All about the petit-brabancons

Small Belgian dogs are especially popular among dog lovers. Petit Brabancons are distinguished by their unusual appearance and excellent health, at one time they were considered the privilege of the nobility. The material in this article will be useful to those who decide to have a puppy of this breed. We will tell you in detail about where the Brabancons came from, how they look, what advantages and disadvantages they have, and what are the main nuances of their content.

The history of decorative dogs with a funny appearance dates back to the 15th century. It was at this time that she was bred by breeders who crossed the Belgian yard dog with the German Appenfincher. The first dogs at one time were captured on the canvases of the artists of that time.

The animals had a different type of coat, and the one that more or less corresponded to the modern one was obtained as a result of mating small griffons with pugs. In addition, according to experts, the papillon and the Kig Charles Spaniel took part in the selection. This explains the characteristic black and tan color, the absence of a tail and its rare kink.

In the 19th century, there were three types of Brabancons: wire-haired Belgian and Brussels griffins, as well as smooth-haired Petit-Brabancons. The first Brabancons were small in size and were excellent rat-catchers. Initially, they lived in port warehouses, stables and the homes of the poor. However, soon the animals were noticed by representatives of the royal nobility, who decided to make dogs with an unusual appearance as their living toys.

The aristocrats liked not only the original appearance of the Brabancons. The key point was the fact that these pets practically did not shed. And this, in turn, made it possible to preserve the beauty of outfits and expensive dresses, which was important for the nobility. Among the special admirers of decorative dogs was the Belgian queen Maria Henrietta. It was she who began to actively popularize the breed of dogs with a funny appearance.

This was manifested not only in the popularity of animals among aristocrats. In addition, the breed began to be promoted as a separate species, participating in annual exhibition events. It is to the Queen that the Belgian dogs owe the fact that in 1883 they were included in the Studbook of Saint Hubert.

Unfortunately, aristocratic dogs over time began to lose their basic working skills. They became effeminate and weak, which was also facilitated by their crossing with brothers of other breeds, which was carried out to improve selection and give the dogs more decorativeness. Different dogs were used in breeding, which left its mark on the character and appearance of the Brabancons.

Instead of hunting rats and leading an active lifestyle, the Brabancons began to sleep for a long time on soft pillows, rode in carriages with their high-ranking owners. Many of these dogs had their own servants. The task of the pets themselves was to entertain the owners with games and warm people at night, for which they were taken to bed with them. Especially lonely ladies who became disillusioned with men liked the funny dogs.

A little later, smooth-haired griffons began to be sold abroad, as elite and thoroughbred representatives of the canine family. And everything would be fine if in that era fate did not threaten the existence of the Brabancons. The Second World War caused a sharp decline in the population of Belgian Griffons, and miniature dogs were also under the threat of extinction. However, it was the very fact that the dogs lived in the UK and the USA at that time that saved the breed from complete extinction.

At the end of the war, the breeders decided to restore the breed, although it did not work out exactly in the form in which it was known at that time. This was partly due to the fact that breeders wanted a certain renewal of the appearance of funny dogs. And already in 1963, the first standard was set for representatives of this breed. In May 2003, it was corrected due to the removal of the disqualification for certain colors, and since that time the standard of dogs has not been subjected to any changes.

Petit-Brabancons came to our country from the USA in 1993, they were brought to St. Petersburg to the Nevsky Hobbit nursery, where they began to breed. It was these dogs that became the ancestors of the puppies that are sold on the territory of the Russian Federation. For 6 years of breeding in nursery conditions, it was possible to increase the number of animals to 85 individuals. Today these dogs are called by different names (for example, Smooth-haired Griffon, Brabant Griffon, or Little Brabancon).

The appearance of the Brabant griffons is unusual and very eccentric. For all their compactness and decorativeness, these animals only at first glance seem fragile and weak. In fact, they have a fairly strong physique and no less gracefulness when moving. According to the regulations of the standard, the length of the body of an individual from the ischial tubercles to the shoulders should be compared with the height of the animal at the withers.

