Behavior
Brittany or Brussels Griffon?
Choose the Brittany for an active, highly trainable family dog with room to run. Choose the Griffon for a small, apartment-friendly companion that needs far less exercise.
Brittany Spaniel vs Brussels Griffon: Which Suits Your Home?
Brittany Spaniel or Brussels Griffon? On paper they differ most on exercise need, and on the scales Brittany Spaniel is the heavier at 30–40 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Brittany Spaniel and Brussels Griffon and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on exercise need and apartment suitability, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Brussels Griffon rates 5/5 against 3/5. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.
Quick verdict
Between Brittany Spaniel and Brussels Griffon, exercise need is what separates them, and Brussels Griffon is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose brittany if...
Choose Brittany Spaniel if this is your first dog, you do not want a standing grooming appointment and there are young children at home.
Choose brussels griffon if...
Choose Brussels Griffon if you are in a flat or a smaller home, shedding is a problem in your house and your walking routine is modest.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | brittany | brussels griffon | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 30–40 lbs | 8–12 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–20 in | 7–10 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–15 years | 12–15 years | Equal |
| Exercise need | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | brussels griffon |
| Grooming need | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | brussels griffon |
| Energy level | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Apartment suitability | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | brussels griffon |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Trainability | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Good with other dogs | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Coat | Medium, wavy coat | Rough or smooth | Equal |
| Origin | France | Various | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $90–$180 | $80–$150 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,300–$2,500 | $1,100–$2,300 | Equal |
Deep dive
Size and build
The gap here is dramatic: the Brittany runs 30-40 pounds and 17-20 inches, the Brussels Griffon just 8-12 pounds and 7-10 inches. A Brittany can outweigh a Griffon by three or four times over. Both are classed by their weight category rather than anything unusual about proportions, the Griffon is simply a genuinely small dog, not a compact medium.
Energy and exercise
The Brittany was bred as a hunting companion and it shows, high exercise need (4/5) and high energy (4/5). The Griffon needs far less, rated low (2/5) for exercise and moderate (3/5) for energy. If your idea of exercise is a walk to the mailbox, the Griffon will keep up fine; the Brittany will not.
Grooming and shedding
Slightly counterintuitive: the smaller dog needs more grooming attention. The Griffon rates moderate (3/5) on grooming against the Brittany's low (2/5), owing to its wiry or smooth coat types needing regular care. Shedding runs the other way, moderate (3/5) for the Brittany, low (2/5) for the Griffon.
Apartment living, noise and time alone
The Griffon is the clear apartment pick, rated very high (5/5) against the Brittany's moderate (3/5). Barking tips the other way, though, the Griffon rates moderate (3/5) against the Brittany's low (2/5), so a small space with thin walls might actually hear more from the smaller dog.
Training and owner experience
The Brittany is rated very high for trainability (5/5) and high for first-time owners (4/5), it's widely considered one of the easier sporting breeds to work with. The Griffon rates lower on both counts, moderate for trainability (3/5) and moderate for first-timers (3/5), and its temperament is described as sensitive, which can call for a gentler hand in training.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
The Brittany rates very high with both kids and other dogs (5/5 each) and high with strangers (4/5), a genuinely sociable, easygoing dog across the board. The Griffon rates moderate on all three (3/5 kids, 3/5 dogs, 3/5 strangers), consistent with a breed known for being devoted to its people but more reserved with everyone else.
Health and lifespan
Lifespan ties exactly at 12-15 years for both breeds, one of the few things in this comparison that doesn't favor one dog over the other. Health risks diverge sharply, though: the Brittany's list of ten conditions includes bloat, epilepsy, and heart murmurs, while the Griffon's shorter list of five is dominated by structural and airway issues, including brachycephalic airway syndrome and syringomyelia. Hip dysplasia is the only condition both share.
Cost to keep
The Griffon is the cheaper dog on paper, $80-150 monthly against the Brittany's $90-180, and $1,100-2,300 in year one against $1,300-2,500, though both carry the same 3/5 overall cost rating. The gap is modest enough that it shouldn't be the deciding factor between two dogs this different in size and activity level.
Brittany Spaniel vs Brussels Griffon at a glance
Brittany Spaniel weighs 30–40 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Brussels Griffon weighs 8–12 lbs and lives 12–15 years. The two diverge most on exercise need, apartment suitability and good with kids and 2 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone and cost level, so those cannot decide it. Where the table declares a winner it means less work for the owner, nothing more; descriptive rows are left as ties on purpose. The value here is in the differences between the two columns; treat any single score as approximate.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller is a Brussels Griffon than a Brittany?
Substantially, the Griffon weighs 8-12 pounds against the Brittany's 30-40, and stands under 10 inches versus the Brittany's 17-20. It's a genuinely tiny dog next to a mid-sized sporting breed.
Which sheds less?
The Griffon, rated low (2/5) against the Brittany's moderate (3/5). It still needs more grooming attention overall, though, shedding and grooming effort aren't the same thing here.
Which is better for a first-time owner?
The Brittany, rated high (4/5) against the Griffon's moderate (3/5). It's also rated very high for trainability, making it one of the more forgiving choices for someone new to dog ownership despite its higher exercise demands.
Can a Brittany live in an apartment?
It's workable, rated moderate (3/5), but the Griffon is the far better fit, rated very high (5/5). A Brittany in an apartment needs consistent daily exercise outside the unit to stay balanced.
Which is cheaper?
The Griffon, modestly, on both monthly and first-year figures, though the two share the same overall 3/5 cost rating.
Do they share health risks?
Only hip dysplasia overlaps directly. The Brittany's risks lean toward bloat, epilepsy, and heart issues; the Griffon's toward airway and spinal conditions tied to its small, brachycephalic-adjacent build.
Do they live the same length of time?
Yes, both are rated 12-15 years, a rare exact tie in this comparison. It means lifespan alone won't help you choose between them, look to exercise need and household fit instead.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
What's the monthly cost?
$90-180 for the Brittany, $80-150 for the Griffon, the Griffon runs somewhat cheaper.
Living
How much exercise do they need?
The Brittany needs high daily exercise (4/5); the Griffon is content with much less (2/5).
Health
Which lives longer?
Neither, they're tied at 12-15 years.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- Brittany Spaniel breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Brittany Spaniel before deciding.
- Brussels Griffon breed guide – The same for Brussels Griffon, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- Brittany Spaniel vs Beagle – Beagle is the closest breed to Brittany Spaniel on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
- Brussels Griffon vs Dachshund – Dachshund sits closest to Brussels Griffon, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
- Brittany Spaniel vs Dachshund – Dachshund is the other breed Brussels Griffon is most often weighed against.
- Brussels Griffon health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.
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Important reminder
Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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