The tiny Brussels Griffon dog, who gets his name from the city of Brussels in Belgium, stands only around 8 inches tall and weighs between 8 and 10 pounds. There are only two types of Brussels Griffon dog, the smooth coated (Petit Brabancon) and the rough, or wire coated type. These dogs are energetic, agile climbers and usually devote themselves to only one person.
Description of the Coat
The rough or wire coated dogs have very thick fur that is course and wiry. The dog's hair is longest on the face, surrounding the eyes, chin and cheeks. The smooth coated dogs have short, shiny and closely cropped hair that has no curl or kink to it. The rough coated Brussels Griffon should not have any smooth hair and likewise, the smooth variety should never have any rough or long hair on his body.
Coat Colors of the Two Types of Brussels Griffon
Both types of dog produce the same colors: Red, black, tan, black and tan, and a mix of reddish/brown and black that is called belge. White is considered undesirable in this breed and is never allowed on show quality dogs. These dogs might have black around their eyes, or black faces as well as black whiskers. The older dogs never get gray hair anywhere on their bodies except for their faces, particularly on their muzzles.
The Differences in Grooming Needs
The smooth coated dogs need minimal grooming, involving brushing the dog weekly and bathing him when he gets smelly. This type of coat is easy to take care of. The rough coated dogs need to have dead hairs removed through weekly brushings, and combings. The coat must be hand stripped twice a year, a process involving using the fingers to pull out dead and loose hair. Neither type of Brussels Griffon dog do much shedding.
Similarities Between the Two Types
Both types of Brussels Griffon dogs are very noisy, barking a lot as many small dogs do, and both types tend to forget that they are small dogs and will attempt to dominate larger dogs, usually with the result of the little dog getting into trouble with the bigger one. Both types typically get their tails docked to 1/3 of their natural length.