8-14 lbs
11-12"
England, United States
The Brussalier is an energetic and intelligent small dog that is the result of crossing a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Brussels Griffon. They make ideal family pets, and are charming lap dogs with a big personality. The Brussalier is a self-assured dog, who is friendly with everyone. They respond well to training, reacting best to loads of praise and hugs. Training will take care of any unpleasant habits that may develop such as excessive barking. They respect a strong leader and are better dogs from having a kind but firm owner. The Brussalier enjoys a lot of play and will join in any game. A daily walk is recommended not only for exercise and fitness, but to socialise with other people and their pets. The Brussalier loves company, but if left alone with a companion be that another dog or a cat, they are well behaved and tolerate it well.
The Brussalier is a new hybrid breed of dog that is becoming popular because of its size (small, cute and ideal for smaller homes) and its friendly personality. There is not a lot of data about their breeding history, but by looking at the parent breeds, a lot can be determined about the characteristics that they may inherit. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel originated from Toy Spaniel breeds less than a century ago. They immediately became favorites of royal and noble families in England. Mary Queen of Scots had one who accompanied her on her final journey to her beheading! The Queens grandson and great grandson Charles l and ll loved the little dogs so much, that they gave their name to it. While the King Charles Spaniels were bred with Pugs and other short faced breeds, a stronghold of the breed at the estate of the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim Castle maintained a breed of red and white Toy Spaniels. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels of this color are called Blenheim today. In the 1920s, American Roswell Eldridge started to revive the old breed, and the name Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was chosen to distinguish it from the flat faced King Charles Spaniel. After many years of diligent work by breeders, the Cavalier was recognised by the American Kennel Club as a separate breed. In 1952 the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel had its true beginnings in America, becoming the popular little dog that we see today. The Brussels Griffon on the other hand, began as a working dog. It was bred to hunt and kill vermin in the stables of the city but soon grew to gain popularity with the nobles and workers. They were created from breeding with the Affenpinscher, Pug and English Toy Spaniel. Most notable was their almost human like face or expressions. 1883 the Belgium Breeders created a standard for the Brussels Griffon. Marie Henrietta (Belgium’s Queen) fell in love with the breed, and began to breed them herself. The Brussels Griffon was exported to England in the 1890s, then found its way to the United states of America in 1899 where it was registered with the AKC. It was officially recognised as a breed in 1900. Numbers of the dog shrank during the World Wars I & II due to the fact that people couldn’t afford to keep dogs. Luckily for the Brussels Griffon, the breed was kept alive by dedicated breeders in England. It is quite a rare dog today but enjoyed wide popularity in the 1950s, and had a resurgence of popularity in the 1990s when a Brussels Griffon upstaged actor Jack Nicolson in a movie called ‘It’s As Good As Its Gets’.
The Brussalier dog is a very attractive small Spaniel with a definite muzzle and undershot teeth. The head is slightly rounded and dome shaped with floppy ears that stand away from the head. The body is sturdy, supporting short legs and small, lightly feathered paws. The Brussalier has large round expressive eyes that add to its appeal. The nose has wide nostrils and is often black in color. The coat can vary, depending on the dominant characteristics from the parent breeds. It is longer than the Brussels Griffon coat, often taking the feathering from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent. The tail can vary from long, feathered and almost plume like, to short and curled up over the back. The texture leans more towards the silkiness of the Cavalier but can inherit the harsher texture from the Griffon. Regardless of their inherited characteristics, the Brussalier is a winning combination of sweet nature and adorable good looks.
The Brussalier is easy to look after, they just require brushing 1 to 2 times per week to maintain their coat, especially if the coat is the longer silkier Cavalier type coat. Bathe as required, and make sure your dog is completely dry. Check for sores or rashes or signs of infection. A weekly examination helps to locate potential health problems early. If your dog has feathering on the ears or legs, check to make sure it is not becoming matted. Be gentle when combing out matted hair as it could be painful for your dog. Trim the hair on the toes and clip the toenails if they are getting too long. Get your Brussalier used to having his feet handled early on in life, this will build a good foundation for grooming and health checks later on.
The Brussalier loves attention and is devoted to its owner and family. While they can be full of their own importance, they are also gentle, affectionate and graceful dogs. All dogs vary in nature, and the Brussalier is no different. Some dogs are outgoing and very gregarious, while others are a little more reserved and shy with strangers until they get to know them. While the Brussalier inherits its graceful and gentleness from the Cavalier, it also can inherit the will of the Brussels Griffon and demonstrate stubbornness at times. Patient and kind handling is best with these dogs, as they are sensitive by nature and have a gentle spirit. Firm but fair and kind training will benefit your Brussalier, building a confident obedient pet. They are adaptable to most climates but are affected by extreme either hot or cold. They can live peacefully with other dogs, and if introduced early, will happily bond with the family cat. Take notice though, they do still have a strong urge to hunt and enjoy chasing so supervise the family bird and if your cat chases back, the Brussalier will love it! They love to learn tricks, are extremely kind with children although if they take after their Griffon parent they may not be so tolerant. Supervision is advised at first, and teach young children that such a small dog can be hurt with rough play.
The Brussalier does not need a lot of additional exercise as they are quite active around the home. A home with a small fenced yard is fine for these dogs, and they are ideal for apartment living as long as they get a short walk each day. These dogs are people dogs, they love being with their human family. The Brussalier will play with other dogs and even cats that they are used to. If they are to be left alone, it is easier if they have company such as a cat friend or another dog to make them feel secure. They do well in most climates but are not good with extremes. The Brussalier is a true lap dog, they love to be cuddled and will happily sit on your lap while you read or enjoy television.
Written by Kathleen Egger
Published: 10/24/2017, edited: 02/24/2021
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