Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The Petit Brabançon is a Belgian breed closely related to the Griffons. It originated in Brussels, where it was initially used to guard stables and control rodents. In the 19th century, breeders introduced Pug and King Charles Spaniel bloodlines, giving the breed its distinctive flat face and expressive eyes. The Petit Brabançon quickly became popular at the Belgian royal court and among the nobility. After both World Wars, the breed’s numbers declined sharply, but thanks to the efforts of Belgian breeders, it was successfully restored. Today, it is a rare yet officially recognized and highly valued decorative breed known for its lively temperament and noble appearance.
General Appearance
The Petit Brabançon is a miniature, compact dog with well-developed musculature and a proportional square body. It has a balanced, proud expression and a lively temperament. The head is large in proportion to the body, with a short muzzle and large expressive eyes that give the breed its characteristic “human-like” look. The back is straight, the chest broad and deep, and the limbs are strong and straight. Movement is free, confident, and well-coordinated. The coat is short, smooth, and close-fitting, emphasizing the dog’s elegant shape. The overall impression is that of a graceful, harmonious, and energetic miniature companion dog.
Important Proportions
The Petit Brabançon has a square format — the body length from shoulder to croup approximately equals the height at the withers. The head is large yet well-proportioned. The chest is deep, reaching the elbows, showing good thoracic development. The back is short, straight, and strong. The muzzle length does not exceed one-third of the skull’s length, creating the breed’s distinctive appearance. The limbs are proportional, ensuring balance and agility. The tail is set high, continuing the topline. All elements of the body should form a compact, harmonious, and well-balanced outline.
Behavior and Temperament
The Petit Brabançon is a cheerful, balanced, and affectionate dog with a strong attachment to its owner. It is intelligent, observant, and easily trained. Despite its small size, it is courageous and confident without showing aggression or fearfulness. It senses human emotions well and adapts easily to various environments. Playful and sociable, it gets along well with children and other animals. The Petit Brabançon combines dignity with joyfulness and independence with devotion. Its expressive mimicry and intelligent gaze make it a charming and delightful companion.
Head
The head is large in proportion to the body, rounded, with a broad forehead and a short, wide muzzle. The forehead is domed with a pronounced stop. The muzzle is short and flat, with a broad black nose set at eye level. The nasal bridge is very short and straight. The chin is strong and slightly protruding, creating a mild undershot bite without visible teeth or tongue. The cheeks are smooth, and the skin on the head is tight without wrinkles. The overall head gives a thoughtful, intelligent, and human-like expression — a defining characteristic of the breed.
Facial Region
The facial region is short, broad, and rounded, with a well-developed chin and a short, upturned muzzle. The nose is high-set, broad, and black, with open nostrils. The nasal bridge is almost absent, giving the muzzle a flat appearance. The lips are tight, covering the teeth completely. The chin is strong and slightly forward, adding confidence and expressiveness. The skin is smooth, without folds or wrinkles. The facial proportions should harmonize with the skull, creating a distinctive, refined, and almost human expression.
Eyes
The eyes are large, round, and widely set, giving the face an open, expressive, and human-like appearance. The color is dark and deep, with the iris as dark as possible. Eyelids are tight, with black pigmentation along the rims. The expression is alert, intelligent, and kind. The eyes should not be protruding or sunken and must be symmetrical. Crossed eyes, light color, or lack of black pigmentation are serious faults. Expressive eyes are one of the breed’s most distinctive features.
Ears
The ears are small, high-set, and wide apart, thin in texture, and lie close to the head. When at rest, they are directed forward and slightly lifted, forming neat triangles with rounded tips. When alert, they rise slightly, emphasizing the lively, attentive expression. Cropping is not permitted. Large, heavy, or upright ears spoil the breed’s typical look. The correct ear placement enhances the round head shape and the intelligent, playful expression characteristic of the Petit Brabançon.
Neck
The neck is of medium length, strong, muscular, and slightly arched, blending smoothly into the withers and topline. The skin is tight, without dewlap or folds. The neck is well-proportioned, providing an elegant head carriage and freedom of movement. Its form enhances the breed’s balance, confidence, and elegance.
Body
The body is compact, firm, and well-muscled. The back is short, straight, and strong, leading to a slightly arched loin. The chest is broad, deep, and well-developed, reaching the elbows. The ribs are well sprung, giving the dog stability and strength. The croup is slightly sloping, muscular, and smoothly joins the base of the tail. The abdomen is slightly tucked up, emphasizing the body’s harmony. The overall outline is square, compact, and well-balanced, combining strength, elegance, and agility.
Tail
The tail is short, set low to moderately high, and continues the topline. It may be slightly curved or arched at the tip but should not curl or be carried between the legs. The coat on the tail is short and close-fitting. The tail is mobile, expressing mood and movement. Long, thin, curled, or upright tails are undesirable. The correct tail completes the compact, well-proportioned outline of the Petit Brabançon.
Forequarters
The forelegs are straight, parallel, and well-muscled. The shoulders are moderately sloped, allowing freedom of movement. The elbows are close to the body, not turning in or out. Feet are small, oval, with firm pads. The forelimbs are proportional, ensuring stability, balance, and graceful movement. The coat is short and smooth, emphasizing clean lines.
Hindquarters
The hind legs are strong, muscular, and slightly longer than the forelegs, giving a slight rise toward the croup. The thighs are well-developed, and the stifles and hocks are well-angled and flexible. Feet are compact and oval, with firm, elastic pads. The hindquarters align harmoniously with the body, supporting smooth, confident movement.
Gait and Movement
The gait is confident, energetic, and light. Movements are smooth, coordinated, and rhythmic, with the hind legs following the forelegs precisely. The back remains firm, and the tail and ears move expressively. When trotting or running, the dog shows agility, quickness, and perfect balance. The movement reflects its lively, friendly, and confident temperament.
Coat
The coat is short, smooth, glossy, and close-fitting, with even length across the body and no undercoat. It highlights the dog’s musculature and compact outline. The hair is slightly shorter on the muzzle, ears, and legs and slightly longer on the body and tail, creating texture contrast. The coat is easy to maintain, soft, and neat, with a natural sheen that emphasizes the breed’s elegance and vitality.
Acceptable Colors
Acceptable colors include black, red, fawn, sable, brindle, and combinations with small white markings on the chest or feet. The color must be uniform, rich, and shiny. Large white patches, uneven pigmentation, or dull coats are faults. The correct color enhances the compact, expressive, and harmonious appearance of the breed.
Size
The Petit Brabançon is a miniature, square-built dog. Height at the withers is 18–20 cm; weight is 3–4 kg. The build is compact, strong, and balanced, combining miniature size with strength and agility. Both males and females should have harmonious proportions, good musculature, and stable posture, reflecting elegance and liveliness.
Faults
Faults include structural and proportional deviations that disturb breed type, such as overly long or short body, weak muscles, poor head shape, flat or coarse skull, long or narrow muzzle, light or slanted eyes, large or upright ears, long or wavy coat, or excessive white markings. Such traits detract from the breed’s balance and harmony.
Disqualifications
Disqualifying faults include an abnormally long, curled, or upright tail; severe head or facial deformities; light or misaligned eyes; aggression or extreme shyness; long, coarse, or wavy hair; presence of undercoat; extensive white patches; or evidence of crossbreeding. Such dogs are excluded from breeding and shows.
Important Notes
Only healthy Petit Brabançons that fully meet the breed standard are permitted for breeding. Special attention must be given to head proportions, coat quality, and expression. Minor variations in color or tail shape are acceptable if they do not affect balance or movement. Artificial alterations such as tail docking or cosmetic trimming are prohibited. Evaluation should emphasize grace, compactness, and the breed’s lively and affectionate temperament.
Conclusion
The Petit Brabançon is a small, compact, and muscular dog with an expressive face, large eyes, and a cheerful, affectionate personality. The breed combines elegance, energy, and courage, adapts easily to apartment living, and gets along well with families. Its short glossy coat highlights its balanced structure, while its intelligent gaze and lively movements add charm. The Petit Brabançon represents harmony between beauty, intellect, and loyalty — a perfect embodiment of the ICCF ideal for decorative companion dogs.
