The Brussels Griffon came out of Belgium, where small dogs were kept in Brussels stables to kill rats. It’s a toy dog breed from Belgium with a flat face, a whiskered beard and an expression people often call almost human.
These days it’s a companion dog, usually 8 to 10 pounds, in either a wiry rough coat or a short smooth one. The AKC covers both under a single standard.
The flat skull has a price, though. A 2014 Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine study of 84 AKC-registered dogs found Chiari-like malformation in 65% and syringomyelia in 52%.
Just over half of the dogs with syringomyelia showed no clinical signs, so a normal-looking dog is not a screened dog.
What Is a Brussels Griffon?
Stable dogs that killed rats around Brussels are the base stock, and what came out of them is a toy breed with a flat face, a whiskered beard and an almost human expression.
The AKC standard asks for a sturdy, thickset dog with a short body, and it names the head as a very important feature. It wants large dark eyes and a very short black nose, and the jaw is undershot.
Names depend on the registry, which means the same dog can end up with three different labels.
- The AKC in the United States treats it as one breed in the Toy Group, and the rough and smooth coats differ in nothing else.
- The FCI splits it into three standards under Group 9, Section 3 (small Belgian dogs). No. 80 is the Griffon Bruxellois, No. 81 the Griffon Belge and No. 82 the Petit Brabancon.
- The Royal Kennel Club in the UK (formerly The Kennel Club) keeps a single Toy Group standard with two varieties, the rough Griffon Bruxellois and the smooth Petit Brabancon.
Under the FCI standards (2003), a red rough dog is the Griffon Bruxellois, and a black or black and tan rough dog is the Griffon Belge. The smooth dog is the Petit Brabancon in the same colors.
So a black rough-coated dog is a Griffon Belge under FCI rules and just a Brussels Griffon under AKC rules.
The American Brussels Griffon Association (ABGA) is the AKC parent club. Owners shorten the name to Griffon or Griff.
Where Does the Brussels Griffon Come From?
Coachmen in early 1800s Brussels crossed small rough-coated stable dogs to keep rats out of their stables, according to the AKC’s breed history.
Those stable dogs, called griffons d’ecurie or Smous, were terrier-type dogs that looked a lot like the Affenpinscher.
The UKC standard cites Jan van Eyck’s 1434 Arnolfini Portrait as the earliest record of the breed. The AKC reads the painted dog as an ancestor, most likely a Smous, because the breed itself was not recognized in Europe until 1880.
Original Belgian breeding charts show three crosses to Pugs and eight to English Toy Spaniels, starting with a black Pug named Mep in 1882 (AKC). Jeffrey Bazell’s own Showsight history of the breed dates the Mep cross to 1884.
Sources disagree on the rest of the ancestry. The UKC standard and the Westminster Kennel Club both list the Affenpinscher as a contributor, but the AKC says the breeding records and DNA testing rule out an Affenpinscher cross.
Some profiles add the Yorkshire Terrier. The AKC traces that to one Flemish farmer in the early 1900s whose line died out in World War I.
The AKC side rests on copies of the original stud book charts, while the UKC standard hedges with “it is thought.” That’s why the AKC account carries more weight.
Queen Marie Henriette’s interest made the breed fashionable at court. The AKC dates that to the 1870s, while the FCI standard ties the surge in popularity to around 1900.
- The first Griffon Bruxellois went into the Belgian stud book (L.O.S.H.) in 1883.
- 1899 brought the first listings in the AKC Stud Book, plus a Westminster appearance in the Miscellaneous Class.
- AKC recognition came in 1910. Some profiles say 1900, but the AKC’s own history says 1910.
- In 1913 the Brussels Griffon Club of America became the first AKC parent club.
- The ABGA was founded in 1945 and joined the AKC as a member club in 1982.
Both world wars cut the breed’s numbers sharply, and American and British breeders kept it going.
After World War I, Belgian breeders added more English Toy Spaniel blood, which gave the head more dome and the body heavier bone. One breeder also barred dogs with conjoined center toes from breeding, and the AKC says that depleted breeding stock in Belgium.
