PetzloverBrussels Griffon is originated from Belgium but Sanshu is originated from Japan. Brussels Griffon may grow 35 cm / 13 inches shorter than Sanshu. Brussels Griffon may weigh 19 kg / 41 pounds lesser than Sanshu. Both Brussels Griffon and Sanshu has almost same life span. Both Brussels Griffon and Sanshu has almost same litter size. Brussels Griffon requires Moderate Maintenance. But Sanshu requires Low Maintenance
The 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.
The Sanshu was developed in Japan a century ago – in 1912 in fact.
It is a cross between the Chinese Chow Chow and the ancient Japanese Aichi. People who know these dogs say they bear a resemblance to other Inu breeds, but it has a straight tail and not the usual curved one that you'd expect.
The breed is rare and they aren’t recognized by any breed organization.
All 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.
The Sanshu is a medium sized dog standing at between 50 to 55cm in height and weighing in the region of 20 to 25kg.
There is also a smaller variety. This dog has a wedge-shaped head with a tapering muzzle, dark almond-shaped eyes with small erect ears. The tail is long and is straight but it can bend over the dog’s back. The coat is short and coarse and can come in a number of shades such as tan, white, reddish, white and black.
The Sanshu is a dog that loves to please its owners. Even so, training and socialization should be given to this dog. He is an intelligent dog, and with training and socialization he becomes well balanced and able to respond to a few commands such as sit, come, stay and lie down.
These are loving, loyal dogs and bond closely with their human family. It is a true companion dog and makes an excellent guard dog too. He makes a great pet with children, if the children have been taught to be kind and gentle to animals and not climb all over them.
The 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.
Sanshu dogs are known for the exceptional companionship they offer. They are loving, loyal dogs, wanting to fit in peacefully with their human companions and eager to please.They are amicable dogs, willing to get on well with other dogs in the family too.
In exchange for such devotion, everyone who owns one of these dogs should be eager to ensure they provide well for their 4-legged family member.
The 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.
This dog from Japan is a fairly healthy breed, and you can encourage good health by ensuring he gets good food and adequate exercise.
Nonetheless, every dog can fall prey to some of the many dog illnesses there are, and some of these diseases can be skin allergies, hip dysplasia, bloat, digestive issues, cherry eye, cancer and obesity.
The condition of the eyes can give away some ideas of a dog’s health. Eye discharge can be a sign of an infection or an allergy. If your dog’s eyes aren’t clear and there is a constant discharge, talk to your vet and get to the root of it. Left untreated, there are some eye diseases that can lead to blindness.
Just like humans get all kinds of skin problems, dogs also do. It can drive them crazy and you see them scratching and biting. Skin allergies are sometimes caused by insect bites or allergies to medication or food. You might see excessive itching, scratching, a nasty rash, watery eyes and chewing of the paws. Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease and you will need to get your pet to the vet.
You need to check inside your pet’s mouth and make sure that a bad tooth isn’t causing your pet tremendous pain and infection. Sometimes missing teeth can also interfere with the way your pet eats.
The 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.
The Brussels Griffon, regardless of type has some very serious health issues due to the shape of their heads.
Brachycephalic Syndrome – This can cause all the respiratory issues as well as eye issues such as cataracts and corneal ulcers.
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.
Brush the coat twice a week to rid the coat of loose hairs.
Check the ears and eyes for infection.
Feel for unusual lumps on your pet’s body.
Provide your pet with a warm, dry place to sleep.
Keep your pet’s vaccines up to date to eliminate killer canine diseases.
Have your pet spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted puppies.
Feed your pet well. A Sanshu dog will require the best dog food there is. If you give him commercially manufactured food make sure it is one of the better brands to avoid toxic ingredients.
To add some variety, feed him some home made food occasionally which can be added to his dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet. Try and include some raw meat into the diet as this can help in fighting off horrible skin diseases. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water for him.