How to List a Brussels Griffon for Adoption in the United States

What should you try before you list a Brussels Griffon for adoption?

• The breeder. Many contracts require you to offer the dog back first, and the breed club's code asks members to take back or help place dogs of their breeding.
• National Brussels Griffon Rescue. The ABGA's official rescue says most of its dogs are owner surrenders. Volunteer coordinators cover areas across the country and place dogs in foster homes until a suitable adopter is found.
• Family and friends who already know the dog.
• Your own listing, if you can screen applicants carefully. The rest of this guide covers how.

If the reason is behavior, ask your vet to rule out pain first. Neck pain from syringomyelia, which a 2014 MRI study found in 52 percent of 84 American Griffs, can make being handled painful for a dog.

What adoption criteria should you set for a Brussels Griffon?

Decide these points before applications arrive, so every applicant is judged the same way:

• Time alone. Griffs bond closely, and the rescue says most are unhappy when left alone for long periods.
• Children. If the dog is not known to be good with children, follow the rescue's practice and place it in a home without them.
• Fencing. A securely fenced yard is preferred; without one, the dog should be walked on a harness and leash. The rescue does not accept invisible fences.
• Other pets. The rescue generally avoids homes with other pets that are not spayed or neutered.
• Climate. A flat-faced dog needs a cool home in summer.

How much should a Brussels Griffon adoption fee be?

A fee should reflect the vet work done and discourage people who would resell the dog.

If your dog is not yet spayed or neutered, either have it done before placement or write the requirement and a deadline into the contract.

What should a Brussels Griffon adoption listing include?

• Basics: age, sex, spayed or neutered, weight, coat (rough or smooth) and color.
• Health: how the dog breathes at rest and in warm weather, any eye injuries or treatment, kneecap problems, dental work, skin or ear issues, current medication and the vet's name.
• Neck and spine: any yelping when picked up, neck sensitivity or unsteady walking, and any MRI results.
• Behavior: how the dog reacts to strangers, children, other dogs and cats, being left alone and grooming; whether it is fully house-trained.
• Needs: the home you are looking for and the fee.

Use clear, recent photos and keep your phone number out of the ad text. You can list your Brussels Griffon for adoption on PetzLover for free and reply to applicants through messages. Check how other Griffs are listed for ideas.

How do you screen people who want to adopt your Griff?

1. Send every applicant the same written questions about their home, schedule, children, other pets, fencing and past dogs.
2. Talk on the phone or by video and listen for realistic expectations.
3. Call their vet reference, and if they rent, check that the landlord allows dogs.
4. Ask for one or two personal references.
5. Visit the home, or do a live video tour, as the rescue does with every adopter.
6. Arrange a meeting and let the dog approach the applicant in its own time.

What should a Brussels Griffon adoption contract say?

• Both parties' names, addresses and phone numbers.
• The dog's name, description, age and microchip number.
• The fee and exactly what it covers.
• Health and behavior disclosures, signed by the adopter.
• Spay or neuter terms if the dog is still intact.
• A clause that the adopter will not sell or give the dog away and will return it to you if they cannot keep it.
• Permission for you to check in after the adoption.

How do you hand over the dog and follow up?

Hand over the dog in person, at your home or the adopter's, with its records, food, bed and a note on its routine. Transfer the microchip registration that day. Check in after a week and after a month; a sensitive Griff may need about three months to settle fully.

If you are placing a litter rather than an adult, read how to sell Brussels Griffon puppies. If someone has posted a wanted ad that seems to fit, read how to respond to a Brussels Griffon wanted ad before you reply.