The breed reached a wider audience in 1997, when a Griffon named Jill shared scenes with Jack Nicholson in As Good as It Gets.
How Big Does a Brussels Griffon Get?
Most adults weigh 8 to 10 pounds. The AKC and UKC standards cap an adult at 12.
The AKC standard says type and quality count for more than weight, so a smaller dog that is sturdy and well proportioned should not be penalized.
- The AKC and UKC standards put weight at usually 8 to 10 lb and never above 12 lb (UKC revision, December 2014).
- The Australian standard gives 3.2 to 5 kg, or 7 to 11 lb (Dogs Victoria, updated 2010).
- Height at the withers runs 17.5 to 20.5 cm (Purina New Zealand).
- Hill’s Pet Nutrition gives 8 in for males and 7 in for females.
- The Westminster Kennel Club sets a height ceiling of 10 in.
Height figures vary because the AKC standard sets a weight range and a square outline, not an inch measurement.
Square means the distance from shoulder point to the back of the thigh roughly matches the height from withers to ground.
Griffons beg convincingly. ABGA breeder Anne Catterson writes in the AKC Gazette that walking and smaller portions, with green beans added, are the proven ways to take weight off.
Rough Coat and Smooth Coat: How Do the Varieties Differ?
Rough coats are hard and wiry and sit dense on the body. Smooth coats are short and tight, with a gloss to them.
Under the AKC standard, coat is the only difference between the two.
| Feature | Rough coat | Smooth coat |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Wiry and dense, never woolly or silky | Short, tight, glossy |
| Name under FCI | Griffon Bruxellois (red) or Griffon Belge (black, black and tan) | Petit Brabancon (same colors) |
| Routine care | Brushing plus hand stripping | Brushing, occasional raking |
| Clipping | Softens the coat over time | Not needed |
Accepted colors are red, Belge (mixed reddish brown and black), black and tan, and black. The Westminster Kennel Club lists the same four colors for both coats.
The black smooth dog has a history of its own. Early American standards were translated from Belgian ones and left black out of the smooth colors, and the 1959 unified AKC standard added a disqualification for it that stayed until the 1990 revision.
The FCI standard says Pug and Ruby King Charles Spaniel bloodlines produced the short black coat. The ABGA notes that smooth is recessive to rough.
In the United States, roughs and smooths are bred to each other routinely. In Belgium, crossing the varieties needs written permission from the Societe Royale Saint-Hubert, which the AKC says it routinely grants.
Judges don’t favor the rough anymore, either. Ch. Cilleine Masquerade, a red smooth, won Group II at the 2008 Westminster show (AKC).
How to Groom a Brussels Griffon
Rough coats need regular brushing and periodic hand stripping. Smooth coats get by with a brush and the odd rake.
The ABGA describes the rough coat as hand stripped for the show ring.
Hand stripping a rough coat
Hand stripping pulls dead hair out by the root, which keeps the coat wiry and the skin healthy.
- Brush and comb out tangles and mats first.
- Strip before the bath, because the dead hair comes out more easily that way (AKC groomer Kim Kier).
- Hold the skin taut, take a few dead hairs between thumb and forefinger, and pull in the direction of growth.
- Use a stripping or carding knife where fingers are too slow, and clippers only sparingly on the face, throat and sanitary area.
- Bathe after stripping, and schedule the bath a week before any show, because bathing softens a rough coat.
Start early. The ABGA’s Catterson says a rough-coated Griff should be stripped down early in life to lose the soft puppy fuzz.
Clipping is tempting, but the AKC says it softens a wiry coat over time and risks skin problems and poor temperature regulation. Without early stripping and regular flatwork, the coat turns woolly or silky.
The AKC gives no fixed interval for stripping because it depends on how fast the coat grows. Hand stripping also costs more than a standard groom, and for a house pet a clipper trim with carding is the usual compromise, at the price of a softer coat.
Smooth coat care
A brush lifts the loose hair, and an occasional rake through the undercoat brings up the gloss. No stripping or clipping.
