Brussels Griffon Puppies: Adopt or Buy?

Brussels Griffon or Griffon Bruxellois: what is the breed called in Australia?

Dogs Australia registers one breed, the Griffon Bruxellois, in Group 1 (Toys). Its recognised breed listing (dated 28 July 2026) shows the breed standard is owned by the UK Kennel Club, and the standard itself says: “Smart little dog with disposition of a terrier. Two varieties rough coated, Griffon Bruxellois and smooth coated, Petit Brabancon. Both with pert, monkey-like expression, heavy for size.” Colours are “clear red, black or black and rich tan without white markings”.

Overseas, the names split differently. The FCI treats the Griffon Belge, Griffon Bruxellois and Petit Brabancon as three breeds, and Dogs Australia's register of FCI breeds it recognises (dated 28 July 2026) lists all three names. The Australian standard names only two varieties and does not mention the Griffon Belge. “Brussels Griffon” is the name the American Kennel Club uses. Whatever an ad calls the dog, ask which Australian body registered the parents and under which breed name.

Sources: Dogs Australia breed standard (last updated 16 February 2010), Dogs Victoria and the Griffon Bruxellois Club of Victoria, read 12 November 2026.

Should you adopt or buy a Griffon?

Start with the breed, not the route. The Griffon is a short-faced (brachycephalic) breed, and recent research puts it in a moderate-risk group for breathing problems. The standard asks for large, open nostrils, so look for parents that have them and breathe quietly.

If you still want a Griffon, either route can work. A registered breeder who selects for open nostrils and quiet breathing, and health tests the parents, gives you the best odds with a puppy. A rescue gives you an adult whose breathing and character you can see before you commit; numbers change daily, so check the live listings. The route to avoid is an online ad for a cheap Griffon with no information about the parents.

Reference figures: the Griffon Bruxellois Club of Victoria and RSPCA Victoria pages, read 12 November 2026. They are not quotes; prices and fees change, so check with them.

What did the Cambridge study find about Griffon breathing?

It placed the Griffon Bruxellois in a moderate-risk group. The study, by Tomlinson, Liu, Sargan and Ladlow at the University of Cambridge, was published in PLOS One in February 2026. It assessed 898 dogs over 12 months old from 14 flat-faced breeds in the UK, listening to each dog's airway before and after a three-minute exercise test. Grade 0 means no signs of BOAS, grade 1 mild signs heard only with a stethoscope, and grades 2 and 3 are clinically significant.

From the study's supplementary table of BOAS grades by breed (S3 Table), read 12 November 2026.

• The authors grouped the Griffon with the Boston Terrier, King Charles Spaniel, Dogue de Bordeaux and Shih Tzu as moderate-risk breeds: significantly more grade 0 dogs than Pugs, French Bulldogs and Bulldogs, but at least half the dogs at grades 1 to 3.
• The Griffon was one of the breeds with higher rates of narrowed (stenotic) nostrils, and severe narrowing was recorded in some Griffons.
• It was among the most extremely flat-faced breeds measured, alongside the King Charles Spaniel, Japanese Chin and Pekingese.
• On general examination, the study also recorded patella luxation in 9.1% and a heart murmur in 4.9% of the Griffons.

These were UK dogs (a median age of 6 years, 91% Kennel Club registered), not Australian ones. It is still the best published evidence for the breed. The RSPCA Knowledgebase describes BOAS as a lifelong and often progressive disorder, with noisy breathing, breathing difficulty and exercise intolerance, and says surgery can help but dogs may still need lifelong management.

What is Chiari-like malformation, and why does it matter for Griffons?

It is a malformation of the back of the skull and the junction with the neck that can crowd the brain and lead to syringomyelia, fluid-filled cavities in the spinal cord. Two peer-reviewed studies looked at it in this breed:

• A 2009 study in the Journal of Small Animal Practice by Rusbridge and colleagues assessed MRI scans of 56 Griffon Bruxellois. In what the authors call a selected sample, 60.7% had Chiari-like malformation; syringomyelia occurred with the malformation in 37.5% of the study population and without it in 8.9%.
• A 2014 study in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine by Freeman and colleagues scanned 84 American Kennel Club registered Brussels Griffons and found Chiari-like malformation in 65% and syringomyelia in 52%. Of the dogs with syringomyelia, 52% were clinically normal; across the study, 28% had neurological deficits and 20% had neck pain.

We read the abstracts. The 2009 study came from a UK veterinary centre and the 2014 study scanned American Kennel Club registered dogs, and the 2009 sample was selected rather than random, so neither figure is a measure of Australian Griffons. The practical point is that affected dogs can look normal, as more than half of those with syringomyelia in the 2014 study did, and the club below lists MRI results for some breeding dogs. See a vet about neck pain, yelping when touched, or persistent scratching at the neck or ears.

Which health checks should a Griffon breeder show you?

The Griffon Bruxellois Club of Victoria warns buyers to be very wary of a breeder who professes to fully health test but will not show the results, and says health tests should include such things as eye testing, knee and hip scores, heart, and in some cases MRI results for syringomyelia and Chiari-like malformation. It adds that a health test does not mean just an annual check-up at the vet.

Sources: the Griffon Bruxellois Club of Victoria, Dogs Victoria, the American Kennel Club's list of national breed club recommendations and the studies above, read 12 November 2026. A buying checklist, not veterinary advice.

