NEWS
The Australian Griffon Bruxellois in the 21st century
Dec 08, 2023This past week there was a discussion about Pedigrees of Griffons world wide, and part of this discussion it touched on some differences between counties and regions of the world. As each country has geographical with population variances and also different breed rules, we can’t help having different views. Some of these different rules start to dictate how breeders breed in various counties, one such difference being the FCI ( show rules) split the Griffon into coat type and colour classes in Europe. In Australia they are all judged together, Smooth, Rough, Red, Black and Black & Tan. Going back around 25 years ago all coat colours and coat types were being breed and shown regularly in Australia, and slowly Smooth coats, Blacks and Black & Tans were starting to drop in numbers, this being due to a large numbers of Judges showing favouritism for the Red Rough Coats. Being one of those breeders myself I also decided to only concentrated on the breeding and showing the Red Roughs. Luckily there were a small number of dedicated breeders that stuck with the Smooths, Blacks and Black & Tans, however a bigger dedication especially to smooths started to increase around 15 years ago and also a few imports from England, Europe,USA and NZ were starting to be imported from top winning bloodlines in those countries. With the increase of more of these dogs being breed and shown judges are starting to see a greater number of the Griffon different coats and so seemingly awarding them on a more regular basis. Starting around 10 years ago with importing from Europe I got a fresh look at Black & tans and this was hugely rewarding and so I then also imported a Black a few years ago, and now breeding some lovely Blacks (both smooth & rough). There is starting to be an increase across Australia of the different coat colours, however some of these are being supplied by puppy farmers and a number from a couple of breeders in New Zealand. As this type of breeder isn’t truly dedicated to the health of the breed, things like the bobtail gene is being spread into some of the bloodlines without being made aware of the issues connected with this gene. I believe that this gene has contributed to smaller litters in the past in Griffons and as most breeders don’t get their dogs DNA tested for this gene, they are unaware of the possible problem of embryos being killed in the womb. Please read the attached link to understand better. https://www.pawprintgenetics.com/.../details/175/Testing Summary The T Locus (Natural bobtail) trait test reliably determines if a dog has one of the following genotypes at the T locus: T/T This dog carries two copies of the dominant T Allele which is lethal causing pups to die In Utero. Interpretation: Embryonic lethal t/T This dog carries one copy of the dominant T allele and one copy of the recessive t allele which produces a natural bobtail. This dog will pass on the T allele to 50% of its offspring and the t allele to 50% of its offspring. Interpretation: Bobtail t/t This dog carries two copies of the recessive t allele which results in a tail of normal length (no bobtail). This dog will pass on the t allele to 100% of its offspring. Interpretation: Normal tail Testing Tips Genetic testing of the T gene will reliably determine whether or not a dog is a genetic Carrier of the variant that produces a natural bobtail or if the tail has been docked. Breeding two dogs with natural bobtails will result in slightly reduced litter-sizes because about 25% of the puppies will inherit two copies of the T Allele and will die In Utero. However, about two-thirds of the surviving litter will be Heterozygous T/t have natural bobtails and one-third of the litter will be Homozygous t/t and have normal length tails. Griffons can have as many as 10 pups in a litter, however many of the litters these days are small in number. I have had my dogs DNA tested for the Bobtail gene so that I can be assured my dogs aren’t carriers. Again I say we are different to the rest of the world with genetic problems, as we have been able to keep at bay quite a number issues that the rest of the world DNA test for quite often, however if we don't stand against and expose these bad breeders we will end up the same as the rest of the world. Photos attached are some of my babies over the last few years.