Dog
Pronunciation:
grif-uhn-eez
Breed Description:
The Griffonese breed of dog is a toy sized breed that was developed by crossing the Brussels Griffon with the Pekingese. The result was a dog that is delicate in appearance without seeming fragile. They should be slightly longer than they are tall and their tail is usually long with a slight curl to it. The nose should be short and pushed in like both of the parent breeds.
The coat of the Griffonese can either be the silky coat of the Pekingese or the wiry coat of the Brussels Griffon but many times it is a medium length coat that is hard to the touch but is neither silky nor wiry. The coat can be found in any color that is traditional for the parent breeds including white, black, gray,red, red with a black mask, and black and tan.
Temperament:
The Griffonese breed of dog is an intelligent and cheerful breed. They can be very brave, especially if they take after their Pekingese parent and they are also loyal. Expect some barking with this breed since they are more than happy to play guarddog for their owner. Although the breed can be friendly and affectionate, they may not be the best breed for children since both parent breeds are usually not suited to children. In addition, they do better in one pet families and without proper training and socialization, they can become aggressive to other animals.
Height:
the average height of a Griffonese is between 6 to 9 inches.
Weight:
The average weight of a Griffonese is between 8 to 10 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Griffonese breed of dog has no known health problems, however, some puppies have short, almost brachiocephalic so there may be difficulties with breathing and also heat exhaustion. In addition, since this is a cross breed, it is important to research the health problems that affect the parent breeds, which are the Pekingese and the Brussels Griffon.
Living Conditions:
The Griffonese breed of dog can live just about anywhere and do very well in apartments. They should not live outdoors and again, owners should be conscious of extreme temperatures, either hot or cold, since the breed can be susceptible to both.
Exercise:
The Griffonese breed of dog is actually quite active but their exercise needs are minimal because of their size. Expect between 15 to 20 minutes of exercise each day or two good walks to keep them healthy and happy.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 15 years
Grooming:
The Griffonese can be difficult to groom and it depends on whether you keep the coat clipped short or not. If you do, then brushing the dog once per week is enough to keep them tidy, however, if you keep them in full coat, you may have to brush them on a daily basis. The Griffonese should be bathed once a month and the hair around the face and feet should be trimmed to keep the dog tidy.
Origin:
The Griffonese is a designer `hybrid`breed that has become popular over the last decade or so. There is no actual origin for the breed and if you are interested in learning more about the Griffonese, it is important to read up on both the Brussels Griffon and the Pekingese. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
