Grooming The Brussels Griffon

There are two types of Brussels Griffon – the Rough and the
Smooth. Both are equally delightful companions. The rough coated
Brussels Griffon is probably the most common. The smooth coated
Brussels Griffon is easier to groom.

The rough coat should be wiry and dense, the harder and more
wiry the better. The Brussels Griffon should never look or feel
woolly. There should be no silky hair on the Brussels Griffon.
The coat of a Brussels Griffon should not be long and shaggy.
The rough coated Brussels Griffon should be distinctly different
all over from the smooth coated Brussels Griffon. The Brussels
Griffon is a rugged little dog that should look natural and not
overly trimmed. The Brussels Griffon colors are red, black and
black and tan.

The head of a Brussels Griffon should be covered with wiry hair
slightly longer around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and chin, which
forms a fringe. The smooth coated Brussels Griffon is similar to
the Boston Terrier or Bulldog, with no trace of wire hair.

Of all the toy dogs, the Brussels Griffon is one of the most
interesting and different. The modern version of the Brussels
Griffon is a Belgian street dog crossed with the Affenpinshcer.
Throughout the years various breeds were brought in for various
features. The most successful crosses were maintained. Over time
the terrier-like charm with almost a human expression is what we
now know as the Brussels Griffon.

The Brussels Griffon is a rarity among dogs, however, he has
faired very well in the show world. Some have become top winners
in all-breed competition.

Equipment needed to groom the Brussels Griffon:

• Natural Bristle brush or hound glove
• Medium-toothed comb
• Fine-toothed comb
• Thinning scissors
• Tweezers

The Brussels Griffon needs brushing, bathing, drying, ear
cleaning, nail trimming. The coat of a Brussels Griffon also
requires hand stripping. Do not use clippers on a Brussels
Griffon. The use of clippers will cause the coat of a Brussels
Griffon to lose its natural texture and the color will fade.

For routine grooming use a natural bristle brush or hound glove.
Regular brushing will reduce the need for frequent bathing.
Regular brushing helps keep the coat free of dead hairs and the
need for coming is lessened. Over-coming may take out too much
live undercoat.

You should work through the coat with a bristle brush, then comb
through with a medium-toothed comb. Leave a few hairs on the
back between your finger and thumb and gently pull if the hair
comes out easily, the coat is ready to strip.

Stripping Method for the body:

1. Start stripping the topcoat of the Brussels Griffon at the
base of the neck between the shoulder blades down the back and
side of the tail. Note: Always strip with the growth of the hair
toward you.

2. Remove the long hairs from the Brussels Griffon thighs.

3. Remove the thick hair growing on the back of the hind legs,
and the longest hairs from the front of the legs and feet. Do
over strip in this area. The desired appearance of a Brussels
Griffon feet are cat-like. Over stripping of the feet can
detract from this cat-like look you want to achieve.

4. Strip the shoulders around to the chest. Remove long hairs
from the leg.

5. Strip the long hair on the outside of each shoulder, down to
the elbow. This will create a straight front which is desirable.


6. Strip the chest at the front to the lowest point.

7. The only place you may use clippers on the Brussels Griffon
is under the stomach and around the genital area. You can also
scissor this area clear.

8. Take a look at your Brussels Griffon as he stands on the
grooming table. Remove all stray hairs that detracts from the
smart, balanced look you want to achieve.

Stripping Method for the head of a Brussels Griffon:

1. Start behind the eyes. Strip only a few strands of hair at a
time. Work back to each ear and over the top of the head. Leave
some longer hairs over the eyes to form eyebrows.

2. Strip the back of the ears, down to the chest. Continue down
the side of the neck toward the jawbone. This method of
stripping gives a distinct beard that blends into the chest.

3. Comb the beard forward to enable you to pluck the ear and
below the beard to the throat. You want a clean neckline and to
accentuate the head.

4. Remove long hairs from the inside the ear. The edge of the
ear can be closely trimmed with scissors for a neat finish.

5. The point between the eyes, just above the nose is called
“the stop.” This is a tender area of the Brussels Griffon. You
will need to use tweezers to remove a small amount of hair in
this area.

6. Remove the hairs from the corner of the eye with tweezers or
curved scissors. This will prevent the hairs from sticking into
the eyes of your Brussels Griffon and/or accumulating debris.

7. Remove the hair of the beard that adjoins the ears in a
direct line from the corner of each eye.

8. Tidy around the anus of your Brussels Griffon with scissors
or thinning scissors for a neat finish.

9. Trim hair from under the feet and between the toes.

Now you are ready to bathe your Brussels Griffon. Try using a
natural mild shampoo and always rinse well. Check the dog’s
nails, ears and teeth. You may hand or cage dry your Brussels
Griffon.

How often should your Brussels Griffon be stripped? This depends
upon whether or not he is a pet or a show dog. For pets, a
complete strip twice a year will be sufficient with tidying in
between. For the show dog, stripping is ideally done in stages –
side of body and legs first, then back, then head, because they
grow in different stages.