Portraits of popular breeds at home and abroad – Brabant Griffon (Petit Brabancon in French)

The main difference among various breeds of griffons is in their hair – its colour, structure and length. Small Brabant also differs by not having hair on his face and being short-haired. Most commonly, they are red but you can also come across a black brabant griffon or a black brabant griffon with markings. But they always have a black mask. They have a stern look due to their overbite and a mouth shape but they look rather funny.

Even though, their facial expression usually looks stern, these griffons belong to dog clowns and antidepressant playful dogs that enjoy their lives. You won’t definitely get bored with them and they will never let you forget you’re in their company. They easily get bored, they are active dogs and happen to be everywhere where an action is. However, they are still extremely gentle, sensitive and cuddly dogs. They’re perfect family dogs as they are non-confrontational and get on well with both cats and children. They are also friendly even when they meet strangers which makes them very bad watchdogs and this is even supported by the fact they don’t bark very often and very loud.

But you have to be careful with playing of brabants and children. They get easily tired and overheat when they are active which is dangerous for them (think about this also when you take them for a longer trip or during another longer activity). It can cause heart problems or difficulties with breathing. You also have to watch over children, so they don’t harm the dog when playing. Even though they are of solid build, they are quite fragile creatures.

These dogs are really social. They are very dependent on their families and spend every minute possible with family members. It is not the right companion for solitaires as they can watch their master with their eyes all day. Thanks to this, they do not tend to run away or roam around. However, if you are a light sleeper, do not take your brabant to your bed. Even though its barking is not very loud, its snoring would raise up the dead.

They are not too sporty, but they are quite quick and some of them might be good at small dog agility. In any case, they need enough physical activities to be happy. And also, they need lively environment. If you live in the middle of nowhere, you’ll have to provide them enough entertainment so they won’t get bored. On the opposite, cities are their favourite. They can sit at the window or on a balcony and observe the lively streets for a very long time. But they are definitely an indoor dog breed, gardens are not good for them. And not only because of the loneliness which they do not handle very well. Their hair does not have an undercoat and therefore, they are not sufficiently protected against water and cold weather.

This breed tends to have certain diseases which you have to consider. Similarly to other flat-faced breeds, they suffer from heart and breathing problems and there’s a higher chance they’ll be epileptic. Also, they are very likely to get obese. Therefore, you need to really check their portions and give them quality food and treats.

If you are looking for a good-natured companion who will be always by your side, a brabant might be a perfect choice. You won’t get bored with this little funny dog.