The size of the dog is small: the height of adults at the withers is on average 16 to 26 cm. In this case, the weight of an individual dog can vary in the range from 3.5 to 6 kg. As a rule, large dimensions and weight are characteristic of males, while girls are more compact.Inexperienced breeders are often confronted with the opinion that within the breed there is a division into dogs of the standard class and representatives of the mini category. In fact, the breed is one and does not have any factions.

It is the head of the Brabancons that distinguishes them from other brethren. It is expressive, large and has a round skull shape. The skull is broad, the forehead is large and convex, the stop is pronounced. Against the background of the head, the muzzle seems short, its length is very small, although visually it seems to be longer. This is explained by the absence of the so-called beard (long hair on the jaw and chin).

The type of muzzle is upturned, if in dogs the upper edge of the nose is located under the line of the eyes, such an animal is subject to disqualification. A prerequisite for the exterior is a dark lip color, as well as a tightly closed mouth. The human expression of the muzzle is explained by the flattening of the muzzle, the animal's nose is black, the nostrils are wide and open, the tip is somewhat flattened. When you look at the dog in profile, you can see that its forehead and nose are in the same plane.

The petite brabancon's eyes enhance the humanity of a dog's gaze. They are large, characterized by a wide stance, and are dark brown in color. At the same time, they are devoid of the bulge, which gives other dogs the appearance of underdevelopment, which is characteristic of a similar body structure. Ideally, the edges of the eyes should be nearly black with no white visible.

As for the skeleton, its shape tends to be square, but this in no way affects the canine's freedom of movement. Her gait is not devoid of grace and naturalness. She is light and casual. The constitution of a purebred representative of the breed is proportional, the ears are small, set high.

The tail of the animal must have a high delivery, the standard allows it to be docked by 1/3 of the length. A show animal that is not docked must have a tail directed towards the back, not curled, but raised up. The dental formula of the animal must be complete, the lower jaw may have some upward curvature. Usually, the incisors of both jaws of a purebred Brabant dog form straight lines, they are parallel to each other.

However, the bite itself is not entirely even: the lower jaw is slightly pushed forward. The teeth themselves are even and parallel to each other, the mouth is completely closed by the lips, the tongue fits completely inside the mouth. The lips are devoid of fleshiness, but may have slight pigmentation. The corners of the mouth are pulled down, which gives the expression of the muzzle a sad look.

The Brabant shorthaired baby has an average neck in proportion to the body. His limbs are set parallel to each other, their arrangement is wide. Strong bones, elbows close to the body. Small paws are slightly rounded, they are not turned out like in other dogs. The paw pads are dense and dark; the nails of these animals are completely black.

The hocks are well set. There should be no profitable toes on the hind feet. Brabancon's coat is short, its length does not exceed 2 cm. The color of the animal can be different: for example, black and tan with reddish or red markings, deer or mixed. Regardless of the type of color, the mouth of a purebred dog should be black. A characteristic feature of the color is the presence of a dark mask on the muzzle.

The life resource of these pets is on average 12-13 years. However, a considerable part of the breed's representatives live up to 15 years, which is considered a very old age for these dogs.Life expectancy is influenced by various factors, including the conditions of care and maintenance, as well as genetics and the timeliness of preventive measures.

The character of dogs has positive and negative sides. The advantages include various nuances, for example:

• great affection for its owner;
• the good nature that the animal shows in relation to the household;
• understanding good attitude from people;
• lack of rancor or resentment;
• the ability to accompany the owner on a trip;
• ability in teaching and education;
• excellent interaction of the animal with other animals living in the house.

Among the negative points, it is worth noting:

• poor tolerance of separation from the owner;
• refusal to eat when the animal is sad;
• a tendency to aggression in the absence of education;
• predisposition to skin diseases of individual dogs (a representative of the breed is often allergic);
• the complexity of childbirth (often they end with a cesarean section).

In general, these dogs make excellent companions for people of all ages. They have a subtle sense of the mood of their owners and can become favorites in large families. They love to play and value human attention, trying to respond to it with gratitude and good behavior. Despite the fact that they are not from a timid dozen, these dogs are by no means angry and do not hide resentment if the owner behaves unfairly towards them.

Pets are very smart, have a sense of their own dignity and can show a lot of emotions, which pleases not only their breeders, but also those around them. Sometimes the dog seems thoughtful, sometimes sad, sometimes funny, or even radiant with happiness. They show a spectrum of emotions very actively, accompanying their thoughts with actions.

