Griffonshire

Quick Take

• This tiny dog's intelligence has a surprising dark side that trips up even experienced owners during training. See the stubborn streak →
• One inherited health condition has no treatment at all, and catching it requires a specialist most new owners never think to visit. Check the health risks →
• Two Griffonshires can have completely different coats, and which one your dog inherits will change everything about how you groom it. Explore the grooming details →
• Apartment life seems perfect for this breed, though most owners are caught off guard when they discover the one daily requirement. See the daily requirement →

Breed a Brussels Griffon with a Yorkshire Terrier, and you have a puppy called a Griffonshire. Griffonshires were first bred in the 1980s. These small dogs possess some of the best qualities of each of their purebred parents. The Griffonshire belongs to the hybrid group.

Griffonshires are intelligent, lively, and protective of their families. If a Griffonshire is socialized from the time it’s a puppy, then it’s likely to interact well with children.

3 Pros And Cons Of Owning A Griffonshire

History

Although the Griffonshire didn’t appear on the scene until the 1980s, its parent breeds, the Brussels Griffon and the Yorkshire Terrier, have been around for quite some time. The Brussels Griffon earned its name from where it originated — Brussels, Belgium. This dog originated in the 1800s and was intended to eradicate vermin from homes and barns.

The Yorkshire Terrier has a similar history to that of the Brussels Griffon. It too got its start in the 1800s and was also intended as a hunter of vermin, but in mills and factories.

Size And Weight

Griffonshires can grow to a height of 8 to 10 inches from their feet to the top of their heads. Griffonshires can weigh between 8 and 10 pounds. At 9 weeks old, a Griffonshire weighs 2 pounds, and this dog is fully grown at around 10 months old.

Common Health Issues

Griffonshires have a few common health issues. One of those is retinal dysplasia. Retinal dysplasia occurs when the dog’s retina doesn’t develop properly. A puppy’s eyes must be examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist to determine whether it has retinal dysplasia. This is an inherited condition that currently has no treatment.

Skin allergies are another common health condition of Griffonshires. Some symptoms of skin allergies include inflammation, hair loss, and dry skin. A veterinarian can help an owner determine the cause of the allergies and recommend treatment. Patellar luxation is the third most common health issue of this hybrid. Patellar luxation is essentially a dislocated kneecap. This condition can be treated with physical therapy or sometimes surgery.

Temperament And Behavior

Intelligence is one of the most significant traits of a Griffonshire. These dogs wear curious expressions much of the time. Some owners say they sometimes feel outsmarted by their Griffonshire! These dogs are lively with friendly personalities.

It’s important for a family with children to make sure they choose a socialized Griffonshire. A socialized dog is mostly at ease around children. Keep in mind that this dog has a sensitive temperament. This makes it especially important to teach children to handle the dog carefully so it won’t be stepped on or hurt.

How To Take Care Of A Griffonshire

Taking the best care of a pet Griffonshire means learning as much as possible about its dietary requirements, exercise needs, grooming routine, and healthcare. Not surprisingly, a Griffonshire puppy and an adult dog require different types of care. Here are a few key considerations.

The Best Dog Food

At periodic appointments, check in with your vet about your dog’s health, potential concerns, and the optimal diet for your individual Griffonshire. Many of these dogs suffer from allergies, but fortunately, there is a broad selection of limited-ingredient and allergy-care dog food.

Griffonshire puppy food: Griffonshire puppies need protein in their diet to build muscles as well as strengthen joints and tendons. This can help in the fight against Patellar luxation in this small crossbreed. Calcium is especially important at this age for strengthening bones, teeth, and nails. Omega-6 fatty acids support healthy skin and contribute to a shiny coat. Vitamins E and C support a puppy’s developing immune system. A healthy immune system can support a puppy in the fight against skin allergies.

Griffonshire adult dog food: Lean protein is a must-have in the diet of an adult Griffonshire as well. Muscles, joints, tendons, and tissue are all supported by this nutrient. Fat in the diet provides energy for this active dog. Keep in mind that a limited amount of fat is necessary due to this small dog’s tendency toward obesity if overfed. Vitamin A supports the dog’s eye health, and Vitamin C is good for the immune system. The fiber in the diet contributes to proper digestion.

Maintenance And Grooming

How much does a Griffonshire shed? This hybrid dog sheds a small amount of hair. But its coat does require daily brushing. The coat of one Griffonshire may be silky, while another has a coat with wiry hair. The type of coat this dog has depends on whether it inherited more genes from its Yorkshire Terrier parent or its Brussels Griffon parent.

A slicker brush is a great grooming tool for this crossbreed. The brush loosens and removes dead hair while removing tangles and mats. Brushing this dog every day helps to prevent mats from forming and really taking hold of their coat. A soft brush with boar’s hair bristles is another valuable grooming tool for this dog. This type of brush helps to stir up natural oils that add to the shiny hair of this canine’s coat. As a bonus, the bristles of this brush are very easy on the dog’s skin and coat. An additional task in the grooming routine is keeping this dog’s ears clean. Use a soft cloth and a cleaning solution designed for a dog’s ears.

Some Griffonshire owners take their dog to a reputable groomer for trimming every three or four months to keep their pup’s coat looking neat. This keeps the dog’s long hair from growing too close to its eyes and interfering with its vision.

Skin allergies are a common health issue for this crossbreed, so check for areas of red or dry skin as well as bald patches in their coat. These are all signs of skin allergies. A veterinarian can help an owner figure out the cause of the allergy and offer treatment. Sometimes the treatment is simply a topical ointment.

Training

Though this hybrid comes from two intelligent parents, it can be stubborn during a training session. In short, it takes patience and time to train Griffonshire puppies or adult dogs. A combination of short training sessions, treats, and verbal praise can help an owner to obedience train their Griffonshire.

Exercise

Any professional breeder will tell you that Griffonshires are active dogs. They need at least 40 minutes of exercise each day. This can take a lot of forms. Walking in the neighborhood or on a trail at a park are both good forms of exercise. Playing chase or hide-and-seek in the backyard is also an excellent way to exercise a Griffonshire.

As a note, due to the small size of this dog, it may not be a good idea to take it to a dog park. It could be injured when running around with larger dogs. However, some dog parks separate the play areas according to the size of the dog. This makes it easier for dogs to play in a safe way.

These dogs are suitable pets for people who live in apartments. They are very small and don’t need much space within the living area to move around. A teacup Griffonshire, which is an even smaller version of this dog, is also a good choice for apartment life.

Puppies

These puppies are especially small. This means extra care needs to be taken with them. They can be stepped on or injured very easily. This is doubly true with teacup Griffonshires. Teacup Griffonshires weigh 3 pounds or less. So, an owner should always be aware of where the puppy is when in the same space.

Griffonshire And Children

When Griffonshire puppies are socialized, they interact well with children in a family. But this hybrid has a sensitive nature. So, it won’t tolerate rough handling that could cause injury. Children in a family with a Griffonshire should learn to treat the dog with respect while still having fun playing with it.

Dogs Similar To A Griffonshire

Some dogs similar to a Griffonshire include the Pekingese, Chihuahua, and Schnoodle.

• Pekingese: These small dogs are intelligent like Griffonshires and have a friendly temperament. However, Pekingese are more compatible with children than Griffonshires.
• Chihuahua: This is another friendly, smart dog that can also be a teacup variety like a Griffonshire. But a Chihuahua doesn’t grow to more than around 6 pounds, whereas an adult Griffonshire can weigh up to 10 pounds.
• Schnoodle: This dog is friendly with a stubborn streak, just like the Griffonshire. However, a standard-size Schnoodle can weigh up to 50 pounds.