LIVING WITH THE BRUSSELS GRIFFON
by LISA STRAUB Chismick Brussels Griffons
I t was 20 years ago, while working in a Veterinary office, that I had the opportunity to meet my first Brussels Griffon and my imme- diate attraction to the breed certainly came without warning. My co-workers thought it was the ugliest little dog ever, but I was in love. I guess there’s just no accounting for taste! Who would have thought that with that one chance encounter and my husband’s okay in my request for a puppy, that we’d be where we are today. Oh, if only he would have known and was given the chance today, he might just ask for a do over! These are funny little dogs and each one is as different as night and day. They are sensitivity and intensity all wrapped up in the same little package. One of my girls is a great example of this. One minute she will be all over my husband and wants to be his best friend and in a moment’s notice, she will be barking at him ferociously, as if to say, ‘And what are you doing in my house!’ This is a very intelligent breed and they’re usually always one step ahead of us. Griffons are always very willing to please, they just have to be able to figure out just what it is that we want. They listen to everything you say. They don’t necessarily do what you ask, but they do listen—and they dont’ forget. It’s been said that these little guys need their own special Guardian Angel, as they can be quite fearless at times, having absolutely no concept of just how little they really are. Some think that they own the world, while others want you to protect them from it. Living with Griffons is most assured- ly interesting. Howmany times have you heard someone say, “It’s the dog’s house and they are just allowing us to live in it”? Well, that certainly holds true in regards to Griffs. The furniture is theirs (so they think). Heaven forbid you move them, so that you can sit down. Let’s just say that the look on their face tells you exactly what they’re thinking! My fairly new sofa has a permanent indentation
on the top. It doesn’t matter if there is one, two or more on it—just know that they have worked to get it to their comfort level. And yes, they do feel quite entitled. Brussels Griffons have a very human- like personality. They give affection and devotion to their persons, like none oth- er. They make us laugh with their antics and are certainly never boring. They keep us humble. No matter how many Griffs you have, you cannot have a favor- ite, they won’t allow it. However, they can have a favorite; they can have their own special person. Beause remem- ber—at least in their little minds—they make the rules. You can’t fool them. Believe me, many times I’ve tried. No matter what I do, or how I do it; what I say, or how I say it—they know. They look at you with those wonderfully expressive eyes as if to say, ‘Nice try Mom.’ With this breed, one has to prepare one’s self to be outsmarted. It’s become increasingly obvious over the years that somehow they know what we’re thinking, well before even we know! Training a Griffon takes on its own agenda, because while we’re busy ‘thinking’ we’re training them, in actu- ality, they’re busy training us. Privacy, forget about that! They will be where you are and go where you go. We learn that very early on in our training! Each day around here starts with get- ting up around 5 am, letting the dogs out and putting on the coffee. The dogs come back in and usually put them- selves back to bed, allowing me to enjoy my coffee and the quiet of the morning. I’d like to think that they’re giving me that quiet time, but in reality, as they’re curling back up in their nice warm beds, they’re probably just thinking, ‘I wish Mom would quit waking us up so early!’ Because of their pretty darned important attitude, you’ll see this breed excel in Agility, Obedience and the Conformation Rings, as well as being
the best little dogs ever, just at home sit- ting on your couch.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Back in 1994, I was unexpectedly introduced to my first Brussels Grif- fon. There was an instant attraction and it wasn’t very long after, that I acquired my new addition to the family. Throughout the years, I have been blessed with a small, but suc- cessful breeding program; which has produced a National Specialty Winner, another boy that twice was awarded the First Award of Merit at our National and a few other multiple Group winning and Group placing Griffons. My breeding carries the ken- nel prefix of ‘Chismick’ and I show my dogs as a very proud breeder/owner/ handler. I am a member of both ABGA and NBGC. Being in a sport where there’s a lot of good, bad and indiffer- ence, one has to believe in your breed- ing program, in yourself and most importantly, you must believe in your dog. I reside in Cranesville, Pennsly- vania with my husband of 43 years. We have two grown children and two beautiful granddaughters.
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