9-15 lbs
9-12"
Unknown
The Sniffon is a designer dog, the intentional mix of two highly adept ratters that are more commonly kept as companion animals today; the Brussels Griffon, originating around Brussels in Belgium, and the Miniature Schnauzer, developed in Germany. These dogs are highly intelligent, but they are more likely to use their intelligence for getting into things than for learning tricks, and they should never be left outside alone, even in a fenced yard as the Schnauzer is a master digger and the Brussels Griffon has a serious talent for climbing things. They are fairly quiet, usually barking only when needed, and they don’t have extensive exercise requirements so they do tend to make excellent apartment dogs.
The Sniffon is a deliberately mixed breed dog often referred to as a designer dog, in this case, a combination of two small canines, both bred to be very capable ratters, the Miniature Schnauzer from Germany and the Brussels Griffon from their neighbor, Belgium. The Miniature Schnauzer is a relatively new breed, although the Schnauzer was derived from is a much older breed, dating back to the middle ages in one form or another. The Schnauzer’s characteristic coloration and wiry coats didn’t appear until the 1800s when contributions were made from the Poodle and the gray Wolfspitz, more commonly known as the Keeshond. Towards the end of the 1800s breeders sought to create a smaller Schnauzer designed to hunt and kill vermin. They achieved their goal by breeding the smallest of the Schnauzers with both other small Schnauzers and with other small terrier and pinscher-type dogs, including breeds like the Wire Fox Terrier and the Affenpinscher, and the first Miniature Schnauzer was recorded in a German stud book in 1888. The Brussels Griffons are the descendants of little wire-haired ratting dogs that were commonly used by coachmen to eradicate vermin from stables where the carriages and horses were kept. These dogs, known simply as griffons d’ecurie, or wire-coated stable dogs, were later mixed with companion dogs such as Pugs, Affenpinschers, and English Toy Spaniels, ultimately giving the dog a nearly human-like face, with large round eyes and an upturned mouth. These little dogs became sought after by the Belgian elite after Queen Henrietta Marie of Belgium took an interest and gave them royal patronage. While the United States recognizes the Brussels Griffon as a single breed, other European registries divide this group of dogs into three breeds by coat color and type, the Brussels Griffon with a rough red coat, the Petit Brabancon with a smooth coat in any color, and the Griffon Belge, which has a rough coat in any color but red.
The Sniffon is small dog, generally a little over a foot tall at the shoulder with a robust, thickset body structure. The head may have either the short, slightly rounded skull of the Brussels Griffon or the longer, flatter skull of the Miniature Schnauzer and while some may inherit the shortened muzzle of the Brussels Griffon, most have slightly longer muzzles more representative of the Miniature Schnauzer. Their eyes are generally a very dark brown and round, although those that favor their Brussels Griffon heritage will have larger eyes than those that favor the Miniature Schnauzer, and their triangular ears sit high up on their heads and fold down either to the front or to the sides. Both of these breeds are often seen with cropped ears that are held upright, and some Sniffon owners and breeders may choose to do the same, although this practice has been banned in many countries.
This hybrid has moderate grooming requirements, bathing is only required once every few months or so and usually only requires brushing or combing on a weekly basis, although two or three times a week is better. Many Sniffons will have a wiry coat that needs to be hand-stripped at least twice a year in order to keep the coat healthy and promote new growth, and some will have the abundant fur and bearding of the Miniature Schnauzer which may require scissoring around the face and legs and will almost certainly warrant having their beard inspected and cleaned to remove stray food particles and keep them smelling clean and fresh.
This dog is an extremely spunky and spirited animal with a great deal of energy. Both dogs are believed to have Affenpinscher in their heritage, a well-known clown of the dog world, so the Sniffon is a rather playful and entertaining companion. They tend to do well with children, although interactions with young children and toddlers should be closely supervised for both the safety of the child and the dog, and they are generally agreeable with other dogs and cats although they may chase the cats for fun due to their Schnauzer heritage. When it comes to smaller pets like rodents and birds, they should be kept far from your Sniffon, as the Sniffon is a very agile and fearless hunter of small things. These little dogs are highly intelligent and versatile and should be monitored closely and kept in a secure environment when you are out of the home as they are prone to using their smarts for things like opening cabinets and drawers to get at food and playthings, and due to their Brussels Griffon heritage, they love to climb and may get themselves into precarious situations.
This crossbreed has high energy levels but doesn’t typically require as much vigorous exercise as many dogs, partially due to their small size. They are usually quite satisfied with an hour or so of exercise per day, which is most effective if it is broken down into several short, intense exercise sessions throughout the day. Although these dogs are small enough to get much of their exercise indoors, by playing rousing games of fetch or thought-provoking games of hide and seek, they truly enjoy their outdoor time and should get as many forays into the outer world as possible.
Written by a Irish Setter lover Penny Sebring
Published: 12/15/2017, edited: 02/24/2021
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