Griffon: types of dogs and their contents

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 cops who can track down prey and chase animals, while others prefer just decorative dogs, such as a griffon. This article will discuss griffons, varieties of this breed of dogs, features of their maintenance and feeding.

Griffon is the general name of several dog breeds with similar external characteristics and qualities. The most famous varieties of griffon are Belgian, Brussels and petit-Brabancon. This breed of dog is considered one of the oldest in the world.

Nobody knows exactly which breeds became the first ancestors of griffons - most likely, during these 500 years at least a dozen different breeds with different external characteristics and qualities participated in the selection. The closest relative of the modern breed dog griffon is the affenpincher, toy terrier and Pekingese. These dogs are similar in appearance, but differ in various character traits. In addition, it has recently become known that affenpinchers appeared much later than griffons.

At the moment, griffins 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 at the beginning of the XIV 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 griffins became excellent companions for the common population. For example, they served on farms, helped in cattle herding, caught rodents, and drove predatory animals and birds from livestock.

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

Griffon is considered the birthplace of Belgium - it was here that at the end of the 19th century the first individuals of the breed were introduced, and the first standard of griffins was adopted. The Griffon breed was finally able to form only by 1928, however, individuals of this breed were brought to Russia and the CIS only by the end of the 20th century - with some other breeds from the USA. Around the same time, the international griffon club was formed and opened, which continues to operate to this day.

There are a lot of funny and sad stories connected with griffins. For example, the Serbian queen Draghi had a habit of feeding elements of her food first to her pets, and then to start lunch on her own. It so happened that it was the griffon’s favorite, and at one of the dinners the food really turned out to be poisoned. As a result, the Queen’s health was not in danger, but her pet could not be saved.

The first griffon standard was introduced back in 1928 and its main provisions have survived to this day. Below will be indicated the parameters that are more or less characteristic of the entire breed of griffon.

• Body type. The case has a strong, not massive, but strong structure. These dogs are not distinguished by either great endurance or record speed indicators, however, their muscular system is remarkably developed.

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

• Head. Relatively large in relation to the entire body. It has a sharp slope when moving from the forehead to the muzzle. The shape of the head is rounded, slightly flattened. The forehead is slightly convex, the stop is well defined.

• Eyes. Depending on the variety, the sizes may vary slightly, however, in any case, shallowly planted and even slightly convex. Set at a great distance from each other. The color is most often dark brown or black.

• Muzzle. Extremely short (except for hunting varieties), with a wide black nose and well-developed nostrils. These dogs also have a characteristic fluffy beard, which often falls on the chest, forming a semblance of “half-mane”.

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

• The ears. Depending on the variety, they can be hanging or standing type, covered with a small layer of wool. Set high, at a considerable distance from each other.Ear cupping of dogs of this breed was allowed in the past, but now this procedure is not allowed in many countries. In a calm state, the ears are half bent, the tips descend slightly below eye level.

• Tail. Planted high, in purebred and exhibition breeds it has a direct rather than a rounded structure. Almost always raised up. Previously, it also underwent stopping at 2/3 of the entire length, but today the trimmed tail is more of a minus and a reason for disqualification of an individual from exhibition competitions.

• Wool. The long-haired and smooth-haired griffons have a rigid and naughty structure, practically no springiness, and are characterized by medium density. For these dogs, grooming is the main guarantee of appearance. Without proper care, the coat looks messy, tangled and careless, which gives the dogs of this breed the appearance of a kind of “house”. Experienced dog handlers are advised to monitor the length of the coat as well, regularly sending the dog to grooming salons.

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

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

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

• Watchdog Potential. These dogs are not suitable for guard or security service, however, some varieties are remarkable in terms of hunting - they are hardy, balanced and able to quickly move around any terrain.

It’s worth a closer look at the character features of griffins after all, breeders pay attention to this if they wish to purchase any four-legged pets.

• Exceptional Monogamous. Gaining the trust of an adult griffon can be extremely difficult - these pets are very attached to the previous owner, which can be inconvenient in long trips, travels and replacements. These dogs can develop real depression amid a prolonged absence of the owner of the house.