Beard, ears, nails and shedding
Comb the beard regularly with a small metal comb (Wahl’s breed grooming guide).
Both coats need regular ear cleaning and nail trimming, says the ABGA. Griffons tend to dislike nail trims and beard combing, so expect some negotiation.
Between strips, the AKC suggests a weekly double brush, double comb routine for wiry coats, using a pin brush, a medium comb, a fine comb, then a slicker brush. The Westminster Kennel Club rates shedding as moderate.
Find a groomer who hand strips before a rough-coated puppy comes home. The AKC advises asking about experience with wire coats before the first appointment.
Brussels Griffon Temperament, Training and Daily Needs
Griffons are confident and sensitive, and they can be demanding. They bond hard with one person and act bigger than they are.
The Westminster Kennel Club’s breed profile calls the breed outgoing, playful, smart and friendly. VCA Animal Hospitals say it tends to dote on one person rather than work a room.
Vetstreet adds that individual dogs range from outgoing and active to reserved, with most somewhere in the middle.
Family, Children and Other Pets
Sources split on children, and the split follows the child’s age.
Purina New Zealand calls the breed a great family dog that is great with other pets, though its own living note says good with older children. Petfinder is blunter, saying sensitivity and size make the Griffon a poor choice for families with young children. Vetstreet notes that small children often force attention on a dog that does not want it.
Even the favorable sources land on older children.
Other animals are usually fine. VCA warns that the ratting background can put a pet hamster at risk.
Barking, Alone Time and Separation Anxiety
Barking depends on who you ask. Westminster rates it high and Hill’s says the breed can bark excessively without training, while Purina New Zealand and WebMD call it quiet.
Hill’s also says the breed does not do well left alone for long periods, and Petfinder lists separation anxiety as a risk.
Vetstreet advises crating a young Griffon whenever you cannot supervise, because it can also be an escape artist.
Four sources split two and two on barking, so treat it as a training question, not a breed guarantee either way.
Training and Exercise
Brussels Griffons learn fast and push back, so training works when it is consistent and free of harshness.
Hill’s calls the breed both stubborn and very intelligent. Wahl’s breed guide says rough treatment can turn a Griffon into a barker and a biter.
Housebreaking can take extra time and effort (Dogs Victoria).
Daily walks cover most exercise needs, and Orvis prefers walking to running because the breed can overheat. Apartments work, but secure the yard, since Healthy Paws flags a tendency to wander.
Which Health Problems Affect the Brussels Griffon?
Screening tests exist for syringomyelia with Chiari-like malformation, brachycephalic airway disease, patellar luxation and inherited eye disease.
Brachycephalic means short-skulled. Cambridge’s BOAS Research Group describes both the airway disorder and Chiari-like malformation as conformational problems.
| Condition | What to watch for | Screening test | Where results go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syringomyelia and Chiari-like malformation | Phantom scratching, neck pain, weakness | MRI of head and neck, from 12 months | No database registration |
| Brachycephalic airway disease | Noisy breathing, heat and exercise intolerance | Respiratory function grading | Royal Kennel Club RFG scheme; ABGA Ambassadors of Health program |
| Patellar luxation | Lameness, pain | OFA evaluation after age 2 | OFA (CHIC requirement) |
| Inherited eye disease | Cataracts, PRA, distichiasis | ACVO eye exam | OFA or CAER (CHIC requirement) |
Syringomyelia and Chiari-Like Malformation
Chiari-like malformation showed up in 65% of 84 AKC-registered Brussels Griffons and syringomyelia in 52%, according to a 2014 study in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Syringomyelia means fluid-filled cavities form in the spinal cord (WebMD). MRI measurements in the breed link Chiari-like malformation to a shortened cranial base (Knowler et al., PLOS ONE, 2014).
Of the dogs with syringomyelia, 52% were clinically normal. Neurologic deficits (28%) and neck pain (20%) appeared in only a minority of the whole group.
A normal-looking dog is therefore not a screened dog. The disorder was first identified in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and the Canine Chiari Institute at LIVS names that breed and the Griffon Bruxellois as the most affected.
