The Brussels Griffon
	I am a purebred Brussels Griffon, a toy breed recognized by the American Kennel Club. The Brussels Griffon is very rare and was brought to the attention of the American public in the form of a cute little dog named Verdell in the movie "As Good As It Gets" starring Jack Nicholson (see My Links).

History

The Brussels Griffon is quite an old breed, being documented as far back as the 15th century in a painting by Jan Van Eyck, "The Marriage of Giovanni Arnolfini." Developed in Belgium, it is thought that my breed's ancestors were German rat dogs. Initially used as stable "ratters," we became popular as guardians of horse-drawn cabs. We also found favor with nobility in England. It is thought that the original Brussels Griffon was crossed with a Pug, an Affenpinscher and an English Miniature Spaniel in the early 19th century to produce us today. The Brussels Griffon was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1910.

Personality

Brussels Griffons are the delightful possessors of intelligence, dignity, impudence, a sense of humor and -- for good measure -- a touch of impishness. All of these attributes are wrapped up in the guise of a cuddly stuffed animal come to life (see My Album). Often referred to as a big dog in a small package, our appeal lies not only in our personality, but also in our unique head. With large round eyes, a flat face and the typical “Griffon pout,” the Brussels Griffon has an almost human expression. Personality plus is the first impression you will receive when meeting me.

Breed Standard
	We are a very small, toy-type dog. We are intelligent and alert; attracting attention with our almost human expression. We have a short, thick-set body, with smart carriage and set-up. There are two distinct types of coat: the wiry, rough-coated (like me) and smooth-coated types. Except for coat, there is no difference between the two.

Size, Proportion, Substance

We usually weigh between 8 and 10 pounds and have a prominent head with an almost human expression. Our eyes are set well apart, very large, black, prominent, and well open. Our eyelashes are long and black. Our eyelids are edged with black. The nose is very black, extremely short, with its tip being set back deeply between the eyes so as to form a lay-back. Our lips are edged with black, and our jaw is undershot. Our tail is set and held high, and are docked to about one-third of natural length. The rough coat is wiry and dense, the harder and more wiry the better. Brussels Griffons come in a number of color combinations: 1) Red: reddish brown with a little black at the whiskers and chin (like me); 2) Belge: black and reddish brown mixed, usually with black mask and whiskers; 3) Black and Tan: black with uniform reddish brown markings, appearing under the chin, on the legs, above each eye, around the edges of the ears and around the vent; or 4) Black: solid black. We are extremely intelligent, alert and sensitive.