Belgian Griffon: a description of the dogs and their contents

Pets have been constant companions of humans for many years. Cute and affectionate animals save people from loneliness and help to escape from stressful situations and life difficulties, the accumulation of which can provoke prolonged depression and the development of dangerous diseases. The most popular and sought after pets are dogs.

You can choose and purchase a pet in specialized nurseries or from professional breeders who will not only sell the animal, but also help with the choice of breed. Among urban residents, small decorative dogs, which require minimal care, but bring no less joy than large breeds, are in high demand and popularity.

Belgian Griffon is a decorative breed, which was bred in the XV century. This breed arose as a result of crossing a stray bearded dog with the following species:

• Brussels minor;
• pug;
• Yorkshire Terrier;
• pincher;
• dwarf schnauzer.

In the XIX and XX centuries, the animal was used as an invariable attribute, emphasizing the status of the owner. Each noble family had this pet in their home. Only a few decades later ordinary residents of Belgium could afford to buy a dog. Despite the small weight and similarities with the toy, the pet helped the peasants fight mice and rats thanks to their sharp hearing, good sense of smell and lightning-fast reaction.

Belgian Griffon is a funny little animal that has a bald head and a shaggy beard. The maximum height of mini dogs is 35 cm, and the mass is 6 kg. Individuals of the female and male sexes do not have pronounced external differences. The animal's body has a square shape, a strong bone skeleton and a deep chest with solid ribs, as well as a taut belly. The cranium has a round shape and a rounded forehead. On a flat face there is a wide jaw with small teeth and a protruding lower jaw. A tightly closed mouth is framed by black lips.

A distinctive feature of dogs of this breed is the location of the forehead, chin and nose on the same level. The nasal passages located at the level of the eyeballs are always painted only black. Widely set brown eyes have a large round shape. Deviation from the norm is considered an open area of ​​the eye protein. The auricles have a wide shape and a high landing, and in the case of maintaining their integrity, neatly hang down. Some breeders prefer stop given part of the body.

The established standards provide for a mandatory reduction in the length of the tail, which is located at the level of the lower back and is directed upwards, and its long coat should be cut to a minimum size. Widely set legs have strong bones and a developed muscular system that allows animals to move quickly and jump high. Long and uneven coat has a rigid and wavy structure, as well as a dense undercoat. The breed is not characterized by the presence of shine and curliness. The color of the coat can be the following shades:

• the black;
• pale yellow;
• red black.

The puberty period in dogs begins at the age of one year. To prevent complications during gestation and childbirth, the cable should be smaller than a female. The mating process should be supervised by owners, who should help their pets if necessary. For breeding, dogs with the following characteristics are not used:

• aggressiveness;
• irregular body shape;
• calm disposition.

Like any pet, griffins have a number of advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of the breed are as follows:

• exotic appearance;
• unpretentiousness;
• cleanliness;
• equilibrium;
• discipline;
• steady mental state;
• lack of genetic diseases;
• high intellectual abilities;
• lack of laziness;
• fast learner;
• exact execution of commands;
• rarity;
• good-natured and sociable character;
• non-conflict;
• devotion;
• sincerity;
• intelligence;
• good hearing and sense of smell;
• home protection from mice and rats;
• good compatibility with other pets;
• love of games and talking with children;
• subtle sense of emotional state of the owner.

It is worth highlighting the following disadvantages:

• submission only to the head of the family;
• stubbornness and waywardness;
• intolerance of loneliness;
• need for regular communication and walks;
• long selection of partners for mating;
• inability to accustom to the tray.

The original name of this breed (black wire-haired terrier) was assigned due to the high activity, cheerful and wayward nature of the animals. A small and funny animal is constantly in motion, all the time growls, barks, plays and makes digs.

Beginner breeders and young children, this behavior touches and amazes. Despite the mobile and stubborn disposition, the griffon practically does not show aggression and has a positive attitude not only to family members, but also to pets.At the sight of strangers who are sent to the owner, the pet will surely rush to protect him and try to scare the stranger.

Given the individual characteristics of the character from the first days a dog is in the house, it is necessary to begin the process of training and training. A restless animal must know its nickname, a place of rest and food, and also understand where it can go to the toilet. During the game, the pet will quickly master commands such as “Place”, “near”, “sitting”, “voice” and “not allowed”.