They do not cause much trouble in travel and travel, they are livable and adapt to any requirements of the breeders. However, homes without owners are very homesick. The fact that they are left with well-known people does not save the situation. These dogs show true loyalty and devotion to their owners. It is extremely important for animals to be part of the family, and therefore no one and nothing can replace their family, without which they consider themselves abandoned and useless.

When the owner is around, the dog is incredibly happy, he is obedient and enjoys every minute given to him by a man. However, at heart, a dog that loves to show tenderness towards household members considers itself independent, it has a proud character. Living with a person for a long time, she is able not only to learn to adapt to his mood and emotional state. This little dog can adopt the facial expressions of a favorite breeder, becoming a reflection of the owner.

Despite the need for communication, Brabancon will not allow himself to be excessively intrusive, he will not get confused under the feet of the owners. While still a puppy, he will try to behave himself, pleasing the person so that the owner will love him. At the same time, the dog does not lose its protective qualities, if necessary, it will show its fearlessness, despite its funny appearance. In relation to other pets, she will also not be obtrusive, but if desired, she will always support any game or venture.

Unlike its other brethren, Brabancon understands the master's jokes and does not respond to them with malice. He does not lose his playfulness and positive attitude throughout his life, and he shows playfulness not only with adult household members, he also loves children.Even at an old age, he will not deny himself the pleasure of playing with them, everyone loves the tirelessness of the animal, it is admirable.

If necessary, the animal can empathize with its owner. However, if an inexperienced owner believes that the baby is just as friendly to others, then this is not at all the case. Strangers for Brabancon do not have the same value as the members of the family in which he lives. It only seems to the owners that the dog is good-natured: practice proves that often these dogs are very wary of strangers.

Others they do not like at all, which they express with the corresponding emotions and behavior. It's easy to predict: just look at the expression on the muzzle. As for pets, the only species of those to whom pets show a genuine hunting interest are small rodents. They do not touch cats, rabbits or birds, but they can chase rats and hamsters.

It is best to start training and education of dogs with a puppy age. In this case, the requirements of the owner should be consistent and logical. The curiosity of dogs must be directed in the right direction, since an unoccupied animal becomes stupid and can throw out its energy with unreasonable aggression towards strangers and everything that surrounds it. In general, these pets quickly understand the essence of commands and willingly execute them.

They are very fond of showing off, and for this training is a great reason. The dog is happy to carry out commands given to the public in order to once again receive praise from its owner. Representatives of this breed have an excellent memory, and therefore, as a rule, they remember a learned team all their lives.

When teaching, rewards are encouraged that spur the animal's interest. A dog needs more than just praise for its command. Given that she behaves like a pliable child in learning, she must understand the consequences of her action. And therefore, one cannot do without some tasty treat and an affectionate word that she is a good fellow.

It is noteworthy that these dogs do not demonstrate their authority to their owners and do not try to dominate all household members. In their hearts, they already know that they are at the top of the hierarchy among their masters. However, if the animal for some reason allows itself even a little aggression towards the owner, such behavior must be stopped immediately so that it does not sprout. Any allowance and weak character of the owner can lead to the fact that instead of an obedient dog, an uncontrollable imp will grow in the house.

Caring for a petit brabancon will consist in unquestioning adherence to the basic rules: hygiene, walking, medical examinations and excessive love with attention and care. Taking into account the length of the coat, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle to care for it. Even during molting, it will not roll around the house too much, as is the case with long-haired dog brethren. These dogs do not need slickers and a large arsenal of all kinds of grooming brushes. The Brabancons' fur coat does not need to be combed out every day with special fanaticism.

The fur coat for dogs of this breed is not cut, since there is no need for it. A comb should be enough to remove dead hair, dust and light dirt from the coat. Washing brabancons is often not recommended. Usually they are bathed as they become dirty, using special zooshampoos for dogs with a short and smooth coat structure.

In the winter period of the year, washing is undesirable at all, since the dog can catch a cold after it if the house is cool. In this case, experts recommend drying her coat with a hair dryer, choosing the optimal drying mode, which will not overheat the pet's skin. As for the summer, it is at this time of the year that the dog is washed more often. And it's not even that the owner wants the animal to be perfectly clean.

