Griffon: types of dogs and their content

Each of us once wanted to have a dog - these cute pets are incredibly smart, friendly and able to charm almost everyone. Some prefer fighting dogs, others prefer the cops, who know how to track down prey and chase animals, and still others just prefer decorative dogs, such as a griffon. In this article we will talk about the griffons, the varieties of this breed of dogs, the characteristics of their content and feeding.

Griffon - the general name of several breeds of dogs with similar external characteristics and qualities. The most well-known Griffon species are the Belgian, Brussels and Petit-Brabancon. This breed of dog is considered one of the oldest in the world.

No one knows exactly which breeds became the first ancestors of the griffons - most likely, during these 500 years not less than a dozen different breeds with different external characteristics and qualities participated in the selection. The closest relative of griffons from modern breeds of dogs is considered to be an affincher, a toy terrier and a pekinese. These dogs are similar in appearance, however they differ in different character traits. In addition, recently it became known that affenpinchers appeared much later than griffons.

At the moment, the griffons are most often found in France, as well as in America and Germany. The reason for the popularization of the breed among the population was the pretty appearance of the individual, as well as the fashion for small dogs, which began in the early 14th century. If at the very beginning these dogs could be bought only by wealthy people who took them to high receptions and balls, then over time the griffons became excellent companions for ordinary people. For example, they served on farms, assisted in livestock penning, caught rodents, and drove away predatory animals and birds from livestock.

Since then, the griffons began to actively spread around the world - somewhere they assimilated with the local breeds and lost their individuality, and somewhere they acquired new features. So, for example, some of the crossed griffon breeds are great hunting dogs (for example, the Cortales griffon).

Belgium is considered the birthplace of griffons - It was here at the end of the XIX century that the first specimens of the breed were presented, and the first standard of griffons was adopted. The griffon breed was finally able to form only by 1928; however, in Russia and the CIS, individuals of this breed were brought only by the end of the twentieth century - with some other breeds from the USA. At about the same time, an international club of griffons was formed and opened, which continues to operate to this day.

A lot of funny and sad stories are connected with griffons. For example, the Serbian queen Draghi was in the habit of feeding the elements of her food first to her pets, and then embarking on her own for lunch.It so happened that the griffon's individual was the queen's favorite, and at one of the dinners the food really turned out to be poisoned. As a result, nothing threatened the health of the queen, but her pet could not be saved.

The first standard of griffons was introduced in 1928 and its main provisions have survived to our days. Below are the parameters that are more or less characteristic of the entire griffon breed.

• Body type. The body has a solid, not massive, but strong structure. These dogs are not distinguished by high stamina or record-breaking speed, but their muscular system is remarkably developed.

• Limbs. Massive, strong, hind limbs slightly longer and more powerful than the front. The hind legs have excellent jogging power, which allows dogs of this breed to often take part in competitions and tournaments. The paws of the dogs are small but strong, well-gathered, almond-shaped or round pads. Feet small.

• Head. Relatively large in relation to the whole body. Differs sharp tilt when moving from the forehead to the face. The shape of the head is round, slightly flattened. The forehead is slightly convex, perfectly pronounced stop.

• Eyes. Depending on the variety, the sizes may differ slightly, but in any case they are shallowly set and even slightly convex. Set at a great distance from each other. The color is usually dark brown or black.

• Muzzle. Extremely short (except for hunting species), with a wide black nose and well-developed nostrils. These dogs also have a characteristic lush beard, which often falls on the chest, forming a kind of "half-maned".

• Oral cavity. In these dogs, the lower jaw is slightly wider and longer than the upper one, which gives these dogs a particularly angry look. Despite this, the teeth and tongue of these dogs are always hidden, occasionally in the breeds there are protruding canines.

• Ears. Depending on the variety, they may be of the hanging or standing type, covered with a thin layer of wool. Set high, at a considerable distance from each other. In the past, it was allowed to stop the ears of dogs of this breed, but now this procedure is not allowed in many countries. In a quiet state, the ears are half-bent, the tips going down just below the level of the eyes.

• Tail. It is set high, in purebred and exhibition breeds it has a straight, not rounded structure. Almost always raised up. Previously, it was also mothballed by 2/3 of the entire length, but today the trimmed tail is more likely a minus and a reason for disqualification of an individual from exhibition competitions.

