Griffon-Pei

The Brussels Griffon is a sturdy toy breed with a distinctive appearance that has captured hearts worldwide. Standing between six and nine inches tall at the shoulder and weighing eight to twelve pounds, these compact dogs possess a square, thickset body with well-proportioned limbs and a deep chest. Their movement is characterized by a purposeful trot that displays an unmistakable air of self-importance and confidence. The head is somewhat large in comparison to the body, featuring a rounded skull with a pronounced domed forehead and a deep stop between the eyes. Their large, dark eyes are set wide apart with long black eyelashes, creating an almost human-like expression that is both alert and intelligent, often drawing comparisons to the Ewoks from Star Wars. The breed comes in two distinct coat varieties that are identical in all aspects except their texture. Rough-coated Brussels Griffons have a dense, wiry coat that is longer around the face, forming a distinctive beard and fringe around the eyes, nose, and chin that earned them the nickname "bearded dogs" in historical Belgian folk songs. The rough coat requires regular hand-stripping to maintain its proper texture and appearance. The smooth-coated variety, sometimes called the Petit Brabancon, has a short, glossy, tight-fitting coat with no facial furnishings and sheds seasonally in spring and fall. Both coat types come in four accepted colors: red, belge which is a mix of black and reddish-brown hairs often with a darker mask and whiskers, black and tan with defined markings, and solid black. The breed's ears are small and set high on the head, and may be kept natural with a semi-erect fold or cropped to stand upright, though cropping has become controversial. Their black nose is very short and set deeply between the eyes, contributing to their brachycephalic facial structure that requires special attention in hot weather. The tail is typically carried high and may be docked to about one-third its natural length. Despite their small stature, Brussels Griffons are surprisingly athletic and sturdy, with surprisingly heavy and muscular bodies that enable them to excel in activities like agility, obedience, and tracking when properly trained and motivated.

The Chinese Shar-Pei is a medium-sized, compact dog instantly recognizable by its unique physical characteristics that set it apart from all other breeds. Standing seventeen to twenty inches tall at the shoulder and weighing between forty-four and sixty pounds, this breed presents a square profile with a broad, flat head and distinctive hippopotamus-shaped muzzle that is wide, padded, and full. The body is sturdy and muscular with a deep chest, and the high-set tail curls tightly over the back or to either side. One of the breed's most remarkable features is its loose, wrinkled skin, which is particularly abundant in puppies and becomes more limited to the head, neck, and withers as the dog matures into adulthood. The breed's coat is another defining characteristic, with the name "Shar-Pei" literally meaning "sand skin" in reference to its harsh, bristly texture that feels rough to the touch. Two coat types exist within the breed: the extremely short horse coat, which feels prickly and stands off from the body, and the slightly longer brush coat that can reach up to one inch at the withers. Both varieties are single-coated with no undercoat and require minimal grooming. The Shar-Pei shares the unusual trait of a blue-black tongue with the Chow Chow, one of only a few breeds to possess this distinctive feature. Coat colors include any solid shade such as black, red, fawn, cream, apricot, and chocolate, with darker shading acceptable along the back and ears. The head features small, deeply set almond-shaped eyes that contribute to the breed's characteristic scowl, along with tiny triangular ears that lie flat against the skull with slightly rounded tips. The wrinkled brow, combined with the padded skin above the eyes, creates a frowning expression that is essential to breed type and gives them a dignified appearance. Despite their somewhat exotic appearance, Shar-Peis move with confident, balanced strides that reflect their heritage as versatile working dogs capable of guarding, hunting, and herding.