The reason lies in the dirt that the pet carries from the street after each walk. It is important to understand here that the dog is completely washed only if it is too dirty. After walking, it is enough to rinse or wipe only her paws. Its coat is not long, and therefore dirt from the ground does not cling too much to it. However, in bad weather or after rain, bathing becomes mandatory.

Hygiene should be taught to the dog as early as possible, along with other rules that it must obey in the house. At the same time, a visual examination is not enough: the owner must monitor the condition of the pet's teeth, ears, eyes and claws.

Both the puppy and the adult dog need to clean their ears, which constantly accumulate earwax. It should be removed with a cotton swab dipped in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. If signs of inflammation or redness of the auricles are found, the dog is urgently taken to the veterinarian. Under no circumstances can you self-medicate, since only a doctor can diagnose the animal correctly and prescribe the correct treatment. When processing the ears, do not go too deep with a tampon into the auricles.

The eyes are cleaned regularly by rubbing them with a cotton swab dipped in warm boiled water. If leucorrhoea or redness is found, the pet is taken to the doctor. The teeth are cleaned in order to prevent the premature appearance of yellowish plaque and tartar. In addition, caring for the canine mouth cavity will keep the teeth from early abrasion and pain.

For their hygiene, you can use a special brush and zoo, suitable specifically for dogs. Those hygiene products that humans use are not suitable for animals. In addition to being disliked by the menthol, these pastes can be hazardous to pet's health if swallowed and swallowed. Also, for oral hygiene purposes, dogs can buy special cleaning sticks in specialized stores.

From time to time, dogs will have to shorten their claws, as they interfere with their walking and movement. A special nail clipper allows you to reduce the duration of the unpleasant procedure, reducing the level of pet discomfort to a minimum. In this case, the length is shortened quickly and painlessly.

It is generally accepted that petit-brabancons are distinguished not only by their endurance, but also able to tolerate different temperature ranges well. They do not overheat in the sun and do not overcool in cool weather. However, this does not apply to regions of the country with a harsh climatic background. And yet healthier dogs grow where they have more access to fresh air. Caring owners buy colorful warm clothes and socks for their pets that protect their paws from dirt and cold.

Since childhood, these dogs love to walk on the street, and once a day is not enough for them to throw out energy. In summer, they enjoy swimming in shallow bodies of water, frolic in the grass and love to explore the territory. At the same time, they cannot be called hyperactive: their interest in everything has its own point of view.

Brabancons need to walk twice a day. At first, the puppy can be trained to use a tray with a pallet. However, the dog should not abuse his needs in the house for a long time, otherwise, with age, it will try to carry "everything of its own" home. And this will add to the problems of cleaning and removing unpleasant odors.

Walking dogs of this breed are extremely necessary, and not only to maintain good physical shape. They are also important as an element of socialization, because these pets have little communication with their owners. They need to spend some time among their fellows.

For all their merits, decorative brabancons are considered fussy in food and often prefer to eat only what they like. Some of them are quite jealous of their own dishes. Therefore, it is extremely important that they have it personally. Despite the fact that a separate category of breeders does not see anything wrong with feeding dogs from their plates, this cannot be done.

You need to feed the animal correctly, choosing a nutritious diet so that it is saturated with vitamins, proteins and nutrients. Thanks to them, the pet will grow up active and cheerful. It should be borne in mind that puppies should be fed more often than adult dogs. On average, babies up to six months are fed about 4-5 times a day.

Their portions differ from the size of adult animals, they are significantly smaller and are designed so that the puppies eat them completely. A six-month-old pet begins to feed less often, but at the same time increasing its portions. By the year, the animal should eat no more than 2-3 times a day. As for the choice of petit-brabancon feed, it can be both industrial feed and natural food.

If ready-made pelleted food is chosen as the basis of a nutritious diet, it is necessary to select it taking into account age and degree of activity. Also, you should buy feed with a high meat content, which is typical for premium products. There is nothing useful in cheap food.

The size of the granules should be appropriate for the gnawing ability of the dog's teeth. Puppies are usually given smaller granulated foods. The feed should be balanced, consisting specifically of meat, not meat flour. The percentage of meat in the composition should be large, otherwise the animal will not be saturated with this food.

