Russian Toy Terrier vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison

Russian Toy Terrier vs Brussels Griffon - Breed ComparisonRussian Toy Terrier is originated from Russia but Brussels Griffon is originated from Belgium. Russian Toy Terrier may grow 8 cm / 4 inches higher than Brussels Griffon. Both Russian Toy Terrier and Brussels Griffon are having almost same weight. Both Russian Toy Terrier and Brussels Griffon has almost same life span. Both Russian Toy Terrier and Brussels Griffon has almost same litter size. Russian Toy Terrier requires Low maintenance. But Brussels Griffon requires Moderate maintenance

History

russian toy terrier - historyThe Russian Toy Terrier is one of the dog breeds that hails from Russia in the 20th century. The Russian nobility fancied these little dogs as companions but also as they were useful for catching rats and being watchdog.They would set off an alarm with their barking.

It is believed that the Manchester Terrier and the English Toy Terrier were the foundation breeds for this dog.

They are available in smooth and long-haired varieties. The breed has recently been recognized by the UK Kennel Club but is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Toy dog
Origin:
Russia
Belgium
Height Male:
20 - 28 cm
7 - 12 inches
18 - 20 cm
7 - 8 inches
Height Female:
20 - 28 cm
7 - 12 inches
16 - 18 cm
6 - 8 inches
Weight Male:
1 - 3 kg
2 - 7 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
1 - 3 kg
2 - 7 pounds
2 - 5 kg
4 - 12 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 13 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
1 - 4
Size:
Toy dog
Toy dog
Other Names:
Russkiy Toy
Griffon Belge • Griffon Bruxellois • Brussels Griffon • Petit Brabancon • Belgian Griffon • Griffon
Colors Available:
Solid red, black and tan or greyish and tan., brown and tan
red, black-and-reddish-brown (called belge), black and tan, and black
Coat:
Smooth coated
rough and smooth types
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Cheerful, Energetic, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

russian toy terrier puppy - descriptionThe Russian Toy Terrier is a petite dog and is inclined to be a fragile dog breed. It belongs to the toy group. It is also known as the Russian Toy Terrier or the Russkiy Toy.

The dog’s small size means it is ideal for living in the city or the countryside.

He measures between just 20 and 28cm and weighs between just 1kg and 3kg.

The dog has a small head with big eyes and ears which are large ad erect. The tail was always traditionally docked to give it a cute, compact look, but these days it is left long.

You also get a long-coated dog and the smooth coated dog. The long coated variety has a lot of feathering around the tail, legs and ears. Colors of the coat can be solid red, brown and tan, black and tan or greyish and tan.

Temperament:

This little dog is full of character and is bold and cheerful. He is such a loyal, devoted little dog and small though he is he is territorial, protecting and guarding his owner. It is such a sociable little dog, devoted to his human family, while being wary of strangers.

Even a small dog like this will need training and socialization as he can become yappy and clingy if he is constantly piked up and petted.

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

russian toy terrier dog - characteristicsThe Russian Toy is a small, feisty dog with long legs and huge upright ears. He is intelligent too. Don't let his fine structure deceive you as he is far more robust and tough than he looks.

He is a great playmate for disciplined, respectful children who know how to be kind to animals. Wild, unruly kids could so easily accidentally break one of his tiny little legs during rough play.

He loves his human family though and is guaranteed to make you an excellent little pet and companion.

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

russian toy terrier puppies - health problemsThere isn’t too much information about inherited health problems with this dog and he can live to be 11, 12 or 13 years of age, maybe even longer.There are one or two health problems to be aware of -

Patellar Luxation:

This condition occurs with the knee caps of the dog and either one or both back legs can be affected. Sometimes surgery will be required to help the dog.

Teeth Problems:

Little dogs always battle with their teeth, and the Russian Toy Terrier can experience problems when the puppy or ‘milk’ teeth don’t fall out. It affects the development of adult teeth. Sometimes the vet even has to have the teeth removed.

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

Exercise:

russian toy terrier dogs - caringThe Russian Toy Terrier is a small breed and isn’t going to need too much exercise. However it will do him good to get out to sniff around, and a walk every day will be recommended.

Grooming:

Your Russian Toy Terrier is a fairly low maintenance dog and isn’t going to require specialist grooming. The little dog will simply require some occasional brushing to remove loose hair.

When you brush him, check inside his mouth for bad teeth as small dogs like this can suffer from pain with overcrowding of teeth.

Diet:

Tiny though he is, the Russian Toy Terrier will need good food. It will be tempting to pop sugary treats into such a tiny little dog’s mouth. This can in fact be seriously dangerous for him, not to mention that he can become obese. This opens up anew set of health problems.

You can feed this little dog commercially manufactured food but it should be the best quality one for small breeds.

Give him some tasty homemade food too. Simply add into one big pot chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This food can all be chopped up, refrigerated and added warmed up and in small portions to your tiny pets dry kibble once or twice a week.

A tiny bit of raw meat can also go a long way to ensuring his skin stays healthy and free of skin infections.

Ensure that there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Russian Toy Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  3. Russian Toy Terrier vs Morkie - Breed Comparison
  4. Russian Toy Terrier vs Havanese - Breed Comparison
  5. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chorkie - Breed Comparison
  6. Russian Toy Terrier vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  7. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  9. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chug - Breed Comparison
  10. Russian Toy Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  11. Russian Toy Terrier vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  12. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chipoo - Breed Comparison
  13. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chiapom - Breed Comparison
  14. Russian Toy Terrier vs English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) - Breed Comparison
  15. Russian Toy Terrier vs Long Haired Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  16. Russian Toy Terrier vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  17. Russian Toy Terrier vs Franzuskaya Bolonka - Breed Comparison
  18. Russian Toy Terrier vs Phalene - Breed Comparison
  19. Russian Toy Terrier vs Bugg - Breed Comparison
  20. Russian Toy Terrier vs Cockachon - Breed Comparison
  21. Shih Tzu vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Silky Terrier vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Snorkie vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Toy Bulldog vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Toy Mi-Ki vs Russian Toy Terrier - 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. Franzuskaya Bolonka vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  42. Phalene vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  43. Bugg vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  44. Cockachon vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  45. Shih Tzu vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  46. Silky Terrier vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  47. Snorkie vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  48. Toy Bulldog vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  49. Toy Mi-Ki vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds