{"id":93868,"date":"2014-12-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-08T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvaryny.com\/?p=93868"},"modified":"2025-11-15T17:54:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-15T15:54:49","slug":"belgian-griffon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvaryny.com\/en\/breed-belgian-griffon","title":{"rendered":"Belgian Griffon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Belgian Griffon (Griffon Belge)<\/strong> is a breed of small toy dog, developed in the 19th century. The Belgian Griffon is one of three varieties of ‘small Belgian dogs’, which also include the Brussels Griffon<\/a> and the Petit Braban\u00e7on<\/a>. From its closest relative, the Brussels Griffon, the ‘Belgian’ differs only in the colour of its harsh coat. Although historically these dogs were excellent at dealing with rodents in stables, today their main purpose is companionship. This lively and charismatic dog with an almost human expression gets on well with all family members, but often chooses one ‘special’ person. He won’t annoy you with excessive barking, but will always warn of guests. The Belgian Griffon will happily accompany you on outings and behaves quite tidily. Find out more on this at Tvaryny<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belgian Griffon: Key information about the breed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Characteristic<\/strong><\/td>Description<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Full name<\/td>Griffon Belge \/ Belgian Griffon<\/td><\/tr>
Origin<\/td>Belgium<\/td><\/tr>
FCI classification<\/td>Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 3 (Small Belgian Dogs), No. 81<\/td><\/tr>
Life expectancy<\/td>12-15 years<\/td><\/tr>
Height at withers<\/td>18-25 cm (standard often omits a clear height, focusing on weight)<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/td>3.5 – 6 kg<\/td><\/tr>
Coat type<\/td>Harsh, wiry, not curly, with a ‘beard’ and ‘moustache’<\/td><\/tr>
Colour<\/td>Black, Black and Tan, or Black mixed with reddish-brown hairs (m\u00e9lang\u00e9)<\/td><\/tr>
Temperament<\/td>Lively, curious, devoted, proud, alert, balanced<\/td><\/tr>
Grooming needs<\/td>Medium (requires regular hand-stripping every 2-4 months)<\/td><\/tr>
Activity needs<\/td>Moderate (daily walks and playtime are sufficient)<\/td><\/tr>
Tendency to bark<\/td>Moderate (alert watchdog, but not a nuisance barker)<\/td><\/tr>
Compatibility with children<\/td>Good, but with older children who know how to handle a dog<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

History and origin of the Belgian Griffon breed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Belgian Griffons are the rarest variety of the trio of small Belgian dogs. Their history is inextricably linked with Brussels and its surroundings. The ancestor of modern Griffons is considered to be a small, wire-haired dog called ‘Smousje’, which lived in Belgium for centuries. They were tireless rat-catchers, kept in stables to combat rodents. They were slightly larger than modern Griffons and had a less distinctive appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 19th century, purposeful breeding work began. Breeders wanted not just to improve working characteristics, but also to create a refined companion dog. For this, local ‘Smousje’ were crossed with other breeds. It is believed that the key influences were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n