New-York tribune., 1918-04-21
Docked Brussels Grifons
Sometimes Produce Short
Tailed Puppies

The Brussels Griffon, or to be more
correct, the Griffon Brnxellois, one of
the quaintest, most curious and exclu-
sively fashionable of the whole terrier
family, will come in for fine showing
May 10, when the Brussels Griffon
Club of America will hold it's annual
exhibit at the Park Avenue Hotel.
Although only of comparatively recent
introduction into this country, the lit
tie dog has gained many friends among
the wealthy, for only persons with
means are able to obtain specimens Of
the breed
At the recent show in Madison
Square Garden a couple of dozen first
class dogs were on view, one of the
best being Rocky Top Copthorene
Cavalier, owned by Mrs. Albert Wild
man. He captured the championship
blue with ease, the Cedar Kennels TAX
ing second place with Ziz of Dummy
mede. The championship of the female
went to the Pepacton Kennels with
Rocky Top Copthornc Dahlia, while
the reserve was awarded to Mrs. Yer
non Castles Sweets of ST. Margaret.
These contenders will be on hand
again with some new ones which give
every promise of creating sensational
contests for the ribbons. The efficient
secretary of the club is Miss Gertrude
Lester, who has an extremely tactful
method OF getting entries, and this
means that the show will be excep-
tionally successful.
The Gritfon, in breed characteristics,
is what might be termed composite
terrier" for it is a compound of the
Atfenpinscher, Irish terrier, pug, York
shire terrier and ruby spaniel. It's
coat has the color of the Irish terrier,
the mixed texture of the Yorkshire,
here and there of the Affenpinscher,
and in odd spots that Of the ruby
spaniel.
The singular thing about the Griffon
is that there is no reliable data as to
how the dog originated, but that Bel
glum was its native home there is no
doubt. To develop new breeds in any
country an abundance Of other breeds
are necessary for the purpose of ex-
perimenting on crossing, but how the
Yorkshire and Irish terriers found
their way into Belgium is a mystery.
Many Theories Advanced
1t was possible for the pug and the
ruby spaniel to be found there, for
these breeds were rather common to
Europe some thirty-fve years ago. A
number of theories have been advanced
as to the birth of the breed, and. as
naturally might be expected, they are
all at variance, but the theorists partly
agree on two points. and they are that
the griffon has the body and legs of
q terrier conformation, while the dome
skull and turned-up nose come from
either the pug or the spaniel.
The commendable point about the
griffon is that it is very companion
able and loves to be out of doors; in
fact. the owner has to be continually
on the watch to keep him from cscap-
ing and roaming around on the outside.
This is. of course, the real trait of
the terrier. AS house dog the GRIT
fon has no peer among the smaller
tribe, and as lap dog he is the equal
of the other lollypop breeds.
None Of the toy breeds require less
care, for, having q short. wiry coat, it
does not gather dust, bits Of brush
wood, burned matches and other ref
use. II woman-and only women
own this breeds limited in time to
devote to the dogs toilet, the griffon
Possesses the advantage, for 1t 70 cas-