Brussels Griffon Cairn Terrier Mix

The Brussels Griffon Cairn Terrier Mix, is a mixed breed dog resulting from breeding the Brussels Griffon and the Cairn Terrier. Both of these dogs can be friendly but personalities differ, so you never know. The Brussels Griffon is known for being inquisitive, alert, and sensitive. All dogs need proper socialization and that will be a big factor in how they interact with others. What does this mixed breed look and act like? Is it more like the Brussels Griffon or the Cairn Terrier? Those are the questions we will try and answer below. Continue reading below to see pictures, videos, and learn more about the beautiful Brussels Griffon Cairn Terrier Mix.

While we really recommend that you acquire all animals through a rescue, we understand that some people might go through a breeder to get their Brussels Griffon Cairn Terrier Mix puppy. That is, if they have any Brussels Griffon Cairn Terrier Mix puppies for sale.

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Brussels Griffon Cairn Terrier Mix History

All hybrid or designer dogs are tough to get a good read on as there isn’t much history to them. Breeding specific dogs like this has become common in the last twenty years or so even though I am sure that this mixed breed found it’s share of dogs to the shelter due to accidental breeding. We will take a closer look at the history of both parent breeds below. If you are looking at breeders for new, designer dogs please beware of Puppy Mills. These are places that mass produce puppies, specifically for profit and don’t care at all about the dogs. If you have a few minutes, please sign our petition to stop puppy mills.

Brussels Griffon History

As they had done with sheepdogs, the Belgians, in the mid-to late 1800s, were breeding new varieties of toy dogs. Besides the Brussels Griffon (French: Griffon Bruxellois), these included the Belgian Griffon (Griffon Belge), and the Petit Brabançon. All three of these toy dogs are thought to descend from the same ancestor, a dog called a Smousje. Smousje was a rough-coated, small terrier-like dog kept in stables to eliminate rodents. Later on, both the Pug and two varieties of the English Toy Spaniel are thought to have been crossed with the Brussels Griffon. Today, the primary distinction among all the Belgian toy rodent-hunting dogs is their coat texture — they are referred to as either a wire-coated or a smooth-coated Brussels Griffon.

Among the significant breed registries, the AKC recognizes only the Brussels Griffon; European groups recognize all three earlier Griffons with breed standards differing mostly in coat texture and color.

Fun fact: The Brussels Griffon is connected to the Star Wars movie franchise. For Return of the Jedi (1983), the visual effects director used an image of a Griffon Bruxellois, the same species of dog George Lucas owned, to design the general look of the furry Ewok characters. The makeup artist took it from there, and the denizens of the Forest Moon of Endor were born.

By 1870, the Brussels Griffon had raised himself from a chaser of barn rats to a favorite among royalty. Belgian Queen Henrietta Maria so enjoyed them that they became sought after by both members of the nobility and working-class people in Brussels. The present-day Brussels Griffon is a spirited little dog who appeals to people of all social classes on both sides of the Atlantic.

As happened to so many breeds during the two World Wars, the Brussels Griffon nearly became extinct during the 40-year period during which the wars were fought. A dedicated group of admirers in the U.K. and elsewhere restored the breed, but it remains relatively uncommon, especially in the U.S.

Cairn Terrier History

Bounding out of the highlands comes the Cairn Terrier, a descendent one of Scotland’s oldest known line of working terriers dating to the 1600s. He was originally bred to rid the land of vermin, mostly rodents but also larger prey such as otters and foxes. Three present-day Scottish terriers — the Scottish, the West Highland White, and the Cairn — all were descended from an established breed called the Scotch Terrier, which in 1873 became two distinct terrier breeds, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Skye Terriers. These terriers came from the same stock in the Scottish highlands but ultimately developed as two different breeds. Later, the Scottish, West Highland White, and Cairn terriers all descended from the same stock and originally were differentiated only by color.

Fun fact: Most Cairn terriers are left-pawed. Research has shown that this trait correlates to a strong sense of smell — a major advantage in locating prey. The dog we now know as the Cairn Terrier was originally called a Short-haired Skye Terrier when entered into The Kennel Club competition in the U.K. in 1909. Breeders of standard Skye Terriers objected, and the name Cairn Terrier, alluding to the stone piles along the moors where the dog chases his prey, was accepted as a compromise.

The Cairn Terrier gained AKC recognition in 1913, although at this time many breeders in both the U.S. and U.K. were crossing Cairn Terriers with West Highland White Terriers. In 1917, the AKC barred any Cairn of mixed heritage as demonstrated by a white coat. The British standard followed in 1923, when it was rewritten to prohibit all-white dogs.

Fun fact: A Cairn Terrier portrayed Dorothy’s “little dog,” Toto, in the classic film The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Brussels Griffon Cairn Terrier Mix Size and Weight

Brussels Griffon
Height: 9 - 10 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 8 - 10 lb.
Lifespan: 10 - 15 years

Cairn Terrier
Height: 9 - 10 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 13 - 14 lb.
Lifespan: 12 - 15 years

Brussels Griffon Cairn Terrier Mix Personality

The Brussels Griffon and the Cairn Terrier are both loyal and affectionate. They are also very charming, so watch out! This dog will require a good training regimen as they can get excited. They are very loyal to their family. One of the best things you can do for any breed is to socialize it as much as possible. Please use positive reinforcement, it goes a long way! She should be rather affectionate and love being with you, she can also be stubborn so keep that in mind.

Brussels Griffon Cairn Terrier Mix Health

All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems as all breeds are susceptible to some things more than others. However, the one positive thing about getting a puppy is that you can avoid this as much as possible. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies. If they won’t do this, then look no more and don’t consider that breeder at all. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur. We obviously recommend that you look for a reputable animal rescue in your area to find your new mixed breed. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition.

The Brussels Griffon mixed with the Cairn Terrier might be prone to joint dysplasia, distichias, cataracts, pra, among others.

Note that these are just common problems in both breeds.

Brussels Griffon Cairn Terrier Mix Care

What are the grooming requirements?

Even if you know the breed, sometimes it is hard to tell if it will be a heavy shedder or a light shedder. Either way, Get ready to invest in a good vacuum if you want to keep your floors clean! Give them baths as needed, but not so much that you dry out their skin.

What are the exercise requirements?

Plan on taking them for extremely long walks and hikes to keep their energy level down. This mix will more than likely have a high energy level. This exercise will keep them from being destructive. A tired dog is a good dog. A tired dog is a good dog though. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him.

What are the training requirements?

This is an intelligent dog that will be a little bit challenging to train. They are going to want to take the alpha position and need someone with a firm, strong, hand that can let them know their place. The best thing you can do is break the sessions into shorter daily sessions to keep their attention span higher. It might have a prey drive and be disposed to running for and chasing small prey, but if handled properly this can be managed. All dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So make sure to praise her when she does well. She is an intelligent dog who loves to please, and loves a physical challenge. The more exercise she gets the easier she will be to train. Proper socialization is imperative to all dogs and puppies. Make sure to take her to the park and doggy day care to get her around as many people and dogs as possible.

Brussels Griffon Cairn Terrier Mix Feeding

"A lot of times diet is done on a per-dog basis. Each one is unique and has different dietary requirements. Most dogs in the U.S. are overweight. A mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia should really be on fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible. A good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background.

Overfeeding any dog is not a good idea as that can really exacerbate health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia.

I good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background."

Brussels Griffon Links

Links to other breeds you might be interested in