Breathing Problems and Heat
Excess soft tissue in the nose and throat partly blocks the airway, which causes noisy breathing and poor tolerance of heat and exercise (Cambridge BOAS Research Group).
Cambridge researchers placed the Griffon Bruxellois in a moderate-risk group of five breeds, where 25 to 50% of dogs graded 0 (PLOS ONE study published February 2026, as summarized in a BSAVA digest of April 2026).
The Kennel Club and Cambridge grading scheme (0 for free of signs, 3 for severe) launched in 2019 for the Bulldog, French Bulldog and Pug. In February 2026 the Royal Kennel Club expanded it to 14 more breeds, including the Griffon Bruxellois. The Royal Kennel Club’s breed page lists the test as recognized from August 2026, with formal addition to its Health Standard and Find a Puppy from January 2027.
A breeder can already show a graded result. The ABGA’s 2026 Ambassadors of Health program accepts respiratory function grading, and OFA lists respiratory function grading exams for the breed in its April 2026 update.
Knees, Eyes and Other Conditions
- Cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- Distichiasis, extra eyelashes that irritate the eye
- Hip dysplasia and autoimmune thyroiditis, both optional CHIC tests
- Cleft palate, Legg-Perthes disease and urinary incontinence, per Guild Insurance’s breed list
The recommended PRA test is electroretinography (ERG), and CHIC records no database entry for it.
Birth Complications
Cesarean births are routine in this breed.
Guild Insurance Australia notes that the Griffon Bruxellois often needs a cesarean to deliver pups. Danish Kennel Club data on 2013 to 2022 litters, published in Theriogenology, show far higher cesarean prevalence in brachycephalic breeds than in pedigree dogs overall.
For a buyer, that makes the dam’s whelping history a fair question.
How Long Does a Brussels Griffon Live?
Brussels Griffons typically live 12 to 15 years, according to Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Dogs Trust’s 2024 life expectancy table, built from UK records for 155 breeds, puts the breed median at 13.3 years (95% confidence interval 12.7 to 13.9, from 315 dogs of which 102 had died).
The two sources agree, but the Dogs Trust interval tops out at 13.9. Treat 15 as the good-case end of the range, not the expectation.
With only 102 recorded deaths, the breed estimate is wider than the headline number suggests.
Syringomyelia can leave a dog stable for years or decline within months, according to WebMD, and brachycephalic airway disease brings its own heat limits. For cause of death, the Kennel Club’s 2014 health survey reports it by breed on request, and its all-breed list leads with old age and cancer.
Screening the parents is the one lever a buyer pulls before the dog comes home.
How to Find a Healthy Brussels Griffon
Start at the breed club, not a classifieds site, and ask for health results on paper for both parents before paying any deposit.
The ABGA keeps a breeder-member list, a code of ethics and an available-dogs page, and it links to National Brussels Griffon Rescue.
- Ask for results on both parents: a patella evaluation, an ACVO eye exam and a syringomyelia MRI.
- Check MRI timing. The Canine Chiari Institute at LIVS recommends scanning from 12 months, and says MRI-clear dogs under 2.5 years should only be mated with MRI-clear dogs over 2.5.
- Read any CHIC number carefully. It requires only the eye exam and the patella evaluation, so it says nothing about syringomyelia.
- Ask about whelping, including how many litters were cesarean births.
- Look for testing beyond CHIC. The ABGA’s Ambassadors of Health tiers (Copper to Diamond) credit respiratory grading, cardiac checks, MRI and DNA tests.
A scan costs a breeder roughly $1,500 to $3,000 per dog, according to veterinarian Marty Greer on the Pure Dog Talk podcast. Keep that in mind when one litter is priced far below another.
No breed club publishes a price. Marketplace listings in several US cities (Good Dog, 2026) show puppies asking in the low-to-mid thousands of dollars.
Going through a breeder gets you parent test results you can verify and a puppy you raise from day one, at a higher upfront cost.
