Brussels Griffons 101

Mar 1st 2010

Name: Brussels Griffon

Personality: "The intelligent and cheerful Brussels griffon has a terrier-like disposition and is known for his almost human expression," chirps the American Kennel Club in its profile of the breed. The National Brussels Griffon Rescue makes them sound a little more, er, intense: "Griffons are not like other dogs. They are affectionately known as Velcro dogs because they attach themselves to one person in the family, sometimes two, and need to be with that person 24/7. They want to sleep in bed with you. They follow you from room to room ... If you are standing at the sink, you may find your griff sitting on your feet. When you sit down, your griff will be in your lap. Can you handle that as part of your lifestyle?"

Grooming: The AKC recommends brushing the griffon's Ewok-like body twice a week, and taking the bushy, bearded breed to a professional for a trim four times a year. Though its rough coat "requires a lot of attention," according to Dog Breed Info Center, luckily "the griffon sheds little to no hair."

Common Health Issues: According to TerrificPets.com, the griffon's unique facial structure -- particularly its wide-set eyes -- makes it above-average susceptible to rare conditions such as stenotic nares (which can inhibit breathing), protopsis (prolapse of the eyeball) and eyeball lacerations, in addition to more common eye ailments like cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy.