Original Article: https://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/brusselranian

The Brusselranian is a mixed dog breed that combines the Brussels Griffon and the Pomeranian dog breeds. As with any mixed breed, it is difficult to predict the exact temperament as the resulting mix might end up more like one parent breed than the other, and the combination can throw up some unexpected results.

However, you can expect a small dog and, because both parents were bred to be companion dogs, you can expect a pup that enjoys spending time with its owner and that doesn’t require too much exercise.

Breed Overview

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The Brusselranian is a mixed breed that combines two companion dogs that are known to be cheerful and happy. The resulting breed is a dog that loves spending time with its humans and can struggle if left home alone for too long. They are lively dogs with some energy, but their size means that they don’t require excessive exercise and can certainly adapt to life in an apartment.

The Brusselranian is relatively low maintenance which, when combined with the moderate exercise needs, means the dog can make a good companion for older owners. Its size means that it might not be the best choice for families with very young children, however, because it is very easy for small dogs to get accidentally hurt by young kids.

Brusselranian Characteristics

Brusselranian Puppies

The Brusselranian is a mixed breed dog that brings together the Brussels Griffon and the Pomeranian, which are two popular companion dog breeds. Although both parent breeds are popular, the mixed breed is not well known, yet, and, as such, it can be difficult to find a breeder with litters of Brusselranian puppies.

It is worth looking around, asking local breeders, and even checking on social media. If you have been made aware of the breed by another owner, it is worth asking where they got their dog and speaking to the breeder.

When buying a dog from a breeder, whatever the breed, you should ensure you meet the puppy and its mother before you agree to the purchase. Check the parents had proper health screening conducted.

You can check at local rescues and shelters, although there is no guarantee you will be able to find the specific breed you’re looking for when adopting. Ask as many questions as possible about the dog. The shelter might not be able to provide much information about the dog’s past, and there is no guarantee that the information they have is accurate or entirely reliable.

However, volunteers and shelter owners should have a good idea of the dog’s general character and demeanor, and they will know whether they get along with other dogs. When you get the puppy, start socializing and training as soon as possible.

Brusselranian Dog Breed Origin & History

The Brusselranian is a mixed breed and, as such, has very little history. However, the parent breeds are well known.

The Pomeranian is a Spitz breed, which means it belongs to the same family as breeds including Samoyeds and Alaskan Malamutes. The original Pomeranian weighed around four times the weight of today’s companion breed. The Pomeranian was first introduced to the U.S. at the turn of the 20^th Century, and it was accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1909.

The Brussels Griffon originates from Belgium, as the breed’s name suggests. It was originally bred to hunt rats and other vermin, and while the modern Griffon is rarely used as a working dog, it can retain some of the prey drives of its ancestors.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Brusselranian Dog Breed 🧠

The Brusselranian is a clever dog and is considered easy to train, although this does depend on other factors. Start training your dog as soon as you are able, and ensure you start socializing them from as young an age as possible. The breed isn’t particularly prone to mouthing or being overly vocal, but it might have a prey drive stemming from the Brussels Griffon ancestry.

Teaching good recall will be important, especially if you plan to let the dog off the leash anywhere in public. Puppy classes can help teach recall as well as other basic commands. They also help build a bond between you and your new dog and they offer a good opportunity to start socializing.

Good socialization means introducing your dog to new and unusual situations. Walk them on different routes and at different times of the day. While your Brusselranian is still a puppy, ensure they come into contact with young children, cyclists, people in uniforms, and other groups of people.

This will not only get them used to these specific groups but will also help desensitize your young dog to new situations, which can be stressful and anxious times for unsocialized pups.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

The Brusselranian will be affectionate and loving with family members. It can also get along with strangers, although it may be a little aloof during the first meeting. Its size and relatively modest exercise requirements mean that the breed is good for seniors, but its relatively small size makes it unsuitable for living with very small children, in most cases.

If you do have children and are getting a small dog like this, you will need to teach the kids how to behave respectfully and pleasantly around the dog, so they don’t grab, poke, prod, or accidentally injure the young pup. The breed should get along well with older children and certainly with the adults in the house, however, and is not known for being overly protective so there shouldn’t be any problems with aggression.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽 

This mixed breed can do very well in a house with existing or other new dogs, although gradual and careful introductions are always needed when introducing two more dogs. Similarly, the Brusselranian can also get along well with cats, which may be larger than the dog itself.

Generally, you should never leave a dog alone with smaller pets, and this is especially true of this breed because their prey drive means they will likely give chase to any smaller animal that runs.

Things to Know When Owning a Brusselranian

The Brusselranian is a good family pet although will do better with older children, rather than younger ones that might accidentally hurt it. They can live with other dogs and cats, although proper introductions are necessary, and can adapt to life in an apartment.

