Collie vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Collie vs Brussels Griffon - Breed ComparisonCollie is originated from United Kingdom but Brussels Griffon is originated from Belgium. Collie may grow 41 cm / 17 inches higher than Brussels Griffon. Collie may weigh 23 kg / 51 pounds more than Brussels Griffon. Collie may live 4 years more than Brussels Griffon. Collie may have more litter size than Brussels Griffon. Both Collie and Brussels Griffon requires Moderate maintenance.

History

collie - historyThe Collie is a herding dog from Scotland and is also known by other names such as Rough Collie or Lassie Collie.

The first Collies used to be more in size as today’s Border Collies and they were also essentially black. Queen Victoria stepped in to save the Collie from obscurity, bringing some back to England where their popularity soared.

The looks started changing as they were bred and in 1860 they were shown at a dog show in Birmingham, England as ‘Scotch Sheep Dogs’.Later on the sable coat color was introduced.

In 1879 the first Collie was imported to the United States and a club for the dog breed was formed in 1886.

brussels griffon - historyThe Brussels Griffon is one of the three different types of Griffons. There is the Belgian, the Petit, and the Brussels Griffon. “Griffon” means wiry and the Brussels Griffon lives up to that moniker. The Brussels Griffon’s coat is longer than that of the Belgian Griffon and the Petit Brabanon (Griffon) has a smooth, short coat. The breed is probably originally developed by crossing Belgian street dogs with the Affenpinsher as early in the 1800’s. They were favored by the cabbies in Brussels as guard dogs. They were also bred to hunt rats. Sometime toward the end of the 19th century, the Griffon was again crossed this time with a pug. This accounts for the type of head that the Brussels Griffon has, namely a brachycephalic head. It also accounts for the smooth coat of the Petit Griffon. The modern-day Griffon may also have been crossed at some time with one or more of these breeds: the English Toy Spaniel, the Irish Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier.

By 1880, the breed was recognized and appeared in the Brussels Exhibition of 1880. They were also found in paintings of the same era by the Flemish painter, Van Eyck. In the beginning of the 20th century, the breed was extremely popular with the nobility in Belgium. As with so many other breeds, the number of Brussels Griffon was greatly reduced during the First World War. It did not take them long however to make a comeback after the war. Their popularity then spread around the globe.

The European FCI considers the Brussels Griffon, the Belgian Griffon and the Petit Brabancon (Griffon) to be three separate breeds with no interbreeding among them. They are shown as three separate breeds in Europe, with the difference between the Belgian and Brussels being the accepted colors. The Brussels is only red in color while the Belgium Griffon can be in all other colors. In the United States the three types of Griffons are considered one breed with three varieties. Only the Brussels Griffon is recognized by the AKC. The difference in coat and color make for the different varieties in the U.S.

Description

collie puppy - descriptionThe modern Collie is a medium to large sized dog that stands at 51 – 61cm and weighs between 20 – 29kg. You could say that the popularity of the Collie grew because of the dog Lassie, a Rough Collie dog in the film ‘Lassie Come Home’. People who saw this film learned what a wonderful pet the dog could be.

The Collie has two looks – the full coat which is known as the Rough Collie and the shorter coated Collie known as the Smooth variety. The coat comes in different colors but is essentially tri-colored in white, tan and black tips. The Collie has erect ears and a long, feathery tail.

Temperament:

Temperament of a dog is affected by a number of factors, including lifestyle of owners, heredity as well as whether the dog had training and socialization.

The Collie is a good-natured, friendly dog with no aggressiveness in him. He adapts well to city and country life, so long as he is with his human family, but he will need lots of exercise.

He will do well with training and socialization, turning into an even more splendid pet than he already is. He loves the children in the home and loves playing with them and watching over them. The Collie is intelligent and loyal and is easily trained.

brussels griffon puppy - descriptionAll three types of Griffons are toy size dogs with short, thick bodies and distinctive brachycephalic heads. Regardless of coat color their muzzles and whiskers are black, and they have large eyes, also black, a mustache and beard. They have black eyelashes and a nose that is very black. All this is set against their red, beige, black or black and tan coat. Their forehead is dome shaped and the muzzle is short. The breed has small ears that are high up on the dog’s head. The ears might be cropped in the United States but would not be in Europe. The lower jaw is prominent and the jaw itself is undershot. They have black toenails and pads, with strong and muscular hind legs. The Griffon has a docked, high set tail in the U.S. and a full tail in Europe and all of the United Kingdom.

The rough coated types have a dense and wiry coat and the standard encourages the hardest possible wire coat. Their heads are also wiry and long around the chin, cheeks, nose and eyes. They should be hand-stripped and never left ungroomed. The coat can matt if not taken care of adequately. One of the most important features of the Brussels Griffon is its human like face or monkey like appearance.

Characteristics

collie dog - characteristicsYour Collie is an intelligent dog who will need physical exercise as well as mental stimulation too, otherwise he can develop some destructive behavior patterns that could be avoided just by seeing to his exercise needs.

He is easy to train and is a sensitive dog, wanting to learn and wanting to please.

A well trained Collie makes a wonderful pet. He is such a loyal dog that he will go to the ends of the earth for his owner, and guarantees to be every bit as affectionate, brave and loyal as the film-star dog, Lassie.

Characteristics

brussels griffon dog - characteristicsThe Brussels Griffon is sociable, alert and very intelligent. She is very energetic, playful and loving. They bond deeply with their family. Housebreaking might be a challenge as it is with all toy/small breeds. They are incredibly lonely and restless when their people are not around them. They have great personalities, terrier like characteristics, and deep loyalty to their humans. They are great companions and love children. Just remember how small they are. They are susceptible to Little Dog Syndrome if the human does not establish themselves as the alpha right away.

Health Problems

collie puppies - health problemsThe Collie is a healthy dog breed generally, but just like with all other dogs, they are also prone to certain health conditions. It’s not to say that your Collie will get these diseases, but it can be beneficial to you and your pet’s health to be aware of them if you’re looking at the Collie as a pet.

Collie Nose:

This is a condition where the skin of the nose peels and oozes and left untreated, it can be painful for your pet and could even lead to cancer.

Collie Eye Anomaly:

This is an inherited eye disease that can actually lead to blindness. When certain parts of the eye don't develop properly it can lead to CEA - a genetic disease found in Collies as well as other dog breeds. The disease is also known as Choroidal Hypoplasia and brings about changes and abnormalities in the eye.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is an abnormal formation of the hip socket and certainly dogs with hip dysplasia should never be bred as it can lead to pain and lameness.

brussels griffon puppies - health problemsThe Brussels Griffon is susceptible to many of the diseases and genetic conditions that many other toy or small dogs have. Flat-faced breeds like the Griffon also suffer from difficulty with breathing under certain weather conditions and they are known to snore. They should not be kept in hot, sunny, humid climates for this reason. They may also display patella luxation (slipping kneecaps) and hip dysplasia. Lastly, they are susceptible to ear infections. Dams are often in need of cesarean sections to deliver their litters. They have very serious health issues due to the head shape and flat face. These might include eye and respiratory issues and syringomyelia – a deadly neurological disease. They are susceptible to epilepsy, dental issues and eye lash issues.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

collie dogs - caringThe Collie will need grooming because of his long hair, and you will need to brush it at least twice a week to rid it of loose hairs and to keep it free from tangles. This is especially important if you live in the country and he leads an active lifestyle running through fields.

Keep a constant check on your Collie’s ears because dirt build-up can lead to an ear infection. Your vet can advise you on how to clean your dog’s ears. Make sure you have your Collie’s nails trimmed.

Diet:

To cater for your Collie’s size and activity levels, make sure to feed him good food that meets his nutritional needs. Protein is the most important nutritional need for dogs, and apart from feeding your dog quality kibble, protein should also come from raw, animal-based sources such as meat, fish and poultry.

You can also include some cooked brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken to provide variety. Make sure he always has fresh, cool water available.

Feeding

brussels griffon dogs - caringThe Brussels Griffon can choke easily so take care with the size of kibble you feed them. They need about one fourth to one half of a cup of high quality dry food that is designed for small or toy dogs. Divide this amount into two or three small meals per day. Puppies should be fed more often than adults but never feed just one large meal per day. Be careful that your Brussels Griffon does not become obese.

Health issues

The Brussels Griffon, regardless of type has some very serious health issues due to the shape of their heads.

Syringomyelia – extremely painful and fatal neurological disease.

Brachycephalic Syndrome – This can cause all the respiratory issues as well as eye issues such as cataracts and corneal ulcers.

Epilepsy - Seizures

Dental Disease – gum disease

Puppy Mortality – one of every four Brussels Griffon pupped die at birth.

Exercise and games

This is a very playful and energetic breed that needs at least some exercise every day. They love to play with their family. They are smart and easy to train. They love agility, obedience, barn hunt and tracking activities. You can just as effectively play with and exercise your Brussels inside as well as out.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Toy dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
Belgium
Height Male:
56 - 61 cm
22 - 25 inches
18 - 20 cm
7 - 8 inches
Height Female:
56 - 61 cm
22 - 25 inches
16 - 18 cm
6 - 8 inches
Weight Male:
18 - 29 kg
39 - 64 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
18 - 29 kg
39 - 64 pounds
2 - 5 kg
4 - 12 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
1 - 4
Size:
Medium dog
Toy dog
Other Names:
Lassie, Scottish Collie, Rough Collie
Griffon Belge • Griffon Bruxellois • Brussels Griffon • Petit Brabancon • Belgian Griffon • Griffon
Colors Available:
tan and black, White
red, black-and-reddish-brown (called belge), black and tan, and black
Coat:
Long, dense and straight
rough and smooth types
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Affectionate, Cheerful, Energetic, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  2. Collie vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Collie vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  4. Collie vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Collie vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  6. Collie vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  7. Collie vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  8. Collie vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  9. Collie vs Catahoula Cur - Breed Comparison
  10. Collie vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  11. Collie vs Catalan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  12. Collie vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  13. Collie vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  14. Collie vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  15. Collie vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  16. Collie vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison
  17. Collie vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  18. Collie vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) - Breed Comparison
  19. Collie vs Black Norwegian Elkhound - Breed Comparison
  20. Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  21. Dutch Shepherd vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  22. English Shepherd vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  23. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  24. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  25. Queensland Heeler vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  26. Chihuahua vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  27. Morkie vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  28. Havanese vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  29. Chorkie vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  30. Pekingese vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  31. Chinese Crested Dog vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  32. Chiweenie vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  33. Chug vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  34. Brussels Griffon vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Brussels Griffon vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  36. Brussels Griffon vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  37. Chipoo vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  38. Chiapom vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  39. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  40. Long Haired Chihuahua vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  41. Russian Toy Terrier vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  42. Franzuskaya Bolonka vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  43. Phalene vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  44. Bugg vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  45. Cockachon vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  46. Shih Tzu vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  47. Silky Terrier vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  48. Snorkie vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  49. Toy Bulldog vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  50. Toy Mi-Ki vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds