Griffon (dog type)

{{short description|Dog type}}

{{Infobox dog breed

| name = Griffon

| image = Large Vendéen Griffon Grand Griffon Vendéen.jpg

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| image_caption = Large Vendéen Griffon Grand Griffon Vendéen

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| coat = Rough, wire-haired

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Griffon is a type of dog, a collection of breeds that were originally hunting dogs. There are three lines of the griffon type recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI): the Griffon Vendéens, the wirehaired pointers, and the smousje (Belgian companion dogs or Dutch Smoushond). The griffon type is characterized by rough- or wire-hair.

The griffon is mentioned as early as Xenophon."Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon Korthals" FCI-Standard N° 107, 3 March 2010]; The hounds, Canis Segusius, used by the Gauls were griffons.[http://www.fci.be/uploaded_files/017A2004_en.doc "Griffon Nivernais" FCI-Standard N° 17, 2 April 2004] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211080622/http://www.fci.be/uploaded_files/017A2004_en.doc |date=11 December 2006 }}; Among the oldest breeds are the Italian Wirehaired Pointing Dog or Spinone Italiano (FCI #165) and the breeds bred by Eduard Karel Korthals originating in the Low Countries (Belgium, Netherlands, northern France) which have a short, bearded muzzle. The smousje, a small dog mentioned since the Middle Ages in the Low Countries known for its firm, even temperament and rough coat, was the initial breeding stock for the Brussels Griffon.[http://www.fci.be/uploaded_files/080%2081%2082GB_en.doc "Griffon Bruxellois, Griffon Belge, Petit Brabançon" FCI-Standards N° 80, 81 & 82, 5 May 2003];[https://books.google.com/books?id=F4wCAAAAIAAJ&dq=smousje&pg=RA4-PA239 van Lennep, John H. (1862) "Smousje" in Thomas, William John, et al. (eds.) (1862) Notes and Queries Bell & Daldy, 3rd Series, v. 1, p. 239];