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Griffon is a type of dog, a collection of breeds of originally hunting dogs. There are three recognized lines of the griffon type (FCI), the griffon vendéens, the wirehaired pointers, and the smousje (Belgian companion dogs). The griffon type is characterized by rough or wire hair.

The griffon is mentioned as early as Xenophon.^[1] The hounds, Canis Segusius, used by the Gauls were griffons.^[2] Among the oldest breeds is the Italian Wire-haired 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 Griffon Bruxellois.^[3][4]

• Scenthounds (FCI Group 6, Section 1)
  • - large size - long hair
    • Grand Griffon Vendéens (FCI #282)
  • - medium size - coarse hair
    • Briquet Griffon Vendéens (FCI #19)
    • Griffon Bleu de Gascogne or Blue Gascony Griffon (FCI #32)
    • Griffon Fauve de Bretagne or Fawn Brittany Griffon (FCI #66)
    • Griffon Nivernais (FCI #17)
  • - small size
    • Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen (FCI #33)
    • Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (FCI #67)
      • Basset Fauve de Bretagne (FCI #36)

• Pointers (FCI Group 7, Section 1)
  • Spinone Italiano or Italian Griffon (FCI #165)
    • White-orange Italian Griffon
    • Chestnut-roan Italian Griffon
  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon or Korthals Griffon or French Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
  • Český Fousek or Bohemian Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (FCI #245)
  • Slovenský Ohař Hrubosrstý or Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer or Slovenský Hrubosrsty Stavac (Ohar) (FCI #320)
  • German Wirehaired Pointer or Deutsch Drahthaar (FCI #98)
  • Drotzörü Magyar Vizsla or Hungarian Wirehaired Pointer (Vizsla) (FCI #239)

• Small Belgian Companion Dogs, "Smousje" (FCI Group 9, Section 3)
  • Griffon Bruxellois or Brussels Griffon (FCI #80)
  • Belgian Griffon or Griffon Belge (FCI #81)
  • Brabancon Griffon or Petit Brabançon (FCI #82) - has a short smooth coat

1. ^ "Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon Korthals" FCI-Standard N° 107, 3 March 2000;
2. ^ "Griffon Nivernais" FCI-Standard N° 17, 2 April 2004;
3. ^ "Griffon Bruxellois, Griffon Belge, Petit Brabançon" FCI-Standards N° 80, 81 & 82, 5 May 2003;
4. ^ 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;

• Fédération Cynologique Internationale World Canine Federation;

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