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WARNING!!!!
A Brussels Griffon will jump out of your arms with no
warning at all & this can result in injury or death!!!
The Griff Hold
After experiencing several near heart stopping moments when a
Griff attempted to make a flying leap from my arms I decided I had to figure out a way to stop this from happening again...other than grabbing whatever body part I could get a hold of to prevent a crash landing!! It's not always possible to hold a Griff with two hands so I came up with what I call "The Griff Hold". The normal way to hold a small dog is with one hand, palm up, resting under the dog's chest. For the Griff you use this same position but you don't stop there. You continue moving your palm under the dog's chest until you reach the dog's elbow closest to your body and wrap your hand around the dog's elbow. The dog's chest will then be resting on your wrist. This way you have a secure grip and when your Griff decides to take a flying leap out of your arms...trust me at some point he will...you won't be taken by surprise and end up with an emergency trip to the vet for a broken leg, cracked jaw or worse!!!
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AKC Group: Toy
General Apperance: 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: 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.
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.
Temperament: Intelligent, alert and sensitive. Full of self-importance.
History: During the early 1800's, it was the custom for coachmen to keep small terrier types as ratters in the stables, and such dogs of that period in Belgium were Affenpinscher-like, known as Griffons d'Ecurier (wire-coated stable dogs). These dogs emanated from the German Affenpinscher and the Belgian street dog. When or why other breeds were introduced can only be conjecture as the stablemen were not detailed recordkeepers. It is reasonably well documented that the Pug and the King Charles and the Ruby Spaniels were crossed with the original Belgian dog. From these crossings, two distinct types of coat emerge, the harsh-coated bewhiskered rough, and the smooth coated Brabancon. (Named in honor of the Belgian national anthem, La Brabonconne.) Distinctive colors are also attributed to these crosses - the rich red color; the black and tan color, and the solid black color. The spaniel cross is also largely responsible for the facial characteristics and impression, which is so much a part of our present-day Brussels Griffon.
The Brussels Griffon is a member of the Toy Group and was first recognized by the AKC in 1910. No longer finding much purpose as a stableworker, the Brussels Griffon is a hearty, intelligent and active companion.
Fun Facts:
>The Brussels Griffon originated from breeding of the Affenpinscher to the Belgian street dog (Griffons d'Ecurie, or Stable Griffons).
>Smooth-coated Brussels Griffons are termed "Brabancons".
>The Brussels Griffon is not typical of the "pampered pet" stereotype of toy breeds.
>The Brussels Griffon was featured in 1997's hit, "As Good As It Gets", starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt.
> The Brussels Griffon is super-intelligent and sensitive.
>The Brussels Griffon can be self-conscious around strangers.
Do I really want to breed my dog....................
Witnessing the miracle of birth is an amazing experience. Breeding is a huge responsibility and should only be done with the best interest of the breed first and foremost. So your children can witness the miracle of birth is a poor reason to breed a dog. And no your female will not be a better dog or healthier after having a litter!! Plus the male will probably mark his territory and might start raising his leg in the house. Every year six to eight million dogs and cats enter animal shelters. And between three to four million are euthanized every year! This is one of the reasons my puppies are sold on a spay or neuter agreement unless they're show quality. Many of these poor unwanted creatures are from greedy, uncaring people who can only see dollar signs. Working in rescue I've seen the puppy mills and dog auctions these dogs come from and I never want one of my dogs to end up there. Breeding dogs, the right way, is not the way to make money! Yes, I make money when I sell my puppies but after buying dog food, bowls, feeders, beds, heating pads, grooming tools, shampoo, crates, exercise pens, toys, dog show entry fees, lodging, fuel, medication, dewormers, vaccines, etc., I'm lucky to break even. And, please, don't ask how much the vet bill is each month!! I have very healthy dogs but accidents do happen...cut pad, torn nail, c-section, pregnancy x-rays, etc, etc, etc.
So, you have a female you want to breed and you find someone with a male to breed her to. Questions...have either been health checked first to ensure good health? Do you know if they carry any genetic diseases? Do you even know if they might be related? Is the female current on vaccinations so she'll pass on that immunity to the puppies? Do you know that when bred a female can turn on the male and attack him? Do you know how to care for a pregnant dog? Do you know how to whelp a litter? Do you know what the signs of complications are? Do you know what pre-eclampsia is? Are you prepared for an emergency trip to the vet in the middle of the night(this is when they usually whelp) for a c-section that costs hundreds of dollars? Are you prepared for the guilt involved when your beloved pet dies during whelping? What about if the puppies survive and need to be fed every 2 hours for up to 4 weeks? Do you know that a puppy can't urinate or deficate on it's own and you have to stimulate that every few hours until they're about two weeks old? Do you know how to pull a puppy if it isn't delivered normally? Do you know how to open the sac, cut the cord and revive the puppies if the dam won't do it? Do you know that having people or animals around during whelping can upset her so much that she won't whelp? Do you know that she could kill and eat her puppies if she gets too upset or nervous? Do you know that some puppies are born dead and are partially mummified or a water puppy that is 3-5 times it's normal size? I've dealt with these problems, and others, over the years and believe me, if it's hard for me to deal with, you definitely don't want to go through it!!
It isn't the wonderful, beautiful experience for children you think it will be. It usually happens in the middle of the night, can take hours and is dirty, wet, messy and smelly. You'll need a strong stomach for this job. If you want your children to witness a birth......go online and buy a video!! Or ask a friend that breeds to tape a birth for you.