• Empathy and pride. From the very first day of acquaintance with the owner, these dogs are very attached to him. They are loyal, obedient, rarely naughty and always do 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 doggies can rush at children, passers-by and other pets.

• Bravery. These pets do not take dedication and courage. In situations dangerous for the owner, they instantly take a defensive stance and even despite their small stature, they will protect them from strangers with all their might. The courage of these dogs is remarkably coordinated with their innate addiction to training - as a result, these pets are able to perform even the most brave and dangerous tricks and tasks related to height and obstacles.

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

• Relation to other pets. In such circumstances, griffons tend to take a leading position - they are the instigators of games, it is they who set the rules and make sure that they are not violated. If the personal boundaries of the griffon are not crossed by another pet, this dog will be good-natured to this animal. 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 griffins 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 be given to owners with a clearly limited schedule and a small amount of free time.

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

• Love of travel. A distinctive feature of this variety is their attachment to long walks of several hours - they adore long trips and are completely delighted with everything new and unknown. Such curiosity can cause a lot of trouble to the owners in the first months of detention - griffon puppies really like to poke their nose everywhere and taste everything that comes across.

• Caution. Despite their curious nature, griffons with a healthy suspicion relate to everything new. Before trusting a new person, a new pet or even a regular new toy, the pet will always be wary and even remotely for the first time. Griffons will be carefree in relation to new objects or people only when they understand that the subject is not a danger.

• Vigilance. Not prone to causeless barking, before casting a vote, they usually analyze the situation and only after that make an informed decision. These animals have a fairly stable psyche - it is difficult to get them crazy or provoke a conflict - the animal will avoid a conflict situation until the last minute, however, it will not hide from the offender.

Inexperienced breeders often confuse representatives of this breed of dogs with other individuals. This is due to the fact that the breed of griffon is represented by several varieties of dogs, which differ to one degree or another from each other. Below you can find a description of each variety and its characteristic features.

This variety got its name thanks to the eponymous name of the capital of Belgium - Brussels. There the first individuals of this species appeared at the very beginning of the XIX century. At 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 began to be widely used in the households of ordinary people - all thanks Griffon's exceptional companionship.

These dogs became especially famous for the fact that they often accompanied bus drivers on their trips. Thanks to this activity, the Brussels Griffons are the official mascot of all public transport drivers in the capital of Belgium.

These dogs differ from their relatives in an extremely muscular, but elegant exterior, as well as a red, reddish, wheat or golden color. In addition, some dog handlers note in the look of Brussels dogs a certain human meaningfulness and rationality, which made them popular with European fashionistas.

As for the character traits, the Brussels griffins proud, 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, and do not tolerate loneliness for a long time.

Griffins of the Belgian variety are quite rare. The breed got 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 actively used for breeding modern breeds (due to their small growth). Individuals of this breed appeared on the world cynological market only at the beginning of the twentieth century, and the breed itself received official recognition only in 1928 (Central Society of Dog Breeders of Belgium).

Before the outbreak of World War I, this dog breed was actively distributed throughout Europe, but military operations led to the almost complete destruction of this dog breed, which is why this breed is still considered one of the rarest among the other griffins.

Outwardly, Belgian griffons differ from other varieties exclusively in black or black and tan. These dogs are smart, cheerful, not prone to impose their society. Unlike its relatives, the Belgian griffon is remarkably amenable to training and is inclined to execute commands.

This variety of griffon also belongs to the group of small Belgian dogs (which includes both Brussels and Belgian griffons). Brabansons are distinguished from other representatives of their breed by extremely short soft hair, a neat muzzle with almost no hairline, and also a slightly lower growth, due to which this variety is sometimes also called “pit-brabancon”.

The name of the species comes from a small Belgian province called Bramant, the prefix “ptis” from French is translated as “small”. Despite this, the Brabancon variety cannot be called the smallest among all griffins - the fact is that almost all individuals of this breed have identical growth and weight.

Brabansons are distinguished by a well-developed intuition and empathy in character - they remarkably feel their master, are inclined to determine his current state and mood.

