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Brussels Griffon Breed Standard
Toy Group
General Appearance
A toy dog, intelligent, alert, sturdy, with a thickset, short body, a smart
carriage and set-up, attracting attention by an almost human expression.
There are two distinct types of coat: rough or smooth. Except for coat,
there is no difference between the two.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size - Weight usually 8 to 10 pounds, and should not exceed 12 pounds. Type
and quality are of greater importance than weight, and a smaller dog that is
sturdy and well proportioned should not be penalized. Proportion - Square,
as measured from point of shoulder to rearmost projection of upper thigh and
from withers to ground. Substance - Thickset, compact with good balance.
Well boned.
Head
A very important feature. An almost human expression. Eyes set well apart,
very large, black, prominent, and well open. The eyelashes long and black.
Eyelids edged with black. Ears small and set rather high on the head. May be
shown cropped or natural. If natural they are carried semi-erect. Skull
large and round, with a domed forehead. The stop deep. Nose very black,
extremely short, its tip being set back deeply between the eyes so as to
form a lay-back. The nostrils large. Disqualifications - Dudley or butterfly
nose. Lips edged with black, not pendulous but well brought together, giving
a clean finish to the mouth. Jaws must be undershot. The incisors of the
lower jaw should protrude over the upper incisors. The lower jaw is
prominent, rather broad with an upward sweep. Neither teeth nor tongue
should show when the mouth is closed. A wry mouth is a serious fault.
Disqualifications - Bite overshot. Hanging tongue.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck medium length, gracefully arched. Topline - Back level and short.
Body - A thickset, short body. Brisket should be broad and deep, ribs well
sprung. Short-coupled. Tail - set and held high, docked to about one-third.
Forequarters
Forelegs medium length, straight in bone, well muscled, set moderately wide
apart and straight from the point of the shoulders as viewed from the front.
Pasterns short and strong. Feet round, small, and compact, turned neither in
nor out. Toes well arched. Black pads and toenails preferred.
Hindquarters
Hind legs set true, thighs strong and well muscled, stifles bent, hocks well
let down, turning neither in nor out.
Coat
The rough coat is wiry and dense, the harder and more wiry the better. On no
account should the dog look or feel woolly, and there should be no silky
hair anywhere. The coat should not be so long as to give a shaggy
appearance, but should be distinctly different all over from the smooth
coat. The head should be covered with wiry hair, slightly longer around the
eyes, nose, cheeks, and chin, thus forming a fringe. The rough coat is
hand-stripped and should never appear unkempt. Body coat of sufficient
length to determine texture. The coat may be tidied for neatness of
appearance, but coats prepared with scissors and/or clippers should be
severely penalized. The smooth coat is straight, short, tight and glossy,
with no trace of wiry hair.
Color
Either 1) Red: reddish brown with a little black at the whiskers and chin
allowable; 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. Any white hairs are
a serious fault, except for "frost" on the muzzle of a mature dog, which
is
natural. Disqualification - White spot or blaze any where on coat.
Gait
Movement is a straightforward, purposeful trot, showing moderate reach and
drive, and maintaining a steady topline.
Temperament
Intelligent, alert and sensitive. Full of self-importance.
Scale of Points
Head
Skull 5
Nose and stop 10
Eyes 5
Bite, chin and jaw 10
Ears 5 35
Coat
Color 12
Texture 13 25
Body and General Conformation
Body (brisket and rib) 15
Gait 10
Legs and feet 5
General appearance (neck,
topline and tail carriage) 10 40
Total 100
Disqualifications
Dudley or butterfly nose.
Bite overshot.
Hanging tongue.
White spot or blaze anywhere on coat.
Approved September 11, 1990
Effective October 30, 1990
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