The breed is a good choice for a lot of potential owners, but no individual breed is ideal for everybody. Below, we look at details regarding owning one of these dogs so you can determine whether you should take a Brusselranian home.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

This smell breed has an equally small appetite, usually eating around one cup of dry food per day. If you’re feeding wet or canned food, you will need to weigh your dog and feed according to the guidelines on the packaging. Because this is a small breed, you do need to be extra careful with feeding volumes to ensure you don’t overfeed.

It only takes a small amount of extra food and you run the risk of your little pup putting on extra weight.

You can benefit from buying food that is formulated specifically for smaller dogs. These foods are fully balanced to ensure they meet all your dog’s nutritional requirements, and they will be formulated to meet the specific needs of smaller breeds. They usually also have smaller kibble which means they are easier and safer for small breeds to eat.

If your vet has recommended your dog be put on a specific diet, or that your dog needs to eat more or less than the recommended amount, you should follow these guidelines above all others. This may be necessary if your dog has certain illnesses or if it needs to lose or gain weight to be at a healthy weight for the breed.

You should always provide your dog with free access to safe, clean drinking water, 24 hours a day.

Exercise 🐕

The Brusselranian is a small dog but is a lively one. They require ample regular exercise, which means you will need to give your new dog at least 45 minutes of exercise each day. They can benefit from having a little more exercise than this but don’t need anything too strenuous or challenging.

The breed can do well at agility, but its small size means it will struggle with most other forms of canine sports. However, their lively nature means they will enjoy having playtime with family and friends, and even indoor playtime can provide your dog with additional exercise.

Training 🎾

The Brusselranian, like any dog breed, needs regular training and socialization. This is a relatively intelligent breed that can pick up commands and learn wanted behaviors in quite a short time. Make training fun and keep it light-hearted and entertaining to make it effective.

Because these dogs thrive on human attention and love humans, they can respond well to verbal praise and physical rewards as training treats, but you can also consider offering healthy treats as rewards. Most dogs respond well to treat-based training, but you need to ensure you don’t overfeed as a result of giving treats.

Treats should only account for a maximum of 10% of your dog’s daily dietary intake, and you should adjust the amount of food you give accordingly.

Grooming ✂️

Grooming is an important part of canine care, and it requires regular brushing as well as potentially some trimming of the coat. The Brusselranian is generally considered a low-maintenance breed, although this will depend on which breed’s coat it inherits. The Pomeranian takes a little more care, but the Brussels Griffon’s coat only needs occasional maintenance.

Brush three times a week to prevent the hair from getting matted and to ensure your little pup is comfortable. Professional grooming can help maintain a healthy coat.

You will also need to trim nails roughly every 2 or 3 months, especially if your dog only ever goes out on grass or other soft surfaces. Teeth also need brushing, ideally every day, but at the very least three times a week.

Health and Conditions ❤️

The Brusselranian is prone to certain genetic or hereditary conditions. Screening of the parents may reduce the risks of puppies developing these conditions, but owners should look for signs of the conditions and take their dog to the vet if any signs are present.

Like all small breeds, the Brusselranian is more prone to obesity than larger breeds. This is because it only takes a small deviation from an ideal meal size to overfeed the dog.

This breed’s brachycephalic facial features mean that the Brusselranian is prone to complications including respiratory problems and overheating. Dogs with these facial types are also more prone to complications with anesthesia during surgery.

Male vs Female

Although both the male and female of this breed are small, the male Brusselranian will grow to be a little larger and heavier than the female. In terms of character, there are some reports that males can be more playful and affectionate than females, but they are also a little more challenging and can be more difficult to train.

However, this is anecdotal and the individual dog’s character, as well as socialization and training, will be more important when determining your dog’s traits.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Brusselranian

1. The Brussels Griffon Was Bred to Kill Vermin

The Brussels Griffon was originally bred to kill vermin like rats and mice and was used to keep the vermin population under control in barns and farms in Belgium. Today, it is kept as a companion pet, however.

2. Pomeranians Used to Be Much Larger

Today’s Pomeranian typically grows to a weight of around 6 pounds. However, early Pomeranians weighed closer to 25 pounds. The Brusselranian mixed breed weighs slightly more than a Pomeranian, usually tipping the scales at around 10 pounds.

3. Brusselranians Are Intelligent Little Dogs

The Brusselranian is considered a smart dog breed that can be trained quite easily and will respond to learned commands and desired behaviors. Start training early, be consistent in your training methods, and use positive reinforcement for the best training results.

Final Thoughts

The Brusselranian is a small companion dog that combines the Brussels Griffon and the Pomeranian breeds. They are small but lively and can adapt to living in an apartment but will need a couple of modest walks a day to provide the required exercise and will benefit from early training and socialization to help ensure they grow up as well-adjusted, well-behaved dogs.

They can be a low-maintenance mixed breed, although if your Brusselranian has the coat of the Pomeranian, it will take more time and effort to ensure it is well looked after.

Featured Image Credit: (L) Liliya Kulianionak, Shutterstock | (R) Eric Isselee, Shutterstock

Source: Dogster