• Wool. In the long-haired and smooth-haired griffon has a tough and unruly structure, there is almost no springiness, it is notable for its average density. For these dogs, grooming is the main guarantee of appearance. Without proper care, the woolen coat looks sloppy, tangled and careless, which gives the dogs of this breed the appearance of some kind of “brownie”. Experienced dog experts advise to follow the length of the coat as well, regularly sending the dog to the grooming salons.

• Average weight Depending on the variety, it can vary slightly: from 3.5 to 6.5 kg for the most sizeable individuals, as well as up to 18 kg for hunting species.

• Growth. These dogs do not differ in significant growth, the highest individuals rarely grow above 22 cm. However, there is a small note: the length of the body from the ischial tubercles to the shoulders should be identical to the height of the dog at the withers.

• Average life expectancy. These dogs do not differ from other significant longevity. As well as the breeds that served as the ancestors of the griffons, they usually live no longer than 12-15 years. In ideal conditions - up to 17.

• Watchdog potential. These dogs are not suitable for the guard or guard service, however, some varieties remarkably show themselves in terms of hunting - they are hardy, balanced and able to move quickly in any terrain.

It is worth considering in more detail the nature of the griffons, after all, breeders pay attention to this if they want to buy any four-legged pets.

• Exceptional Monogamous. It can be extremely difficult to win the trust of an adult griffon - these pets are very strongly attached to the previous owner, which can cause inconvenience in long departures, travels and replacements. These dogs can develop a real depression in the background of a long absence of the owner of the house.

• Empathy and vanity. From the very first day of the acquaintance with the owner, these dogs are very strongly attached to him. They are faithful, obedient, rarely naughty and always perform everything that is required of them. However, with improper upbringing with violence or lack of attention, this breed of dog is extremely prone to aggression and disobedience. As a result, these little dogs can rush to children, passersby and other pets.

• Bravery. These pets do not take dedication and courage. In situations that are dangerous for the owner, they instantly take up a defensive stance, and even despite their small stature, they will defend them from strangers by all means. The courage of these dogs remarkably coordinates with their innate predilection for training - as a result, these pets are able to perform even the most courageous and dangerous stunts and tasks associated with heights and obstacles.

• Attitude to children. If we are already talking about relatively adult children (from 8 to 12 years old), then the griffons become full-fledged friends and companions for them. They will support any pranks, will gladly take part in dangerous adventures. However, if we are talking about very young children, then the griffons may simply not have enough patience for the endless harassment of the kids.

• Relationship to other pets. In such conditions, the griffons are inclined to take the leading position - they are the initiators of games, they are the ones who set the rules and make sure that they are not violated. If the griffon's personal boundaries are not stopped by another pet, this dog will treat this animal good-naturedly. Griffons are especially friendly with cats - almost identical dimensions, strength and dexterity make them ideal partners in games and fun.

• Socialization. The main condition in the content of griffons is to ensure constant contact with people. These dogs are not able to be locked up in four walls for a long time. When the owner comes home, they will constantly follow him and hint at games and affection. That is why these pets are not recommended to start the owners with a clearly limited schedule and a small amount of free time.

• Curiosity. Griffons just love everything new, unusual and unknown. This is good, because these dogs are able to learn quickly, and not so much, because their curiosity often leads to different incidents. Then they gnaw the wires or furniture, then turn out the pots, then scatter the clothes. All this suggests that your dog lacks your attention, as well as entertainment in the walls of the apartment.

• Love to travel. A distinctive feature of this species is their attachment to long walks of several hours - they adore long journeys and are delighted with everything new and unknown. Such curiosity can bring a lot of trouble to the owners in the first months of maintenance - griffon puppies love to stick their nose around and taste everything that comes their way.

• Caution. Despite their inquisitive nature, griffons with a healthy suspicion relate to everything new. Before you trust a new person, a new pet, or even an ordinary new toy, the pet will always behave cautiously and even remotely at first. Griffons will be carefree in relation to new objects or people only when they realize that the subject does not present danger.

• Vigilance. Not inclined to causeless barking, before giving a vote, they usually analyze the situation and only after that make an informed decision. These animals have a fairly stable psyche - they are difficult to ruffle or provoke a conflict - the animal will avoid a conflict situation until the last minute, but will not hide from the offender.

Inexperienced breeders often confuse representatives of this breed of dogs with other individuals. This happens due to the fact that the breed of griffons is represented at once by several species of dogs, which in varying degrees, differ from each other. Below you can find a description of each variety and its characteristic features.

