I remember the first time I saw a Brussels Griffon. It was in “As Good As It Gets”. My first thought was, “He’s so cute!” This breed is indeed cute. It’s also highly intelligent, loyal, and friendly. They are ALSO quite stubborn, so be prepared!
A Brussels Griffon is a Great Family Dog
The Brussels Griffon is a great breed for any family. They are highly intelligent, loving and loyal. Although they can be reserved around strangers, they will eventually warm up to them, and they are quite good with other animals. The only thing to note is that you have to teach your children that they can’t be overly rowdy with this breed. Although the Brussels Griffon loves to play, it doesn’t tolerate too much of the rough stuff.
History
The Brussels Griffon was originally bred to hunt and kill rats. Although small, this former Belgian street dog is anything but pampered. This breed loves to get out and work. It’s not afraid of a little dirt, either.
Temperament
The Brussels Griffon is a loving, loyal animal that is full of energy and inquisitiveness. This breed was originally bred as a ratter, so you’ll often see him with his face in the dirt and exploring every nook and cranny of the yard. Although inquisitive, the Brussels Griffon can be shy around new people and animals, but after it warms up, it will make friends.
There are three very important things to remember about this breed. It is very sensitive. So while you should never yell or use physical force to correct any dog, it holds especially true for the Brussels Griffon. Correcting by yelling or hitting can lead to a dog who bites out of fear. The other thing to note is that kids must be taught to treat this breed with respect. Although it is a generally friendly breed, it will not put up with being handled roughly. You should also be aware that the Brussels Griffon is a protective breed, so it will bark at knocks on the door, door bells, strangers, and such.
Trainability
This is a little bit of a mixed bag. If you want to train your Brussels Griffon in outdoor activities like agility, you’ll have no problem. This breed is extremely smart and loves mental stimulation, so activities like agility training are perfect for it. Potty training is another story. You will absolutely need to crate train the Brussels Griffon, as well as have a vast well of patience to draw upon. This is one stubborn breed. Treats, consistency, an even temperament on your part, and the patience of Job are necessary to get the Brussels Griffon to go potty outside and not on your carpet.
Related: Puppy Crate Training That’s as Easy as 1-2-3
Energy Level
The Brussels Griffon is a smallish breed, but it has big energy. You’ll definitely need a fenced in yard for this breed. They love to run and play, and they do well when they can exercise as much as they want. The Brussels Griffon is not a breed for inactive people. With a breed like this, if you don’t exercise it enough, it will find other destructive ways to get out its energy. Basically, if you’re getting a Brussels Griffon, you’re also getting a fence.
Related: How to Socialize Your Active Puppy
The Brussels Griffon is Worth the Work
The Brussels Griffon is a wonderful breed. On the whole, it is a wonderfully pleasant breed, but like any breed, you’ll have to be prepared to handle some of its quirks. If you’re willing to put the work, work, work into training a Brussels Griffon, it can be a wonderful addition to your family.
Do you have a Brussels Griffon? What do you love about this great small breed dog?
