About Brussels Griffons:

Originally, Brussels were bred by stablemen to keep vermin out of stables. Their full ancestry is unknown but believed to be a mixture of the black Pug, Affenpinscher, and Ruby Toy Spaniel. The Belgian stablemen that initiated these breedings apparently kept no records, but the present day Brussels Griffon was known in its present form sometime between 1870 and 1880.

In Belgium, there are three small terriers which are collectively known as the Belgian Griffons. They include the Petite Brabancon which is smooth coated, the Brussels Griffon which has a red rough coat, and the Belgian Griffon which has a rough coat of colors other than red. They were introduced to the United States and Great Britain in the 1880s. They are shown separately in Europe while in the United States and Great Britain, all three are recognized as one breed, the Brussels Griffon. This is why there is a big variance in their appearance in the US.

The impish, snub nosed breed known as the Brussels Griffon has become amazingly popular with dog lover’s world-wide, and it’s easy to understand why. Remarkably intelligent, sensitive and good natured, this small breed excels as a family watchdog and requires little space, as they get plenty of exercise hopping from one lap to another. They love attention! They are small dogs, usually weighing less than 12 pounds, although there are throwbacks from time to time that are much larger. The breed gained notoriety thanks to the movie “As Good As It Gets”, starring Jack Nicholson, where a Griff played a prominent role. The Brussels coat comes in two varieties; harsh and wiry, called “rough coat,” and smooth and tight, called “smooth coat.” Brussels come in red, belge (which is red and black mixed), black and black and tan.

Brussels Griffon ears may be cropped to a sharp point or carried naturally in a semi-erect position. Oscar has cropped ears and Sophie has natural ears, so you can see the difference in their look in you look at their photos on our website. We crop all our puppies ears at 2 days old since the surgery is so much easier on a young pup than an older dog later down the road. If you prefer natural ears, we just require a 50% deposit instead of a 25% deposit. You also have to pick your puppy quickly! It’s your choice, but you’ll have to act quickly if you want natural ears!

In our experience, Brussels are a smart and inquisitive breed of dog. They have a certain air or sense of self importance that is funny and endearing. They are very much a big dog in a small package. Brussels have very human-like expressions that are always a source of humor in our family. If you own a Brussels, be forewarned that you will be asked by everyone, everywhere you go, “What breed is that dog?” They aren’t very well known and their funny little faces elicit all kinds of responses. Brussels Griffon’s are the type of dog you either LOVE the look of, or you hate. They are unique little creatures and have really stolen my heart. But, don’t be surprised if a family member says, “Who on earth would pay so much money for such an ugly dog?” because it happened to me!!

How We Got Our Brussels:

Well, as with many, I fell in love with Brussels when I saw “Verdell” in the movie “As Good As It Gets” with Jack Nicholson. At the time of the movie, I didn’t have the money for a Brussels. If I remember right, they were around $2000-$2500 at the time of the movie coming out!! I always thought one day when I’m an old lady I’d fork over for a little Verdell of my own!

Later on, we decided to start a hobby kennel with our dachshunds. I decided it would be fun to add another breed and I convinced my husband to let me try out the Brussels too. Fortunately the price isn’t as high as it was when the movie came out. So, we bought Sophie and Oscar. I love how the Brussels can all look so different even in the same color. I love the smashed noses and big eyes and sweet personalities. It seems like a lot of people still don’t know what a Brussels Griffon is, but those of us who do know that there is no substitute for a monkey faced Brussels! We are really enjoying our Brussels and I love this breed!