Griffon Bruxellois

We have here a charming and agreeable little dog which is equally happy in a flat or outdoors. It undoubtedly belongs to a very old breed which has had various names through the centuries.
We look in vain for the name Griffon Bruxellois, Brabancon or Griffon Belge in the books of old dedicated to the breeds of dog. But, we can find dogs even before 1878 descriptions of dogs that correspond to the Griffon under the name of Griffon Terrrier.
Gayot, in his book Le Chien (1867) in his chapter titled “Apartment Dogs” speaks of a yellow terrier whose weight is less than 6lb. They have a round head and prominent eyes. They have short hair with no trace of white on the chest and belly.
Later these Griffon Terriers became Stable Griffon Terriers now slightly larger but with the same characteristics. In the area around Nantes there was an important kennel owned by Sr. Fouchier of St-Martin. I was lucky to obtain a dog with smooth, tousled hair that became quite rough with a little work. He was an excellent guard dog and a first class ratter. Living at that time on the banks of the Marne my Stable Griffon Terrier had plenty of work to keep him busy… At that time some people thought that even pet dogs should be able to work for their living, even distracting the boar in the hunts. Among these people were M. Frégis (owner of the dog clinic of the same name), M. Cerfon (de Elbeuf) and M. Menans de Corre (de Traves, Hte-Saône).
But you would search in vain for the name Stable Terrier Griffon, it didn’t appear in show catalogues or French Stud Books of the time. It wasn’t until 1895 that the Terrier Bruxellois appeared. Around this time a dog vendor who had a shop in the Petit Champs street, M Iffernot. Became a specialist in the breeding and sale of Griffon Bruxellois. He imported breeding stock from Belgium. These dogs were registered in the Kennel Stud Book de San Huberto (LOSH) and the breed was recognized in 1883.
In June 1889, in the French Stud Book we find two long haired Stable Terrier Griffon bitches: Paquerette 4407 and Risette 4408, belonging to M. Fouchier de St Martín. Bred by him, who still didn´t have affix. We also find two bitches belonging to M. Menans de Corre’s kennel, Fanny de Traves, 4723 and Mirza de Traves, 4724.
This could lead us to believe that we are writing about the Griffon Terrier as the unique ancestor of the Griffon Bruxellois. However, at that time we already see Grifon Terriers in Holland and Germany.
"Some English writers, Edward Ash, and Prof. Robin in his book “Chien de Berge, Chiens de Garde, Chiens d´Agrément” put forward the idea that the Griffon Bruxellois has as its origins a terrier found in the Yorkshire area, the Navy Dog, which was exported to the continent in 1873.
Here is why Ash held his opinión: The first Griffons Bruxellois introduced into England, thirty years before, said by the seller to be similar to the Navy Dog. They had quite a long muzzle and reddish coat. But the monkey face was not achieved until many years of selection had passed. Later still it was crossed with the Ruby Spaniel and the Pug who gave rise to the smooth Griffon or Brabançon.”
This seems to us a very English story.
The Germans have also claimed an ancestor of the Griffon in the Affenpinscher. Even though this may be more reasonable we should not forget the contribution of the dog of the Jews from the Low Countries, the Smonshondje. It is preferable to believe that the Belgians have stolen the march on the Dutch in the improvement in the Smonshondje, nowadays disappeared.
The first red dog with rough hair and monkey muzzle that, without a doubt, came from the Griffon of the Stables, common in Belgium and Northern France, was shown by his owner, a police officer, in a show in 1880. But it is to Mme Bodinus, who was the Director of the Jardin d´Aclimatation del Bois de la Chambre in Brussels, that we owe the definitive creation of the Griffon Bruxellois.
At that time it was named “Griffon de la Reine” also, because the Belgian Queen had taken the little dog under her wing and could be seen taking walks in its company. In 1889, in Brussels, the Griffon Bruxellois Club was founded. A few years later was founded the French Griffon Bruxellois Club which has existed since that time, although rather dormant since 1939.
In France we had excellent Griffons and Brabançon. They came from the following breeders: “du Chablais” of Mme Brame, “du Bois Joli” of Mme G. De Teramond, “des Pierrot” of Mme Corcelette, “du Gribbe” of Mme Pauwels, “du Rouge Cloître” of Mlle Mohr, and, “du Lerins” of Mme Chauvin du Treuil. Today we can also point to Mme Louys and Mme Asselin.
Belge and the Brabançon are charming little pet dogs. They are fun, affectionate and faithful. They should reclaim the outstanding place they deserve. The breeding is fairly straightforward with no special difficulties. The cropping of the ears can be a little difficult. In England this is not permitted, which gives them a different look.