| Country of origin: | Belgium |
| Registries: | AKC, UKC |
| Occupation: | Companion |
| Size: | 8 to 10 in tall; 8 to 12 lbs |
| Longevity: | 13 to 14 years |
| Exercise: | Low activity level |
| Training: | Moderate |
| Grooming: | Easy to moderate |
In their homeland, the Brussels Griffon and Petit Brabançon are regarded as separate breeds from the Belgian Griffon or Griffon Bruxellois, but in other countries the three are treated as one. Bred as ratters, today they make biddable companions, tolerant of children and other dogs. The Belgian Griffon is a neat, terriertype dog with short, wiry hair. Its ancestor, the Griffon d’Écurie, or Stable Griffon, was crossed with the English Toy Spaniel in the 19th century, resulting in reduced size, a shortened face, and the loss of the ratting instinct. The longer hair of the Brussels Griffon is a legacy of the international assortment of breeds used in its development, probably including the Dutch Smoushond, the Yorkshire Terrier, the Affenpinscher from Germany, and the Barbet from France. Despite the Brussels and Belgian Griffons’ long coats, they are not suited to very cold climates. In French, griffon means “wire haired”, therefore the smooth-coated variety has a different breed name: the Petit Brabançon. The coat and the face show the influence of Pugs in its breeding. Unfortunately, the domed head also indicates an increased risk of epilepsy in this good-natured breed.
The Brussels Griffon has a longer wiry coat than the Belgian. This provides additional weather protection, although snow tends to attach to the beard.