Griffon Belge

The Griffon Belge is the third variety within the Brussels griffon group, distinguished by its almost exclusively black coat and the same wiry, rough texture as the Griffon Bruxellois. It comes from the same stable dog stock, later crossed with the Pug and King Charles Spaniel to refine its looks. The body is featherlight, up to 6 kilograms. The coat needs periodic hand-stripping to stay tidy. The short muzzle calls for caution in hot weather and during strenuous exercise. The temperament is lively and attached to its owner, often wary of strangers despite the small size. Life expectancy runs 12 to 15 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Griffon Belge: how old in human years?

3.5–6 kgWeight
12–15 yrsLife expectancy

Petit Brabancon

FCI group: Companion and Toy Dogs
FCI section: Section 3: Small Belgian Dogs
FCI: 82
Country of origin: Belgium

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

3/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

3/5

At a glance

Height

Males not specified

Females not specified

Weight

Males 3.5–6 kg

Females 3.5–6 kg

Life expectancy

12–15 yrs

Coat

harsh, wiry, rough coat, black (wire-haired)

Temperament & Family Life

Griffon Belge's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 2/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 3/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Griffon Belge's energy and exercise needs are moderate.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 3/5
Apartment friendly 4/5
Prey drive 2/5
Hunting instinct 2/5

Guarding & Alertness

Griffon Belge's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 2/5
Watchfulness 4/5
Barking level 4/5

Grooming & Care

Griffon Belge's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 3/5

Living with the Griffon Belge

Look at one up close and you get the feeling of being assessed by a slightly frowning old gentleman with a beard. The Griffon Belge is a small dog from Brussels with a big personality, one of the three varieties of the Brussels griffon family; it weighs less than a bag of shopping and occupies its full share of the household anyway.

It has a fair amount of energy, but meeting it needs no marathons: a few walks a day, games indoors and short training sessions are enough, which makes it a good fit for a flat. It is clever and quick on the uptake, but obedience depends on its mood; short, cheerful sessions with treats work best. It is alert and barks at everything happening on the other side of the door, so it pays to think about teaching quiet early.

It is deeply attached to its people and does not like being left alone for long. Small children are harder for it: it is tiny and fragile, and it dislikes being grabbed, so it suits a family with older, calmer children. It is wary of strangers at first and gets on with other dogs if introduced carefully, especially bigger ones.

Grooming and coat

The Griffon Belge has a harsh, wiry coat, black or black and tan, with the beard, moustache and eyebrows that make that famous face. It sheds little, so the sofa stays mostly hair-free, but a coat like this does not look after itself. Comb and brush it once or twice a week, and a few times a year the dead hair needs plucking out by hand, which you can learn to do yourself or leave to a groomer. Clipping softens a wiry coat and dulls the colour.

The face is where most of the work goes. The beard collects crumbs and water after every meal and drink, so give it a daily wipe with a damp cloth and dry it off. Check the eyes and the hair around them regularly; redness, weeping or discharge is a reason to see a vet. Small dogs' nails wear down slowly, so trim them every few weeks, and brush the teeth as your vet advises.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for small breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (6 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 96 g of dry food a day, from €5,24 a month For a neutered, normally active 4,8 kg dog. Calculate for your dog