This variety got its name due to the same name of the capital of Belgium - Brussels. There, the first individuals of this species appeared at the very beginning of the XIX century.. First, the direct purpose of this breed of dogs was to catch rodents and pests in the estates and farms of wealthy residents. A little later, the breed became widely used in the households of ordinary people - all thanks to exceptional companionable griffon qualities.

These dogs became especially famous because they often accompanied bus drivers on their trips. It is through this occupation that the Brussels Griffons are the official mascot of all drivers of public transport in the capital of Belgium.

These dogs are distinguished from their relatives by an extremely muscular, but elegant exterior, as well as red, reddish, wheat or golden color. In addition, some dog experts point out in the look of the Brussels dogs some human meaningfulness and rationality, which made them popular among European fashionistas.

As for character traits, the Brussels Griffons proud of themselves, proud and stubborn, in dangerous situations tend to show pure aggression. Despite this, they are still loyal to their masters, get along well with children, do not tolerate being alone for a long time.

Griffons of the Belgian species are quite rare. The breed received its name from the place of its homeland, as well as the distribution area - Belgium. The ancestors of the breed are the Brussels Griffon and Pug, some also suggest that toy terriers are widely used to breed modern breeds (due to their small stature).Individuals of this breed appeared on the world canine market only at the beginning of the twentieth century, and the breed itself received official recognition only in 1928 (Central Belgian Dog Society).

Before the outbreak of the First World War, this breed of dog was actively spread throughout Europe, but military actions led to the almost complete destruction of this breed of dogs, which is why this species is still considered to be one of the rarest among other griffons.

Outwardly, the Belgian griffons differ from other varieties only in black color or black and tan. These dogs are intelligent, cheerful, not prone to imposing their society. In contrast to their relatives, the Belgian griffon is remarkably amenable to training and is inclined to execute commands.

This species of griffon also belongs to the group of small Belgian dogs (which includes Brussels and Belgian griffons). Brabancons differ from other members of their breed with extremely short soft hair, a neat little face with almost no hairline, and also slightly lower growth, due to which this species is sometimes also called “pet-brabanson”.

The name of the species comes from a small Belgian province called Bramant, the prefix "pti" from French translates as "small." Despite this, the Brabancon variety cannot be called the smallest among all griffons - the fact is that almost all individuals of this breed have identical height and weight.

By their nature, Brabancons are distinguished by a well-developed intuition and empathy - they feel great about their master, are prone to defining his current state and mood.

A sharp mind allows these griffons to not only cope with exercises and workouts, but also to escape unharmed even from the most hopeless situations. Especially characteristic of these dogs is the licking, which they actively use if they are guilty in front of the owner. Brabancons very often resort to manipulation in order to achieve delicacy or to attract the attention of the owner.

Despite such an ambiguous and cunning character, Brabancons are incredibly good-natured dogs that will be ready to help in any situations and become a true and loyal friend. Many owners of these dogs mark an incredible mimicry of these dogs, which looks extremely comical due to the peculiarities of the structure of the oral cavity and jaws of these dogs.

Unlike other species of griffons, mini-Brabancons are wonderful watchmen of one small area - especially when it comes to a private house or a large apartment. Any arrival of guests to your apartment will not go unnoticed - at the slightest sound of opening doors, these dogs can raise the entire apartment to their ears thanks to their sonorous and shrill voice. If a friend or acquaintance of his master stands in front of Brabançon at the guests ’place, the dog will behave friendly and immediately make contact.

A rather young variety of griffons, which is actively used exclusively for hunting purposes. The ancestors of the breed are considered to be a large fawn British griffon and a vendey basset griffon.

These dogs differ from their relatives by the following parameters.

• Increased height - up to 38 cm.
• Extended body and face.
• Straight short coat of various colors: golden, brown, light, brown, gray.
• The extremities are slightly curved, which allows these dogs to develop significant speed on uneven and overgrown shrubs territory.
• Wool coarse and hard, perfectly keeps moisture and frost. It is never too long. The coat is approximately the same throughout the body.

In its homeland, this breed of dogs has gained popularity not only due to its hunting skills, but also good and sociable character. British basset griffons are often found in private farms, where they serve as a watchman, companion or just a friend for children.

It is perhaps the most interesting variety among all known griffons. In its homeland - in the Netherlands, as well as in Germany and France, this type of dog is considered a universal hunting breed with remarkable indicators of endurance and courage.

If the first records of the breeding of griffons appeared in the middle of the XVI century, the griffon of Cortals appeared only at the end of the XIX century. The initial idea in the production of the breed was the creation of a hardy, strong and fast breed of dogs, suitable for hunting even in the most severe conditions of marshes, forests and steppes on fur-bearing animals and birds.

The breed got its unusual name thanks to its creator. Edward Karl Kortal was born in 1851 into a Dutch family that owns a large cattle farm in Amsterdam. Thanks to the hobbies of his father, Edward Kortal gained considerable experience in breeding animals. In addition to animal husbandry, the father of Kortal was also keen on hunting, and also distinguished himself for his passion for purebred hunting dogs. This passion, as well as a huge amount of valuable knowledge on breeding farm from his father, was also adopted by Kortal Jr.

With such knowledge, as well as fluent German, English and French, Kortal often had the opportunity to publish his articles on breeding farms in many European journals. Extensive knowledge in the field of pedigree breeding contributed to the fact that already in 1872, Edward Kortal began to purposefully breed wire-haired griffons.

Since 1870, Edward Kortal began to actively engage in the breeding of griffons under the auspices of the German Prince Albrecht Solms-Braunfels, whom he met at one of the breed exhibitions. The breeders' common affection for the cops and hunting breeds of dogs made friends of them, after which the prince invited Kortal to one of his kennels in order to tidy up the breeding farm and engage in the training of cop dogs. An interesting fact is that when moving to the kennel, Kortal took several of his dogs with him for further crossing.

The prince was satisfied with the work of Kortal, and therefore entrusted him with work in two more nurseries - in Silesino and in Biebesheim. In the last of these, the German prince provided Edward Kortal with everything necessary for breeding the perfect breed of griffons, taking on almost all financial expenses. Thanks to such cooperation, Kortal for all his activities managed to get about 600 puppies of wire-haired griffons, only 62 of which were recorded in his breeding book as successful individuals.

According to the records of Kortal himself, during the work on the wire-haired griffons, he used material from 8 individual dogs at once (4 males and 4 females). It is known that one of the males was a purebred barbet, the rest of the individuals had their own individual appearance, although they did not belong to any particular breed, and were brought from Belgium, France and Germany. Despite these records, modern dog handlers and breeders suggest that, in addition to modern griffons, setters, spaniels, otterhunds, and spinon took part in breeding the species.

This variety was named in 1951 in the Netherlands, and as for world recognition, it only happened in 1954. Despite different data on the history of the origin of the Cortalse griffons, it was France that was identified as the birthplace of the species - today there is the majority of nurseries for the breeding of these animals.

The Cortals Griffons are distinguished from their relatives by a number of certain external features.

• Strong elongated body sports type, well-developed muscular system, stomach tightened. The backbone is strong, but light, which allows you to quickly move through difficult terrain.
• Well developed mustache, eyebrows and beardgiving the dog the look of a certain old man. The skull is wedge-shaped, not wide, the muzzle is rather long with a soft transition from the nose bridge to the forehead. Upper and lower jaw of the same size.
• Eyes rather large, round, planted deep, iris of light, golden or light brown color.
• Nose well developed, brown in color with large nostrils.
• Ears small, located on the same line as the eyes. Thin, covered with a layer of rather long wool.
• Limbs straight, muscular and strong, almost the same size. Paws are compact, rounded.
• Tail thick, often docked by 2/3, almost always in a horizontal position.
• Movements these dogs are cautious, adjusted and graceful. Each step seems to carefully taste the earth.
• Wool rigid, dense, rather long, according to the texture small vortices are possible. The exclusiveness of the hair of these animals lies in the fact that the top coat itself is hard, and the undercoat is soft and dense, which allows these dogs to tolerate frosts, rain and wind.
• Color Mostly gray or platinum with characteristic brown, light or red spots on the ears, limbs, tail and back.

Many housewives say that the process of caring for griffons does not cause them significant problems. For them, regular combing animal fur is more fun than duty. However, the caveat is that combing care for this dog does not end there. Many experienced dog experts are of the opinion that the griffon breed of dogs is poorly adapted to breeding and keeping in ordinary domestic conditions. To understand the reasons for this opinion, it is worth considering the characteristics of the maintenance and care of griffons.

