Griffonese

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 Pekingese is a compact toy breed with a distinctive lion-like appearance that reflects its ancient heritage as a companion to Chinese royalty for over a thousand years. Standing six to nine inches tall at the shoulder and weighing up to fourteen pounds, this breed has a low-to-ground, stocky body that is longer than it is tall with substantial bone and musculature. The limbs are somewhat bowed, contributing to the breed's characteristic rolling gait that conveys dignity and self-importance as they move. The head is massive in proportion to the body, featuring a broad, flat skull and a very short, wide muzzle that creates the breed's distinctive flat-faced profile with a characteristic V-shaped wrinkle between the eyes. The crowning glory of the Pekingese is its profuse double coat, which is the breed's most remarkable and defining feature. The outer coat is long, straight, and ideally harsh in texture, while the undercoat is thick and soft providing excellent insulation. The coat is especially luxuriant around the neck and shoulders, forming a magnificent mane that enhances the lion-like appearance, and abundant feathering adorns the ears, legs, tail, and toes. All coat colors and markings are acceptable and considered of equal merit, including white, fawn, cream, red, black, gray, and various combinations. A black mask, black outlining around the eyes, and black on the ears are desirable features that add to their expression. The face features large, round, dark eyes set wide apart that are prominent but not bulging, along with heart-shaped ears that hang flat against the head framing the face beautifully. The nose is black, broad, and very short with wide-open nostrils that help facilitate breathing. The tail is set high and carried over the back, lying either to the left or right side, and is profusely feathered. The overall impression is one of regal dignity combined with a fearless and confident bearing that belies their small size.