Brussels Griffon
Updated January 7, 2025
Brussels Griffon
Updated January 7, 2025
The Brussels Griffon is a small, compact breed known for their distinctive smushed faces. Despite their small size, they have big, expressive personalities. Playful and charming, they form strong bonds with their families and are known to be “Velcro dogs.”
Playful, Loyal, Intelligent
Male: 8-10 pounds
Female: 8-10 pounds
Male: 7-10 inches
Female: 7-10 inches
12 to 15 years
Red, Belge, Black and Tan, Black
Brussels Griffons (aka “Griffons”) are instantly recognizable with their smooshy faces and trademark beards. These spunky pups are small in size, but they’ve got a lively personality and love for their human that’s 10 times their size. As consummate “Velcro dogs,” their favorite spot is right next to you, whether working from home, out running errands or watching a late-night movie from the couch. One look into their soulful eyes, and you’ll be the “Velcro person” as you tote this pocket-sized pal everywhere you go.
Brussels Griffon Characteristics
Brussels Griffon Appearance
The Brussels Griffon is a small, compact breed with a distinctive, expressive face characterized by large, round eyes and a short, smushed nose, that resembles a bat or a monkey. Their coat can be either smooth or rough, and they come in a range of colors from browns to reds to black.

- Ears
Brussels Griffons' ears are small and set high on the head. They can be kept natural, which are semi-erect and folded over, or cropped. Cropping involves surgically cutting away part of a dog’s ears. Veterinary groups along with many U.S. states and countries have banned this procedure due to medical and behavioral reasons. If you are interested in this procedure, schedule a consultation with your veterinarian.
- Eyes
Their eyes are one of their defining characteristics: wide-set, big, round and dark.
- Nose
Brussels Griffon dogs are brachycephalic, meaning their black noses are flat, giving them an endearing "smushed face" quality.
- Coat Length
Brussels Griffons come in two types of coats: rough or smooth. The rough coat is wiry, while the smooth coat is straight, short and shiny.
- Coat Color
They typically come in one of four colors: red, belge (a combination of black and reddish-brown mixed together), black and tan, or solid black.
- Tail
The Brussels Griffon tail is typically docked to about one-third of its natural length and sits high. Docking involves cutting a portion of the dog’s tail off when they are puppies. Veterinary groups along with many U.S. states and countries have banned this procedure due to medical and behavioral reasons. If you are interested in this procedure, schedule a consultation with your veterinarian.
Brussels Griffon Temperament
Brussels Griffons have a friendly, personable temperament, and generally take well to meeting new humans, dogs and cats. As they were originally bred to keep rats and other vermin out of stables, Brussels Griffons may not look so fondly on pets that speak to their inner hunting instinct (we’re looking at you, hamsters and gerbils). They’re not known to be aggressive or biters, but they can be barkers if not trained properly.
The Brussels Griffon breed is active, confident and intelligent. They thrive in environments where they can be physically and mentally active, so if you’ve ever wanted to see a tiny dog crush an agility course, raising a Brussels Griffon is right up your alley.
These “Velcro dogs” want nothing more than to be with their special person. That said, they can be good family dogs if the children in the family understand that the Brussels Griffon, while part of the Toy group, isn’t actually a toy.
How to Care for a Brussels Griffon
Caring for a Brussels Griffons means ensuring they have ample time to get their energy out. This affectionate breed also needs ample amounts of attention. Their grooming and training needs are fairly moderate.
Grooming
Training
Diet
Exercise
Environment
Brussels Griffon Health
Brussels Griffons have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. As playful and loyal as these pups are, they’re generally healthy but do have some health issues that pet parents need to be aware of.
- Breathing Issues: While part of the Brussels Griffon’s utter adorableness is their flattened face (brachycephalic), that same characteristic can equal breathing problems for the breed, especially in hot weather. Be sure to keep your pup indoors with the AC cranked during hot days and give them lots of fresh, cool water to drink.
- Joint Issues: Hip dysplasia is a health problem when the hip joint is malformed and can cause your pup to have lameness and pain. It’s also not uncommon for Griffons to have patellar luxation, or kneecap dislocation. Treatment for both includes weight management, physical therapy and surgery, depending on the severity.
- Eye Issues: While their wide, searching eyes are what so many people love about the Brussels Griffon, it is a fact that those eyes can also cause big problems for the small pups. Their eyes can be prone to progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which eventually can lead to blindness. This breed is also prone to cataracts in older dogs. There is no treatment for PRA, but surgery may be possible with cataracts.
Brussels Griffon History
Originating in the early 1800s from Brussels, Belgium—where they are known as Griffon Bruxellois—the Brussels Griffon is the result of crossbreeding the Affenpinscher with several other breeds, including Pugs, King Charles Spaniels and English Toy Spaniels. (The coachmen and stablemen who had a hand in the breeding didn’t keep clear records).
These small dogs are tiny but mighty and originally bred as ratters, i.e., to keep rats and other small vermin out of stables. Around 1870, however, history notes they got a boost out of the stables and into the lap of luxury when Queen Henrietta Maria of Belgium couldn’t resist the smushed faces of the Brussels Griffon breed and made them a household name. That also paved the way for official recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC), which registered the first Brussels Griffon in 1910. In 1982, the American Brussels Griffon Association was elected to AKC membership.
While their origin moved quickly up the ranks from stable to castle, today’s dogs are most known for their pouty faces and loving, longing eyes that people can’t seem to resist. And their intelligence and playfulness make them stars—literally! If this sweet pup’s face seems familiar, and you’re a fan of Jack Nicholson films, you may recognize the Brussels Griffon as the dog who stole the show in the movie “As Good As It Gets.”
So, where’s the best place to find Brussels Griffon puppies today? You can find a list of reputable breeders on the American Kennel Club website. What’s the average Brussels Griffon price? Depending on the breeder, expect to spend about $1,500 to $2,500 for a pup. But for that, you usually get a dog who’s been screened for health and temperament issues, and they might even come with pedigree papers. You can also reach out to Brussels Griffon rescue organizations to adopt one of these pups, keep an eye out for the breed at your local animal shelter, or search Chewy’s database for adoptable Brussels Griffons in your area..
FAQs
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Expert input provided by veterinarian Ted Vlahos, DVM, of Burnham Park Animal Hospital, and certified dog trainer Gayle Cosentino, CGC, CCGC, owner of It’s a ‘Paws’-Itive Thing dog training.
Breed characteristic ratings provided by veterinarian Dr. Sarah J. Wooten, DVM, CVJ, a veterinarian at Sheep Draw Veterinary Hospital in Greeley, Colorado; dog trainer and behavior consultant Irith Bloom, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, owner of The Sophisticated Dog, LLC, in Los Angeles; and certified animal behavior consultant Amy Shojai, CABC, in Sherman, Texas.
The health content was medically reviewed by Chewy vets.