• Place of residence. As for the content of absolutely all pets, the griffons need their own personal space where they can rest and sleep. If we talk about griffons, then this place must be located where people are constantly located - in the corridors, at the intersections of rooms, in the hallway. Since these dogs are not distinguished either by large dimensions or by their addiction to acrobatics, they can be kept in the most ordinary apartments.

• Apartment zoning. You should take a responsible approach to the designation of open and closed areas in your apartment or house. Excessive curiosity of the animal can lead to injuries, damage to furniture and even the death of the animal.

• Active life. Despite the perfect exterior for keeping at home, griffons need constant, daily physical exertion, which is unrealistic to create in the walls of any home. These pets need to walk at least twice a day, while walks should be intense - with exercise and workout.

• Wool. The secret of all griffon charm lies not only in their mind, but also in the beauty of appearance, which is achieved by caring for the animal's hair. This means that the owner of the dog should regularly comb it, brush out the mats, monitor the hygiene of the wool in the genital area and the anus. Combing should be carried out at least 2 times a week. Overdoing with this case is not worth it, because from frequent combing hair weaken and may fall out. For the procedure, you should choose scallops, brushes or combs with frequent soft teeth - they will also perform a massage function for the skin of the animal.

• The washing up. Griffons themselves are suspicious and distrustful of water. It is impossible to say that they do not love her, but they do not feel any pleasure from water procedures. Wash these pets is not more than 10 times a year, if it comes to washing with shampoo or soap. Griffons are often characterized by the pollution of their beards after eating, as well as wool in the limbs and anus after walking. It is not necessary to wash the pet after each walk, for this purpose it is enough to wash and dry only dirty places under running warm water.

• A haircut. In general, too long hair is not typical for griffons, however, in places such as the abdomen, chest, chin, anus and limbs, the hair is often longer than usual. Excessive wool in these places can not only bring discomfort to the animal itself (hamper movement, interfere with bowel movements), but also add care to owners who are obliged to clean and wash it regularly. Despite this, a thorough grooming of griffons at home is not recommended - for this, dogs are sent to grooming salons to create decorative hairstyles and bring wool into a neat and well-groomed look.

• Hygiene. Do not forget that dwarf griffons need banal hygienic procedures. This includes regular teeth cleaning, routine inspection and cleaning of the ears, nail clipping, and eye rinsing.

• The fashion for small dogs appeared in the Middle Ages, where small representatives of griffons acted as satellites of royal persons, noble people and wealthy nobles. It was from those times that the custom came to dress pets in blankets so that they would not freeze and hurt. Over time, the blankets were transformed into beautiful outfits for dogs that have come down to today.

• Health. Do not forget about vaccinations and regular check-ups at the vet.

• Griffon breeding. Breeders do not recommend self-breeding of these dogs. The fact is that the birth of a griffon is often painful (sometimes requires caesarean), and the puppies themselves are born a little, while some newborns are very weak and die quickly. It is extremely important to take a responsible approach to the selection of the right pair for the breeding of griffons - these should be exceptionally strong parents with an ideal pedigree.

An important role in the maintenance of the griffons is their diet - it directly affects both the lifespan of the animal and its appearance, as well as well-being. Feeding griffons slightly different from the diet of larger breeds of dogs.

• Exclude from the diet all tubular chicken bones, as well as chicken meat. Unlike other species of dogs, the griffons are unable to digest bone mass due to weak intestines. Failure to comply with this clause quickly leads to the formation of problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
• Unlike large dogs, griffons are not so urgently needed in regular feeds of fresh meat. Usually they need no more than 300 grams per day. The rest of the diet is occupied by vegetables, cereals and vitamin supplements.
• If you want to feed your pet with ready-made mixtures, try to choose premium and higher feeds - they contain more vitamins and beneficial trace elements. However, it is not necessary to feed exclusively dry feeds of griffons, try to create a combined menu with natural and ready-made products.
• A prerequisite is the constant availability of fresh water. Without it, the stomach of griffons is difficult to process many vegetables, especially dry food.
• Despite the fact that the pet loves to eat human food from the table, try to limit its amount in the dog's diet. Unfortunately, the only significant drawback of the griffons is their stomach, and it is not able to cope with fried, smoked, salted or pickled food.
• Limit your dog’s intake of over-fatty or acidic foods - no citrus fruits, avocados or chicken. With the same caution to treat sweets.
• Do not forget about the addition of vitamins in the winter season, as well as if you prefer only the natural diet.

About the features of the breed, see the video below.