A high level of immunity and the absence of genetic diseases have a positive effect on the life expectancy of pets. This breed is the leader in life expectancy among decorative dogs. The average age of the animals is about 15 years, but in the most comfortable living conditions it can please its owners for 20 years. Despite the high resistance of the breed to disease, animals often suffer from the following pathologies:

• conjunctivitis;
• cataract;
• retinal detachment;
• impaired functioning of the eye muscles;
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• worms;
• skin parasites;
• complications during gestation and childbirth.

Proper care and a balanced diet will help to avoid these problems. Significantly extend the life of the griffon and prevent the occurrence of dangerous diseases will be able to timely vaccinations against the following diseases:

• enteritis;
• leptospirosis;
• plague;
• parainfluenza;
• upper respiratory tract disease;
• periodontal disease;
• inflammatory processes in the oral cavity;
• hydrocephalus;
• rabies.

In order to grow up a healthy and beautiful animal, it is not good enough to care for and feed him, first of all, you need to choose the right puppy. For purchase, you should contact professional breeders and in no case do not get pets in natural and unauthorized markets. The selected animal you need to check your passport and immunization card, and also carefully examine its habitat. If the pet was kept in unsanitary conditions and did not eat properly, you should refuse such a purchase.

This breed, despite its exotic appearance, is notable for its unpretentiousness. A pet can live both in a private house and in a small city apartment, and also he does not need long walks and intense physical exertion. Before purchasing a pet, he needs to equip a recreation and eating area, as well as purchase items for entertainment. Comfortable temperature for the dog is +20 degrees.

The place for rest and sleep should be equipped with a soft and warm basket that will warm the animal and protect it from drafts. In specialized stores, you can buy ready-made houses for small dogs or make this design yourself. Animals love to lie on faux fur or fleecy fabric. In the pet’s den do regular cleaning due to his constant desire to hide in his bed various small items that were accidentally lost by the owners.

An active and moving animal needs daily walks in the fresh air. During walks, the pet should play as much as possible and run up, so as not to cause trouble to the owners of the house. Nature and fresh air also have a positive effect on a dog’s health status and the quality of its coat. In winter and during the autumn and spring colds, the pet needs to wear special outer clothing before the walk, which will help prevent the animal from becoming cold and the development of colds.

The small beast responds positively to various types of travel, shopping and sports activities of the owners, in which he will be directly involved. To visit the street, the animal needs to purchase walking roulette. Due to the small size of the animal, dog handlers do not recommend the use of collars and leashes, which can lead to asphyxiation. Only trained dogs who know the main types of teams can be taught to walk independently without a leash.

In order for the griffon to be able to fully grow and develop, it must be provided with a balanced diet, which should include proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The pet menu should consist of the following products:

• lean beef;
• chicken;
• rabbit meat;
• turkey poultry;
• eggs
• cottage cheese;
• kefir;
• cereals (rice, buckwheat, oatmeal);
• vegetables (beets, carrots, pumpkin, zucchini, tomatoes and cucumbers);
• fruits;
• fish.

Failure to comply with the rules of feeding can provoke eating disorders. The list of prohibited products includes the following:

• food from the hosts table;
• fatty, fried and smoked;
• salted and pickled;
• sweet confectionery;
• candy;
• mayonnaise and sauces;
• salt and sugar;
• seasonings;
• chicken and fish bones;
• sausage and sausages;
• whole milk;
• beans and peas;
• potato;
• bow;
• soup;
• chips and crackers;
• bread;
• pasta.

Experts do not recommend overfeeding pets, and the amount of the daily diet should not exceed 20 percent of the total weight of the pet. Adult animals should receive food 2 times a day. The animal must have constant access to clean and fresh water. On the street, the pet must be drunk from special bottles and in no case be allowed to drink from puddles.

Keeping a comical and tiny pet will not cause difficulties even for novice dog breeders. The main event in animal care is combing out thick and stiff hair. Combing your pet should be a daily activity, the amount of which needs to be increased during the change of coat. To remove old wool, you need to choose hard combs, and soft combs are suitable for cleaning the animal from debris and dirt.

You need to bathe your pet with special shampoos no more than three times a year. A clean animal practically does not produce an unpleasant odor and can do with smaller amounts of water procedures. You need to adjust the length of the nail plates every month with special nippers. Nasal passages, auricles and eyes should be inspected weekly, and if necessary, cleaned.

The area of ​​the beard needs increased attention and special care, which after each meal should be cleaned of food and washed thoroughly. Paw washing should be done after each visit to the street.

About the features of this breed of dogs, see the next video.