Ask for the reports by the parents' registered names, so you can match them to the litter. Dogs Australia also suggests asking whether your own vet can check the puppy before you buy.

How do you keep a Griffon safe in the heat?

The RSPCA says flat-faced breeds have a reduced capacity to cool down by panting, and that overweight dogs overheat faster. Dogs Victoria says that, like all flat-faced breeds, Griffon owners must be mindful of the dog's well-being and breathing on hot or humid days. Walk early and late, give shade and a cool room, keep the dog lean, and never leave a Griffon in a car. Heatstroke is an emergency; get to a vet immediately. Read dogs in hot weather for summer planning.

How much is a Griffon puppy from a registered breeder?

The breed club publishes a guide. The Griffon Bruxellois Club of Victoria's breed page says “Griffons prices vary anywhere from $4500.00 - $5500.00 approx” (read November 2026). Archived copies show that range on the page since at least January 2025; earlier copies showed lower ranges. The same page then says a puppy from a breeder who does extensive health testing and documents the results “may cost up to $3500.00”, which does not sit easily with the range above, so ask the club and the breeder to explain. The club also says puppies sold by its members and Dogs Victoria members must come with Dogs Victoria pedigree papers, which should be included in the price.

We also read the websites of Griffon breeders who show Dogs Australia membership, leaving out listing and marketplace sites, and found none publishing a price we could confirm as current for 2026. When you ask a breeder for a price, ask what it includes: the parents' health results, vaccinations and microchip, the register type and desexing agreement, and whether the breeder will take the dog back.

Expect to wait. The club says one to three puppies is an average litter and that whelping can need a caesarean. Dogs Australia's registration figures show 256 Griffon Bruxellois registered in 2025, against 243 in 2018 (registrations, not litters bred). Budget for what comes after too: the dog cost calculator gives a first-year figure, and pet insurance or savings matter more than usual for a flat-faced breed.

Club guide and survey of member breeders' own websites, November 2026. Reference only, not a quote. Prices change, so check with the club and the breeder.

What do Griffons in rescue look like?

It varies. Check the live listings, as numbers change daily; a Griffon in rescue may be an adult or a small cross. With an adult, you can watch the dog breathe and move, ask how it copes on a warm day, and read its vet notes before you sign anything. The Griffon Bruxellois Club of Victoria also says older dogs are sometimes available to the right homes and that you can ask to go on its waiting list.

What does a rescue dog cost?

Reference only, not a quote. These are the fees each rescue published on the date shown; fees change and some dogs are priced individually, so check with the rescue. Read our guide to adopting a dog in Australia.

If no Griffon is listed near you, browse small dogs as well: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide.

How do Griffon puppy scams work?

Scamwatch warns that scammers set up fake websites, social media profiles and marketplace listings for pets that do not exist, and that a very cheap pet is likely a scam. Dogs Victoria's puppy scam fact sheet adds that fake ads may display microchip, source or membership numbers lifted from legitimate breeders. What to watch for with a Griffon:

• A price that seems too good. Scamwatch says a very cheap pet is likely a scam.
• Off-standard colours. The standard allows clear red, black, or black and rich tan, without white markings.
• A name you cannot place. Ask which Australian body registered the parents, and under which breed name.
• “Vet checked” and nothing more. A puppy vet check says nothing about how the parents breathe or what their health tests showed.

Our guide to puppies for sale in Australia has the state-by-state table of breeder numbers, how to check each one, and what to do if you have already paid.

When is a registered breeder the better choice?

Rescue is not right for everyone. A registered breeder is a reasonable choice if you want a puppy and are prepared to wait for one from parents you can meet. Check these before you pay:

1. Registration. Ask for the breeder's prefix and membership number and check them through Dogs Australia's breeder search or your state body.
2. The parents' breathing. Watch and listen to the mother at rest and after a short walk. Look for open nostrils and no noisy breathing at rest.
3. Health results. Eye, knee, hip and heart checks, and ask whether either parent has had an MRI scan.
4. A moderate dog. A breeder who talks about breathing and soundness before coat and colour.
5. A written contract covering health problems, register type, desexing and whether the breeder will take the dog back.

Is a Griffon the right dog for you?

The appeal is real. Dogs Victoria describes a small dog with definite terrier instincts and a loving, amiable disposition, highly intelligent and easy to train, though house training may take extra time. It says Griffons are sensitive and do not respond well to harsh corrections, want to be with their family, and can develop unwelcome behaviours if regularly left alone for long periods; it also warns they can dig under fences and gates. Be honest about three things before you apply: company, heat (you need a cool indoor space every summer), and money for a short-faced breed's vet care.

Not sure it fits? Try the what dog breed am I quiz and the adoption readiness check, and read our guides to apartment dogs and cheaper vet care.

Find a Griffon near you

Brussels Griffons and Griffon crosses listed by rescues, by city:

• Brussels Griffons for adoption in Sydney
• Brussels Griffons for adoption in Melbourne
• Brussels Griffons for adoption in Brisbane
• Brussels Griffons for adoption in Perth
• Brussels Griffons for adoption in Adelaide

More adopt-or-buy guides: Pekingese, Pug, Boston Terrier, Shih Tzu, Chihuahua, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Coton de Tulear.