Will Griff Be America's Next Hot Dog?

Fondly tagged as the "street urchin of Belgium" by breed historians, the Brussels Griffon has never established much of an identity in the United States. But all of that may be about to change.

Thanks to a popular new film, "As Good As It Gets," starring Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear and a spunky little character named Verdell (you guessed it, a Brussels Griffon), the dog is suddenly being thrust into a limelight its breeders find totally foreign.

Having bounced between 90th and 106th on the American Kennel Club's annual registry since 1975, the Griff is no longer the nondescript Brussels sprout of dogdom.

Ardis Wallin of Lynnwood, who's been involved with the BG breed since 1961, says, "It's a sweet, lovable lap dog that has a mind of its own. It can be very stubborn one minute and sweet the next. It's intelligent and will definitely attempt to outwit you when the opportunity presents itself."

In Stanley Coren's "The Intelligence of Dogs" (The Free Press, 1994), it was tied for 59th in an all-breed ranking of obedience and working intelligence of 140-plus AKC breeds.

Wallin's Charlie Brown, which was retired in 1984, owns the BG record of 24 bests-in-show for all-breed competition.

Because the BG never rose dramatically to popularity, breeders have maintained a tight control on its numbers and discouraged puppy mills in the process, says Wallin. But its presence in "As Good As It Gets" is tantamount to papering the nation with Most Wanted posters.

"It's a shame, because overnight popularity can undo years of total dedication by a core group of breeders," adds Wallin.

Price tags will discourage some potential purchasers, yet encourage puppy-mill operators. According to Wallin, pet-quality BGs sell for $600-$800 while show counterparts have price tags ranging from $1,200 to $2,000.

Litter sizes usually range from two to five (another good built-in control mechanism for breeders). Coats come in rough (wiry and dense) or smooth (straight, short, tight and glossy); colors are black, black and tan, beige and red. The latter is particularly hot today. Coat care includes regular bathing and trimming approximately every three months.

Sizes range from six to 12 pounds; life span from 10 to 15 years.

"Early lead breaking is critical," emphasizes Pam Waldron, a Mount Vernon breeder. "This is really a big dog in a small package. It doesn't tend to back down to dogs three or four times its size. It's an in-your-face animal that thrives on attention."

Characterizes Jacque Fein, a Houston breeder, "It's a breed with a big dog's brain in a little dog's suit."

Waldron says, "I wouldn't recommend it for families with small children. When kids become overly aggressive with a BG, the dog's tolerance level has a limit."

She adds, however, that the BG, when introduced as a puppy, is usually compatible in households with a dog or cat.

Fein, however, doesn't recommend anyone purchasing a BG before it's 12 weeks old. "Between eight and 10 weeks is a critical fear period for the puppy, where it requires plenty of socialization and confidence building. By 12 weeks you can determine the puppy's persona pretty well."

Like any breed, the hearty BG, "not linked with adjectives attached to most toy breeds" (the American Kennel Club categorizes it in the toy group, some think its more terrierlike), comes with some genetic baggage, including cataracts, patella luxation (trick knee, where the kneecap tends to pop out of joint) and cleft palate (a birth defect, leaving an opening between the oral and nasal cavities).

Consequently, Fein recommends that anyone purchasing a BG first ask the breeder for certification showing the dog's and its parents' eyes and knees are clean of genetic detects.

Marge Simon of Houston, rescue chairwoman for both the American Brussels Griffon Club and the National Brussels Griffon Club, has received an average of 12 inquiries weekly since the film was released last month.

"The word is definitely out about the Griffon," she says. While the breed's name hasn't been promoted heavily, callers obviously know its identity.

"I've seen the movie and it's portrayed pretty accurately," she says. "While it has a face you'll never forget, there are other caveats the public should be aware of." A couple of those include a challenge to both housebreak and lead train.

"A lot of the books out there point out the lead training, but what breed isn't a test the first time it's put on a lead?" She cautions, however, that the dog is very sensitive and unforgiving when instruction is done in an overbearing manner. "It demands a lot of love, attention and patience," adds Simon.

The American Kennel Club's "The Complete Dog Book" (Howell Book House, 1992) says, "It's not unusual for a young dog, when in the presence of strangers, to display the same self-consciousness as a child in its awkward teens."

One of the most candid books to come along in years, "Choosing a Dog: Your Guide to Picking the Perfect Breed" by Nancy Baer and Steve Duno (Berkley Books, 1995), says, "The owner of a Brussels Griffon should be a patient, precise leader who enjoys a busy, amusing, terrierlike toy dog. Spoilers may create a pushy, nippy dog that lacks confidence. Older children who help train are OK. The elderly and the disabled can own this breed if they can train and walk it."

The Brussels Griffon's origins can be traced to the 17th century, when it was chiefly a peasants' and coachmen's dog; one of its chief duties was a ratter in the stables where horses were housed. Its lineage can be traced to the Affenpinscher, pug, ruby spaniel and Yorkshire terrier, according to various resources. The pug was probably the most influential, with its legacy reflected chiefly in BG's large head, big eyes, cobby body and deep chest.

Distinguished by its black-rimmed black eyes, the spunky pooch comes with cropped ears and docked tail, producing a sharp, alert expression.

"It's a great bluffer," laughs Waldron, "it'll sometimes bark and challenge a dog 10 times its size. It doesn't know its limits. And it has one of those faces that you never forget once you've seen it firsthand."

One of the dogs used in "As Good As It Gets" came from the Jacksonville, Ore., kennel of Pat Bailey Willison. Another came from Texas and other stand-ins from Europe.

Willison, however, is persona non grata with BG breeders nationally. She has been dropped from membership in the American Brussels Griffon Club, according to Simon.

Willison's Timer is not the lead dog in the film; that role went to Jill, a Texas animal.

An excellent book

If you're a toy-breed owner, future purchaser or fan, you'll want to add Darlene Arden's "The Irrepressible Toy Dog" (Howell Book House, $17.95) to your library.

Published last month, it serves up an unvarnished portrayal of owner responsibilities and a candid vignette of an underappreciated class of dogs.

Arden's breezy, unassuming portrait of the Rodney Dangerfields of dogdom captures everything from their blue-collar feistiness to their charming insouciance.

Lauded by owners, loathed by outsiders, the toy has long battled for respect. This candid volume establishes why that appreciation is warranted.

It takes you from puppyhood and training, through sickness and health to a breed-by-breed rundown, freckled with caveats and compliments.