If you decide to feed your pet with natural food, you should be especially careful about the choice of each element of the nutritious diet. For example, meat for a dog is extremely important and should form the basis of daily nutrition... However, it should not be fat in any way; beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit meat are suitable for feeding. You can give it to an animal raw or boiled.

If the decision is made not to boil the product, it is important to shorten the intervals for the antiparasitic treatment of the pet. In addition to meat, the dog should receive chicken or quail eggs, fish fillets (from river or sea fish) and dairy products (for example, kefir and cottage cheese). Vegetables can be given to her raw and boiled. In addition, it is necessary to treat your pet with fruit from time to time.

We must not forget about cereals and vitamin complexes for dogs. Along with maintaining a balanced diet, it is important to regularly monitor your Brabancon's weight. Its excess should not be allowed, as it negatively affects health. No matter how much the owner wants the dog to be well-fed, it cannot be allowed to be overweight.

If the breeder feeds the dog with granulated food, the amount per serving should be less than the same weight of the natural food. Commercial feed, as a rule, is concentrated, and therefore less is needed to saturate it. Petit Brabancons need granules in packs designed for small dogs with a high degree of activity.

Few of the breeders think about the fact that after opening such a product begins to oxidize, which affects not only the taste, but also the degree of suitability. The longer this food stays on the store counter, the worse it will be. The dog is small, and therefore it is better to purchase small packages of food for it.

However, as far as water is concerned, on the contrary, more is needed with such feeding. And a bowl of fresh water should always be placed near the feeding areaso that the dog does not have to look elsewhere. The water needs to be changed every day, or even twice a day. For drinking, water can be boiled and cooled. It is undesirable to take a flow-through from the tap, since salts of heavy metals are often present in its composition.

You need to choose a dog while she is still small, contacting a professional nursery to a trusted breeder. The puppy's weight and size should be appropriate for its age and sex. You should not take dwarf individuals that are not included in the standard and may be further disqualified. As a rule, mini-versions of Brabancons may not weigh more than 2-3 kg.

In order not to be mistaken with the choice of a cattery, you can pre-scroll through information about it on the vastness of the World Wide Web, and also ask about the fair name of a particular breeder at exhibitions. A visit to the exhibition will allow you to better get acquainted with the exterior of the animal and understand how it should ideally look. At the time of purchase, a puppy, as a rule, has the first beginnings of socialization, he learns to communicate with his brothers and sisters. At this time, he is already vaccinated and has the appropriate documents (veterinary passport and pedigree).

The size of the puppies depends on their age. For example, at 3 months he can weigh 2.7 kg, at 4 months - about 3 kg. Some weigh 3.9 kg at 5 months, others a little less - 3.5 kg. The average weight of a 7 month old puppy is 4.5 kg. The crumbs weigh about 1.7 kg at 3 months.

An experienced shopper knows that the more ancestors a child has, the better. In order not to be deceived, a specialist can be invited to the purchase procedure, who will need only one glance to understand in what conditions the puppy was kept, how developed it is, whether it is sick, what its exterior is.

You cannot buy a puppy from your hands, as well as a baby without vaccinations, because it can be a carrier of various infections. When buying, you can focus on the external data of the baby, his confidence in communicating with his fellows, as well as the cost. On average, the price for a purebred puppy is 40,000-100,000 rubles. It is high because the breed is considered rare in our country. At the same time, puppies, which are bought for further participation in exhibitions, have a higher cost.

Brabancon dogs have a high level of empathy, as evidenced by the reviews of their owners. If the owner feels bad, the pet can adjust to his mood and feel sad for the company. It's unusual, but very touching, which allows you to get closer to your pet and understand that the world is not so bad.

Some breeders are confident that their breeders are highly intelligent and learn commands literally on the fly. Others note that dogs cannot live without everyone's attention and care, and therefore they get sick and sad when the owner is busy and cannot give them enough attention. Other dogs after training do not allow themselves inappropriate behavior and aggression towards strangers. Others are kind enough to confide in many strangers.Also, the owners in the comments indicate that their pets do not like children and can play with them for hours.

For more information on the Petit Brabancon breed, see the video below.