CHAPTER LXIV 



The Griffons Bruxellois 



HERE are two toy dogs in Beligum which differ only in the 

 matter of coat, but which go by different names and are 

 too evidently of terrier extraction to call for discussion on 

 that point. The rough dog is called the Griffons Brux- 

 ellois and the smooth dog the petit Braban^on. Of the 

 latter we have had no specimens in this country, but from the illustrations 

 in Count Bylandt's ** Dogs of all Nations " it looks like a rather well furnished 

 and stumpy-headed black and tan toy terrier, and black and tan is one of its 

 two colours, the other being red. These smooth "Braban^ons" come also 

 in the litters of Griffons so that they are undoubtedly closely related, yet 

 red is the only proper colour of the Griffons Bruxellois, though they are now 

 introducing Griffons of other colours in England. Count Bylandt calls 

 these other than red dogs "Petit Griffon de toutes couleurs," and gives it in 

 English "Variety Belgian toy griffon." He certainly should know these 

 dogs and from his thus distinguishing the other colour dogs it is evident that 

 they should not be included in a Griffons Bruxellois classification, as they 

 seem to be doing in England at present. 



If those possessing the work referred to will turn to the Hollandsche 

 Smoushond, the dog that fills the place in Holland and Belgium that the old 

 Scotch terrier did thirty years ago in England, they will not fail to find the 

 dog from which the Griffons Bruxellois sported as a lady's pet. Many years 

 ago we saw a diminutive breed of "Scotch" terriers a London cabman had 

 developed, which bore a great resemblance to the Griffons Bruxellois, except 

 in the monkey face, but as the man we refer to was breeding a toy terrier he 

 undoubtedly discarded all showing the apple-head and monkey face, for 

 "it is only by the greatest care and selection that the tendency to the apple- 

 head is overcome when diminution in size is sought for. The flat skull has 

 been preserved in the Yorkshire terrier, but not being wanted in the toy 

 spaniel fanciers of the latter went the other way and have developed the 

 high domed skull. Belgian fanciers let nature take its course in the 



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