Papigriffon

As a breed that is fairly new to the scene, we can best determine the Papigriffons development by looking at the parent dogs history. The Papillon has a noble history dating back to the 16th Century when they were portrayed alongside their mistresses, by many famous painters of the age such as Rubens and Rembrandt. These little Spaniels were cherished companions of the court ladies throughout Europe. Traders carried them in baskets on their mules as they travelled along through France, Italy and Spain. Originally the dogs had the floppy ears of the Spaniels, but in the 17th Century in the court of Louis XIV, they bred a dog that had upright large ears. Because these ears looked like butterfly wings, they were called Papillon. The little dog also went from having a solid color to coat with a white background and patches of color. It is unknown when the Papillon arrived in the United States, but it now ranks 35th among over 155 breeds registered with the American Kennel Club. As in the past, the Papillon is still capturing hearts as their devoted owners will proudly tell you. The Brussels Griffon was a working dog, bred to control the vermin in the stables. Breeds that influenced the development of the Griffon included the Affenpinscher, Pug, and English Toy Spaniel. The face of the Brussels Griffon is unique, it is almost human in appearance, or it can be compared to the Ewok of Star Wars fame. By 1883 these cocky little dogs had become house pets for noblemen and workers. By 1883 Marie Henriette who was Belgium's Queen loved them so much she began breeding them and promoting them in Europe and abroad. It was in 1899 that the first Brussels Griffon announced its arrival in the United States of America and it was in 1900 when the American Kennel Club made it official and recognised the breed. While the numbers of the Griffon shrank during the years of the World Wars, it re-emerged in the late 1950s to upstage actor Jack Nicholson in the movie As Good As It Gets.