Information on AKC Brussels Griffon Puppies
Brussels Griffon Breed Standard
General Appearance
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, Proportion, Substance
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.
Head
A very important feature. An almost human expression. Eyes
set well apart, very large, black, prominent, and well open. The eyelashes
long and black. Eyelids edged with black. Ears small and
set rather high on the head. May be shown cropped or natural. If natural
they are carried semi-erect. Skull large and round, with
a domed forehead. The stop deep. Nose very black, extremely
short, its tip being set back deeply between the eyes so as to form a lay-back.
The nostrils large. Disqualifications - Dudley or butterfly
nose. Lips edged with black, not pendulous but well brought
together, giving a clean finish to the mouth. Jaws must
be undershot. The incisors of the lower jaw should protrude over the upper
incisors. The lower jaw is prominent, rather broad with an upward sweep.
Neither teeth nor tongue should show when the mouth is closed. A wry mouth
is a serious fault. Disqualifications - Bite overshot. Hanging
tongue.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck medium length, gracefully arched. Topline
- Back level and short. Body - A thickset, short body. Brisket
should be broad and deep, ribs well sprung. Short-coupled. Tail
- set and held high, docked to about one-third.
Forequarters
Forelegs medium length, straight in bone, well muscled, set moderately wide
apart and straight from the point of the shoulders as viewed from the front.
Pasterns short and strong. Feet round, small, and compact, turned neither
in nor out. Toes well arched. Black pads and toenails preferred.
Hindquarters
Hind legs set true, thighs strong and well muscled, stifles bent, hocks
well let down, turning neither in nor out.
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.
Color
Either 1) Red: reddish brown with a little black at the
whiskers and chin allowable; 2) Belge: black and reddish
brown mixed, usually with black mask and whiskers; 3) Black and Tan:
black with uniform reddish brown markings, appearing under the chin, on
the legs, above each eye, around the edges of the ears and around the vent;
or 4) Black: solid black. Any white hairs are a serious
fault, except for "frost" on the muzzle of a mature dog, which is natural.
Disqualification - White spot or blaze any where on coat.
Gait
Movement is a straightforward, purposeful trot, showing moderate reach and
drive, and maintaining a steady topline.
Temperament
Intelligent, alert and sensitive. Full of self-importance.
Scale of Points
| Head |
|
|
| Skull |
5
|
|
| Nose and stop |
10
|
|
| Eyes |
5
|
|
| Bite, chin and jaw |
10
|
|
| Ears |
5
|
35
|
| Coat |
|
|
| Color |
12
|
|
| Texture |
13
|
25
|
| Body and General Conformation |
|
|
| Body (brisket and rib) |
15
|
|
| Gait |
10
|
|
| Legs and feet |
5
|
|
General appearance (neck,
topline and tail carriage) |
10
|
40
|
| Total |
|
100
|
Disqualifications
Dudley or butterfly nose.
Bite overshot.
Hanging tongue.
White spot or blaze anywhere on coat.
Approved September 11, 1990
Effective October 30, 1990
