteria, as a result of which the skin in the "wrinkles" gets wet, inflames and exudes an unpleasant smell. To avoid this problem, sanitize the skin folds with chlorhexidine twice a week. If the irritation process has gone too far and disinfectant solutions do not help, zinc ointment and baby powder with drying and antiseptic properties will help.

Feeding

In order for the Belgian Griffon to be healthy and cheerful, you will have to observe the BZHU balance, since overfeed for the breed is no less harmful than underfeed. If the dog eats industrial "drying", it should not be varieties with a high protein content. An adult Belgian griffon has enough food, the protein content of which does not exceed 20-25%. Pressed croquettes for puppies should be more nutritious, so "drying" is suitable for growing individuals, where protein is about 30%. An important nuance: you need to monitor the presence of calcium and phosphorus in food. Both elements should be present in a full-fledged diet, but in a reasonable dosage, since an overabundance of phosphorus leads to serious failures in the nervous system.

The diet of the Belgian griffon, which eats natural food, consists of 40% lean meat. The remaining 60% fall on cereals (cereals), vegetables, fish fillets, fermented milk products. It is more useful to give meat and fish slightly boiled or thoroughly frozen, which will reduce the risk of infecting the pet with helminths. Pumpkin, carrots, beets, cucumbers and tomatoes are useful from vegetables. But potatoes and beans in a bowl of Belgian griffon have nothing to do, as well as any food from the master's table, including smoked meats, bones and sweets.

Two-month-old puppies eat up to five times a day, and feeding should be carried out at equal time intervals. At the age of three months, the pet is allowed to be transferred to a four–time feeding regime, and at six months - to a three-time one. By the year, the physical development of the Belgian griffon is fully completed, so many breeders offer four–legged wards food only twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. At the same time, some dog breeders recommend sticking to a three-day feeding schedule throughout the griffon's life, since this approach reduces the burden on digestion.

Health and diseases of Belgian griffons

Belgian griffons have no predisposition to cardiovascular and endocrine diseases, so the average life expectancy of dogs of this breed is 12-15 years. As for genetically inherited ailments, they are of a specific nature. For example, the bulk of the problems are caused by anomalies of the front part of the pet's skull, including cleft palate, jaw and nasal openings, stenosis of the nasal cavity, as well as hydrocephalus.

Another feature of the breed is the untimely change of milk teeth. Treatment in a particular case is quite simple: look into the baby's mouth more often and take him to the vet – sometimes it is better to remove baby teeth in advance, so as not to observe how double rows of canines form in the jaw. Belgian griffons are also characterized by eye ailments such as retinal atrophy, eyeball prolapse and cataracts. In some representatives of the breed, such an anomaly of development as distichiasis (the growth of additional eyelashes) is manifested.

Female breeders may have complications of labor activity. As an example: many bitches of the Belgian griffon require a caesarean section, and often the offspring born remains unviable or has hereditary pathologies. Eclampsia, also known as postpartum tetany, makes itself felt in some dogs.

How to choose a puppy

• Be responsible about choosing a seller. The Belgian Griffon is a fairly rare and capricious breed in terms of breeding, so queues for puppies in kennels are common.
• Try to give preference to breeders practicing linear breeding, in which breeding individuals have a common ancestor-champion, although they themselves are not closely related.
• Pay special attention to the exterior of the puppy. Too big-headed "Belgians" with an over-developed forehead and a miniature body signal genetic mutations of the litter and the presence of a dwarfism gene, which sometimes manifests itself in the breed.
• Even if you do not plan to conquer exhibitions with a pet in the future, it is better not to take individuals with a tongue falling out. This is a serious appearance defect, in the presence of which Belgian griffons are prohibited from breeding.
• Do not buy the fattest or vice versa – a small puppy in the litter, giving preference to moderately well-fed middle-class women.
• Unwrap the coat of the Belgian griffon and evaluate the uniformity of the undercoat, at the same time making sure that there are no bald spots on the skin.
• Don't fall for the charm of fluffy babies with long hair. As such hair grows up, it does not acquire the necessary rigidity, which affects the breed appearance of the griffon.
• Extremely short faces of Belgian griffons only look funny, but in fact they can cause a lot of problems. Choosing between a puppy with a classic brachycephalic type of muzzle and an extremely shortened one, give preference to the first.

The price of the Belgian griffon

Buy a Belgian griffon puppy from purebred producers cheaper $300 – $400 will not work. Sometimes nurseries make concessions by announcing impromptu sales of litters, while it is important to understand that the promotional price tag is put up for offspring that are not the most prosperous in terms of health and exterior.