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The Griffon Bruxellois originated from a small Belgian rough coated ratting dog, which descended from the Affenpinscher.

The first dogs are very hard to trace as affixes were not required either in Belgium or in the UK. This was mainly for the 'well off' dog owner. In Belgium it was only the members of the Societé Royal de St. Hubert (The Belgian Kennel Club) who had affixes and this was expensive. As most Belgian Griffon owners were working class they couldn't afford affixes.

However, the theory of the Griffon not existing before this date is rather controversial. There are a few paintings which pre-date the 1880's depicting what in many peoples' eyes is either an ancestor or in fact an early Griffon.

One good example of this is the black and tan dog actually called a Griffon in the famous painting by the impressionist Renoir, "La Baigneuse au Griffon", a work known to have been painted in 1870. The dog's pose is clearly Griffon in attitude !

Another painting which possibly depicts an early red brindled coloured Griffon is 'The Marriage of Giovanni Arnolfini and Giovanna Cenami' by Jan van Eyck, dated 1434. It has been said that the dog in this picture looks much like the second British Champion (Ch. Mousequetaire Rouge).

By the 1890's the breed had become very popular in Belgium and to enhance some of the existing points they were crossed with a Pug. This gave them their big eyes and heads, their lovely deep chests and the cobby body.

In doing this, the smooth Griffon came along, but at first it was discarded at birth until the Belgian breeders realised what good quality dogs they were. They were then recognised as the Petits Brabançon (as opposed to the Griffons Bruxellois) although now, of course, they both come under the breed name 'Griffons Bruxellois'.

Later on, they were heavily crossed with the Ruby Toy Spaniel. This introduced the deep red colour, the domed head, the very flat noses, large ears and the 'web-foot'. Today the ears have become smaller and the 'web-foot' has almost gone, although very occasionally it still occurs!

It was by now that the UK were taking an interest and Griffons Bruxellois were first recognised as a breed in 1896 when four dogs of this type were registered in the Kennel Club Stud Book. The Griffon was first registered under 'Foreign Dog', until the name Griffon Bruxellois was entered in 1899, and the numbers increased year on year until World War I. During this time, breeding was difficult and the numbers (both in UK and across Europe) went into decline.

In Belgium, Queen Marie Henriette took a great liking to the breed, and later bred Griffons herself.

Queen Astrid, a later Queen of Belgium, also loved the breed and it is possibly due to her personal interest and breeding programme that Griffons survived in Belgium during World War I.

Pictured left, the last photograph taken of Queen Marie Henriette of Belgium, 1902.

After the War was over the numbers increased again until World War II begun. This could have been the end of the Griffon Bruxellois in the UK if wasn't for such ladies as Mrs. Eileen Street, Mrs. Parker-Rhodes, Mrs. Iondes, Mrs. Osbert Eyre and Mrs. Bridle, who did as much breeding as was possible to keep the breeding and lines going until the end of the War.

There have been many other people who have enhanced the breed since by researching the genetics, and maintaining the historically important lines and families; the late Marjorie Cousens, Desmond Gregory, Raphne Deck and Doone Raynham, to mention but a few.

Vulcan Volette and Vulcan Vimbo   c. 1940's

Fern of Audana    c. 1960's

The first book Marjorie Cousens published in 1960. 

The cover picture is of Ch. Skibbereen Victor of Campfield. 

Without the help of the notes which were passed on to us by the late Raphne Deck, this page would not have been so easy to research, both in written and photographic content.

For an excellent historic Griffon Bruxellois photographic resource, click here to visit the Gallery section on French website "La Bande A Wickett" 

There is a very comprehensive history section on the English translation of Spanish Griffon Bruxellois site  www.griffondebruselas.com