Rescue gives you an adult whose temperament is already visible, but the parents’ test results may not exist. National Brussels Griffon Rescue lists a spay or neuter and a screened home placement as its object.
National Brussels Griffon Rescue runs as a foster-based, all-volunteer national network that takes in Griffons regardless of age, health or circumstances (GuideStar profile).
When a Brussels Griffon Is the Wrong Dog
A Brussels Griffon is a poor match for hot homes without cooling, households that sit empty most of the day, homes with toddlers, and owners who cannot absorb specialist vet bills.
Orvis says the breed is not built to live outdoors full-time, and a short skull makes cooling a practical necessity in a warm climate. Obviously that matters more the hotter your summers get.
An empty house from morning to evening is where the breed’s attachment turns into a behavior problem.
A family with toddlers is the weakest fit, since the cautious sources agree on the same age line.
Neurological and airway care is specialist work, and a breeder’s MRI scans alone run into four figures per dog.
First-time owners get mixed signals. Purina New Zealand calls the breed suitable for non-experienced owners, and Hill’s calls it demanding and assertive.
Breeding is a project for experienced breeders, not a side plan, given the MRI rules for matings, the cesarean births and the testing costs.
A first-time owner who commits to consistent training can manage a Griffon. One who wants a dog that trains itself cannot.
If two or more of those describe your home, look at a different toy breed.
Brussels Griffon FAQ
Why is the Brussels Griffon called a Griffon?
The word describes a wiry coat. The breed descends from griffons d’ecurie, which the AKC translates as wire-coated stable dogs.
Petfinder adds that smooth-coated dogs were not initially accepted because griffon means wiry.
Is the Brussels Griffon hypoallergenic?
No. Purina New Zealand lists the breed as non-hypoallergenic.
If allergies matter in your household, spend time around an adult Griffon before choosing a puppy.
Do Brussels Griffon ears have to be cropped?
No, ear cropping is optional. The AKC standard allows ears to be shown cropped or natural, and natural ears are carried semi-erect.
Tail docking is a different matter. The AKC standard describes the tail as docked to about one-third, while the FCI standard accepts docked and undocked tails. Chewy notes that docking a puppy’s tail was once common and that groups including the American Veterinary Medical Association now oppose it.
What are the most common Brussels Griffon mixes?
MetLife Pet Insurance’s list of common mixes includes the Brug (Pug), the Chussel (Chihuahua) and the Shiffon (Shih Tzu).
MetLife adds that the breed is not commonly mixed.
What should a Brussels Griffon eat?
Purina says a complete and balanced adult dog food, after a toy or small-breed puppy food for the first year.
Healthy Paws advises against leaving food out to graze, and says any homemade diet needs a recipe from a veterinary nutritionist.
Did a Brussels Griffon inspire the Ewoks in Star Wars?
Breed profiles say so. Orvis reports that a Brussels Griffon owned by George Lucas influenced the look of the Ewoks.
VCA Animal Hospitals notes the breed’s whiskery face is often likened to them.
Is pet insurance worth it for a Brussels Griffon?
It’s worth pricing, and timing decides the value. MetLife Pet Insurance says hereditary conditions can be covered when no symptoms appear before enrollment or during its 14-day waiting period on illnesses, while pre-existing conditions are typically excluded.
Enrolling before any signs appear keeps neurological and airway conditions eligible. This is general information, not financial advice.
What to Settle Before Bringing Home a Brussels Griffon
Parent screening goes first, meaning MRI and patella results on both parents. Insurance with hereditary coverage comes next, and cooling plus a hand-stripping groomer come last.
Parentage cannot be corrected after purchase, while cooling and grooming arrangements adjust at any point. Coverage sits in the middle because eligibility depends on a clean record on the enrollment date.
The trade-off is a smaller pool of breeders and a longer search.
Respiratory grading is the item that can reorder this list. The Royal Kennel Club extended its grading scheme to the breed in 2026 and plans to add it to its Health Standard from January 2027, so a breeder’s official grade can now rank beside the MRI result (position as of October 2026).
After the puppy arrives, compare puppy food brands built for toy breeds.