A keen mind allows these griffons not only to cope perfectly with exercises and trainings, but also to leave unscathed even from the most hopeless situations. Especially characteristic of these dogs is the licking, which they actively use if they are guilty before the owner. Brabancons very often resort to manipulation in order to obtain goodies or attract the attention of the owner.

Despite such an ambiguous and cunning character, Brabancons are incredibly good-natured dogs who will be ready to help in any situation and become a true and faithful friend. Many owners of these dogs note an incredible facial expression 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 varieties of griffins, mini-brabansons are wonderful watchmen of one small territory - especially if it concerns a private house or a large apartment. Any arrival of guests in your apartment will not go unnoticed - at the slightest sound of doors opening, these dogs can lift the whole apartment to their ears thanks to their sonorous and piercing voice. If a friend or acquaintance of his master stands in front of the guests in front of the guests, the dog will behave in a friendly manner and immediately make contact.

A fairly young variety of griffins, which is actively used exclusively for hunting purposes. The ancestors of the breed are the large fawn British griffon and the Vendee basset griffon.

These dogs differ from their relatives in the following parameters.

• Increased height - up to 38 cm.
• Elongated body and muzzle.
• Short straight hair 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.
• The coat is coarse and tough, perfectly restrains moisture and frost. It is never too long. The hairline is approximately equally located throughout the body.

In its homeland, this breed of dog has gained popularity not only because of its hunting skills, but also its kind and companionable character. British basset-griffons are often found in private households, where they serve as a watchman, companion or just a friend for children.

It is perhaps the most interesting variety among all known griffins. In their homeland - in the Netherlands, as well as in Germany and France, this species 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 back in the middle of the 16th century, then the griffon of Cortals appeared only at the end of the 19th century. The initial idea in the production of the breed was to create a hardy, strong and fast breed of dog suitable for hunting even in the most severe conditions of swamps, forests and steppes for fur animals and birds.

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

Possessing such knowledge, as well as fluent in German, English and French, Kortal was able to frequently publish his articles on pedigree farms in many European magazines. Extensive breeding knowledge has contributed to the fact that already in 1872, Eduard Kortal began to deliberately breed wire-haired griffons.

Since 1870, Eduard Kortal began to actively engage in the cultivation of griffons under the auspices of the German Prince Albrecht of Solms-Braunfelsky, whom he met at one of the pedigree shows. The general affection of the breeders for the dog and hunting dog breeds made them friends, after which the prince invited Kortal to one of his kennels to put the breeding farm in order and to train the dog. An interesting fact is that when moving to a kennel, Kortal took several of his dogs with him for further breeding.

The prince was satisfied with the work of Cortal, and therefore entrusted him with work in two more nurseries - in Silesino and in Biesheim. In the last of them, the German prince provided Eduard Kortal with everything necessary for breeding the ideal breed of griffon, taking on almost all financial costs. Thanks to such cooperation, Kortal managed to get about 600 puppies of wire-haired griffons for all his activity, only 62 of which were recorded in his stud book as successful individuals.

According to the records of Kortal himself, in the course of work on the wire-haired griffons, he used the material of 8 separate 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 possessed their individual external characteristics, although they did not belong to any particular breed, and were brought from Belgium, France and Germany. Despite these notes, modern dog handlers and breeders suggest that in addition to modern griffons, setters, spaniels, otterhunds, and spinons took part in breeding the species.

This variety got its name back in 1951 in the Netherlands, as for world recognition, it only happened in 1954. Despite different data on the history of the origin of the Cortals griffons, it was France that was indicated as the birthplace of the species - most of the nurseries for breeding these animals are located there today.

Griffons of Cortals differ from their relatives in a number of certain external signs.

