The Brussels Griffon of today resulted from crossing with other breeds, such as the Pug, the Affenpinscher and Spaniels. He is outgoing, intelligent, affectionate and spunky. Some of these little dogs are friendly with strangers, others are timid. The coat of the Brussels Griffon may be rough or smooth. The Brussels Griffon should be trimmed about four times a year.
The Brussels Griffon is intelligent, affectionate, and highly independent
dog. He suits perfectly for apartment life, but needs to be trained in a firm
and consistent way.  This reddish-brown little dog was first
developed as a rat-killer for stables where horse-drawn carriages were kept. Its
ancestors were pest-controllers of the Belgian cities. The earlier dogs in their
original form had a less flattened face than they do today.
In the late 19th century they became the favorites of the Belgian queen and a
great effort was made to increase their appeal by crossing them with other
flat-face breeds: Affenpinscher, Pug, and King Charles Spaniel. Over the years
various other breeds were brought for different features.
The breed occurs in two coat types - rough and smooth. While the rough is
more familiar, the smooth is much easier to groom. The Brussels Griffon coat
calls for hand stripping. Its coat will lose its natural texture and the color
will fade, if clipped. regular brushing will reduce the need for frequent
bathing.
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