Animal register · DogComing soon to the app
Brussels Griffon
Griffon Bruxellois, Griffon, Belgium Griffon
The Brussels Griffon (Griffon Bruxellois) is a small companion dog from Belgium with a short, flat face. The FCI standard describes a red, naturally harsh, slightly wavy coat and a weight of 3.5–6 kg; the Royal Kennel Club, which keeps a rough and a smooth coat, calls it a smart little dog with a terrier-like personality. A dog of this size is fully grown at about 8–12 months (PetMD), and the Royal Kennel Club gives a lifespan of over 12 years (PetMD: 12–15 years).
The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to 30 minutes of exercise a day and grooming more than once a week, says the breed sheds and suits a flat, and lists it in Breed Watch Category 2. PetMD describes a flat-faced (brachycephalic) dog that is sensitive to hot, humid weather, advises cleaning the face folds about once a week and brushing the teeth daily, and says Brussels Griffons do well with children and other pets under supervision but do not like being left alone for long.
Built and tested; it arrives with a coming app release.
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- small — The Royal Kennel Club S670
- Adult weight
- males 3.5–6 kg, females 3.5–6 kg — FCI S669
- Daily exercise
- up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S670
- Brushing
- more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S670
- Shedding
- sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S670
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Exercise
- Daily exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S670
Coat and grooming
Meals
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Lifespan
Life stages
- Reaches adult size at: about 8–12 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Size and weight
Training
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does a Brussels Griffon need?
According to our sources, the Brussels Griffon needs this much exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S670.
How long does a Brussels Griffon live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Brussels Griffon is: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S670; 12–15 years — PetMD S672. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.
How big does a Brussels Griffon get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the Brussels Griffon, according to our sources: Size: small — The Royal Kennel Club S670; Adult weight: males 3.5–6 kg, females 3.5–6 kg — FCI S669.
How much grooming does a Brussels Griffon need?
Coat and grooming of the Brussels Griffon, according to our sources: Brushing: more than once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S670; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S670; Coat: medium length — The Royal Kennel Club S670.
Who is the Brussels Griffon a good fit for?
Our sources describe the Brussels Griffon as a good fit for: apartment living — The Royal Kennel Club S670; families with children — PetMD S672; homes with other pets — PetMD S672. Keep in mind: flat face — breathing and heat problems — PetMD S672; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PetMD S672; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S670; needs brushing several times a week — The Royal Kennel Club, PetMD S670S672.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 3,000 from month 3 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 3,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 3,000 steps |
| Senior | month 108 (9 years) | 2 | 2,300 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 30 minutes, so 3,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands more slowly than the mixed breed of the free plan (0.7× its speed).
- Becomes a senior in month 108 (9 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing twice a week.
- Care: cleaning the skin folds once a week — a task for the child.
- Care: brushing the teeth every day — a task for the child.
- Care: a visit to the groomer every 4 weeks — a reminder for the parent.
- In summer (June–August; December–February in the southern hemisphere) the child and walk screens show a calm reminder between 11:00 and 16:00 family time: no walks in the heat. No weather data, no penalty — steps still count.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S670S672
Common Brussels Griffon owner mistakes
Small habits that cause bigger problems — each point comes from the sources of this breed.
- Too little daily exerciseExercise needed: up to 30 minutes a day. Plan it into every day, not only at weekends. — The Royal Kennel Club S670
- Skipping coat careBrushing: more than once a week. Sheds. — The Royal Kennel Club S670
- Walks in the heatOverheats quickly and is more vulnerable to heatstroke than most dogs, especially in warm weather. — PetMD S672
- Forgetting that the puppy is still growingAdult size reached at: about 8–12 months (guidance for its size class). Until then, plan exercise and food for a young animal that is still growing, and ask your vet what suits yours. — PetMD S10
- Overlooking the breed's known health issuesFlat-faced (brachycephalic) breed: the short muzzle, narrow nostrils and extra soft tissue in the airway can make breathing harder (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, BOAS). A large UK study names dental disease as by far the most common problem in the breed, and puppy teeth that do not fall out are also common, so owners are encouraged to care for the dog's teeth every day, for example by brushing them. Inherited eye conditions such as cataracts occur in the breed, and protruding or irritated eyes are a point of concern; eye testing and DNA tests are available. Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. Hip dysplasia, a poorly developed hip joint that can lead to arthritis, occurs in the breed; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips scored. — PetMD S672
In PetPrep a child practises exactly these habits — steps, meals, care — before the real pet comes home.
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breed: the short muzzle, narrow nostrils and extra soft tissue in the airway can make breathing harder (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, BOAS). — PetMD S672
- Overheats quickly and is more vulnerable to heatstroke than most dogs, especially in warm weather. — PetMD S672
- A large UK study names dental disease as by far the most common problem in the breed, and puppy teeth that do not fall out are also common, so owners are encouraged to care for the dog's teeth every day, for example by brushing them. — PetMD S672
- Inherited eye conditions such as cataracts occur in the breed, and protruding or irritated eyes are a point of concern; eye testing and DNA tests are available. — PetMD S672
- Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. — PetMD S672
- Hip dysplasia, a poorly developed hip joint that can lead to arthritis, occurs in the breed; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips scored. — PetMD S672
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum
- Genetic diversity — check the inbreeding coefficient — The Royal Kennel Club S670
Further tests for best practice
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S669FCI — FCI-Standard N° 80 — Griffon bruxellois (PDF, French)https://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/080g09-fr.pdf
- S670The Royal Kennel Club — Breeds A to Z — Griffon Bruxelloishttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/toy/griffon-bruxellois/
- S672PetMD — Veronica Higgs, DVM (reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM; updated 2025-06-30) — Brussels Griffon Dog Breed Health and Carehttps://petmd.com/dog/breeds/brussels-griffon
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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