• Strong elongated housing sports type, well-developed muscular system, abdomen tightened. The backbone is strong, but lightweight, which allows you to move faster through difficult terrain.
• Perfectly developed mustache, eyebrows and beard.giving the dog the look of a certain old man. The skull is wedge-shaped, not wide, the muzzle is long enough with a soft transition from the nose to the forehead. The upper and lower jaw are the same size.
• Eyes rather large, round, set deep, the iris is light, golden or light brown in color.
• Nose perfectly developed, brown in color with large nostrils.
• The ears small, located on the same line as the eyes. Thin, covered with a layer of fairly long hair.
• Limbs straight, muscular and strong, almost the same size. Paws are compact, rounded.
• Tail thick, often docked at 2/3, almost always in a horizontal position.
• Movements these dogs are cautious, verified and graceful. Each step seems to carefully taste the land for taste.
• Wool hard, dense, long enough, small vortices are possible in texture.The exceptional hairline of these animals is that the top coat itself is hard and the undercoat is soft and dense, which allows these dogs to tolerate frost, rain and wind.
• Color. Mostly gray or platinum with characteristic brown, light or red spots on the ears, limbs, tail and back.

Many housewives claim that the process of caring for griffons does not cause them significant problems. For them, regular brushing of animal hair is more fun than duty. However, the nuance is that care for this dog does not end with combing. Many experienced dog handlers are of the opinion that the Griffon dog breed is poorly adapted for breeding and keeping in normal domestic conditions. To understand the reasons for this opinion, it is worth considering the features of the content and care of griffins.

• Place of residence As for the content of absolutely all pets, griffons need their own personal space where they could 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 neither large in size nor addicted to acrobatics, they can be kept in the most ordinary apartments.

• Zoning of the apartment. You should responsibly approach 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 death of the animal.

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

• Wool. The secret of the whole charm of griffons lies not only in their mind, but also in the beauty of their appearance, which is achieved precisely by caring for the animal’s hair. This means that the owner of the dog should regularly comb it, comb out the tangles, monitor the hygiene of the hair in the genital area and anus. Combing should be done at least 2 times a week. You should not overdo it with this matter, because from frequent combing, the hair weakens and can fall out. For the procedure, it is worth choosing 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. This is not to say that they do not like her, but do not experience any pleasure from water procedures. Wash these pets no more than 10 times a year if it comes to washing with shampoo or soap. Griffons are often characterized by pollution of their beards after eating, as well as wool in the limbs and anus after walking. Do not wash your pet after each walk, for this it is enough to rinse and dry only dirty places under running warm water.

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

• Hygiene. Do not forget that dwarf griffins need banal hygiene procedures. This includes regular brushing, routine inspection and brushing of the ears, nail cutting, and eye washing.

• Fashion for small dogs appeared back in the Middle Ages, where small representatives of griffins acted as satellites of royalty, noble people and wealthy nobles. It was from those times that the custom came to dress up pets in blankets so that they did not freeze and were not sick. Over time, blankets transformed into beautiful outfits for dogs that have survived to this day.

• Health. Do not forget about vaccinations and regular preventive examinations at the veterinarian.

• Griffon breeding. Breeders do not recommend self-breeding of these dogs. The fact is that childbirth in griffons is often painful (sometimes a cesarean is required), and few puppies themselves are born, while some newborns are very weak and die quickly. It is extremely important to responsibly approach the selection of the right pair for breeding griffons - these should be extremely strong parents with an ideal pedigree.

An important role in the content of griffons is played by their diet - it directly affects both the life span of the animal and its appearance, as well as well-being. Griffon food is slightly different from the diet of larger dog breeds.

• Eliminate all tubular chicken bones, as well as chicken meat from the diet. Unlike other dog varieties, griffons are not able to digest bone mass due to a weak intestine. Failure to comply with this paragraph quickly leads to the formation of gastrointestinal problems.
• Unlike large dogs, griffins are not so much in need of regular fresh meat supplies. 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 foods and higher - they contain more vitamins and minerals. However, griffons should not be fed exclusively with dry food; try to create a combined menu with natural and ready-made products.
• A prerequisite is the constant availability of fresh water. Without it, the griffon's stomach is difficult to process many vegetables, and 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 griffons is their stomach, and he is not able to cope with fried, smoked, salted or pickled food.
• Limit your dog’s intake of overly fatty or sour foods — no citrus fruits, avocados, or chicken. With the same care you need to relate to serving sweets.
• Do not forget about the addition of vitamins in the winter season, as well as if you prefer only a natural diet.

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