Belgian Shepherd Dog

Temperament:

Alert, Lively, Confident
Size: Large
Height: 56-66 cm
Weight: 20-30 kg
Lifespan: 10-14 years
Coat: Shorthair
Colors: Reddish brown, Black masked fawn, Black lace fawn
FCI Group: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)

If you love exercise and fresh air, the Belgian Shepherd is the ideal companion. He is persistent and fearless, has a strong protective instinct and is very willing to learn. Its patient nature makes it an ideal family dog.

Belgian Shepherd Dog
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Characteristics

The Belgian Shepherd Dog is recognized by the FCI as an independent breed with the standard number 15. It is listed in Group 1, Section 1 Herding and Driving Dogs.

The Belgian Shepherd Dog is bred in 4 varieties, which differ greatly from each other in their coat. However, they are very similar in their other characteristics, such as build and temperament.

The Malinois is the best known and most widespread representative of the breed. The Laekenois is the rarest. Both are short-haired dogs with a light brown coat. However, the coat of the Laekenois is rougher.

The Groenendael and the Tervueren have a long-haired coat. The Groenendael typically has a black coat with a dense undercoat. The Tervueren is more similar in color to the Malinois. Its coat varies from light brown to medium brown to dark brown.

According to the FCI standard, these 4 varieties may not be crossed with each other. However, exceptions can be approved by the national breeding associations.

What all 4 have in common is their elegant posture. They carry their head at an angle of almost 90° from the neck to the back line, which gives them a proud appearance.

In contrast to the German Shepherd Dog, the Belgian Shepherd has no hip problems thanks to its straight back. Viewed from the side, it looks rather square, whereas the German Shepherd has a rectangular build.

The Belgian Shepherd is characterized by extreme agility and great jumping power.

Males reach a shoulder height of around 62 cm and weigh between 25 and 30 kg. Females are slightly smaller at 58 cm and weigh around 20 to 25 kg.

The similarity between the Belgian Shepherd and the Hollandse Herdershond is no coincidence. Both breeds originate from the same area. When Belgium and the Netherlands became independent, the dog breeds were also separated.

The Belgian Shepherd has the classic characteristics of a herding dog. It is spirited, needs a lot of exercise and wants to be challenged physically and mentally. This is why it is often used as a police or guard dog. At the same time, it has a strong protective instinct and is very patient, which makes it an ideal family dog.

The Belgian Shepherd's need for exercise cannot be satisfied in a small city apartment. He feels most at home on a large property with a garden that he can protect. He is predestined for dog agility and is an ambitious jogging partner.

Training the Belgian Shepherd is relatively easy thanks to its high learning ability. However, it does require a lot of patience. This is because this dog is only mentally mature at around 3 years of age. It therefore needs loving but consistent training. It is therefore not suitable for beginners.

By the way: The Belgian Shepherd is listed as a so-called list dog in some countries. You should therefore make sure you find out in advance if you want to get such a dog.

 

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

Choosing the right food for your Belgian Shepherd depends very much on its lifestyle. A working dog has different needs than a pure family dog.

In general, however, the diet should be balanced. 70 - 80 % of the diet should consist of meat.

Fresh fruit and vegetables in moderation ensure the supply of nutrients. Table scraps and spices do not belong on the Belgian Shepherd's menu.

Belgian Shepherds are large dogs. Therefore, the energy intake must be adapted to the puppy's needs, especially during the growth phase.

However, overfeeding or too rapid growth due to too many nutrients in puppyhood can lead to problems. Painful deformities of the limbs and joint damage can be the result.

Health & Care

The type of Belgian Shepherd you choose is also decisive when it comes to grooming. The long-haired representatives of the breed require significantly more grooming than the two short-haired ones.

But Groenendael and Tervuere are also easy to care for compared to other long-haired breeds. Their coat does not tend to become matted. Nevertheless, the dog should be brushed thoroughly every one or two days. This not only ensures a shiny, healthy coat, but also strengthens the bond with your four-legged friend.

For short-haired Malinois and Laekenois, it is sufficient to brush them once a week.

Overall, the Belgian Shepherd is very easy to care for due to its origins as a working dog. It is robust and indestructible. Wind and weather cannot harm him and physical ailments have not been bred into this breed.

Suitable accessories

The Belgian Shepherd loves to be kept busy. He loves toys such as balls and ropes with which he can indulge his strong urge to move.

As he likes to swim, you should also have waterproof play accessories to hand.

Intelligence games are also a great pastime for the hard-working German Shepherd. In these games, the dog has to solve little puzzles to get its treats.

Depending on the coat of your Belgian Shepherd, you should have one or two dog brushes in the house.

A large dog bed is just as much a part of every dog owner's basic equipment as bowls for food and water. And of course your dog needs a collar, a lead and possibly a well-fitting dog harness.

If you plan to keep your dog outdoors for long periods of time, you should also offer him a dog kennel as a retreat. He should also always have access to a full water bowl here.

You should definitely get a sturdy dog carrier for car journeys. This is not just for your dog's safety. A dog that is not properly secured is a violation of the road traffic regulations. This can be punished with fines and points.

Belgian Shepherd Dog History

Origin & History

As the name suggests, the Belgian Shepherd Dog originates from Belgium. The names of the 4 types can also be traced back to their place of origin. The dogs were used as working dogs by shepherds and farmers from around the 15th century. However, they were not yet considered an independent breed.

It was not until 1891 that the Club du Chien de Berger Belge was founded. The standard was drawn up in 1892. At that time, the breed was only divided into longhair, shorthair and roughhair. This first draft was changed several times over the years. It took another 9 years until the first Belgian Shepherd Dogs were entered in the stud book in 1901.

Today, the Malinois in particular is often used as a police dog. Belgian shepherd dogs can also be found as drug detection dogs or guide dogs. They are also often trained as rescue dogs.