Four varieties - one breed. The Belgian Shepherd.
Groenendael (pronounced Gro-en-en-dahl). The long coat black.
Laekenois (pronounced Lak-en-wah). The curled tousled coat fawn.
Malinois (pronounced Mal-in-wah). The short coat fawn.
Tervueren (pronounced Ter-view-ren). The long coat fawn or grey.
Laekenois (pronounced Lak-en-wah). The curled tousled coat fawn.
Malinois (pronounced Mal-in-wah). The short coat fawn.
Tervueren (pronounced Ter-view-ren). The long coat fawn or grey.
Breed Group
Size
Height at withers:
The ideal height at withers is on average -
62 cm for males
58 cm for females
Limits: 2cm less, 4 cm more.
Weight:
Males about 25-30kg
Females about 20-25kg
Measurements: Average normal measures for an adult male Belgian Shepherd Dog of 62 cm at the withers:
Length of body (from point of shoulder to point of buttock) 62 cm
Length of head 25cm
Length of muzzle 12.5-13cm
The ideal height at withers is on average -
62 cm for males
58 cm for females
Limits: 2cm less, 4 cm more.
Weight:
Males about 25-30kg
Females about 20-25kg
Measurements: Average normal measures for an adult male Belgian Shepherd Dog of 62 cm at the withers:
Length of body (from point of shoulder to point of buttock) 62 cm
Length of head 25cm
Length of muzzle 12.5-13cm
Exercise
Mind enrichment is as important for this smart and intelligent breed of dog, as is sufficient body exercise to maintain a healthy mind and body.
Length of coat
Since the coat varies in length, direction, appearance and colour among Belgian Shepherds, this particular point has been adopted as the criterion for distinguishing between the four varieties of the breed: the Groenendael, the Tervueren, the Malinois and the Laekenois.
These four varieties are judged separately and can each be awarded a Challenge Certificate etc.
HAIR: In all the varieties the hair must always be dense, close-fitting and of good texture, with the woolly undercoat forming an excellent protective covering.
A. LONG HAIR: The hair is short on the head, the outer side of the ears and the lower part of the legs, except on the rear side of the forearm which is covered from elbow to wrist by long hairs called fringes. The hair is long and smooth on the rest of the body and longer and more abundant around the neck and on the forechest, where it forms a collarette or ruff and a jabot or apron. The opening of the ear is protected by thick tufts of hair. From the base of the ear the hair is upright and frames the head. The back of the thighs is covered with very long abundant hair forming the culottes or breeches. The tail is furnished with long, abundant hair forming a plume.
The Groenendael and the Tervueren are the long-haired.
B. SHORT HAIR: The hair is very short on the head, the outer sides of the ears and the lower part of the legs. It is short over the rest of the body and fuller at the tail and around the neck where it forms a collarette or ruff which begins at the base of the ear, stretching as far as the throat. As well, the back of the thighs is fringed with longer hair. The tail is ear of corn shaped, but does not form a plume.
The Malinois is the short-haired.
C. ROUGH HAIR: What especially characterises the rough hair variety is the roughness and dryness of the hair, which, moreover, is rasping and tousled. About 6 cm long over the whole body, the hair is shorter on the top of the muzzle, the forehead and the legs. The hair around the eyes and those furnishing the muzzle should not be so long as to disguise the shape of the head. However, it is essential to have furnishings on the muzzle. The tail should not form a plume.
The Laekenois is the rough-haired.
These four varieties are judged separately and can each be awarded a Challenge Certificate etc.
HAIR: In all the varieties the hair must always be dense, close-fitting and of good texture, with the woolly undercoat forming an excellent protective covering.
A. LONG HAIR: The hair is short on the head, the outer side of the ears and the lower part of the legs, except on the rear side of the forearm which is covered from elbow to wrist by long hairs called fringes. The hair is long and smooth on the rest of the body and longer and more abundant around the neck and on the forechest, where it forms a collarette or ruff and a jabot or apron. The opening of the ear is protected by thick tufts of hair. From the base of the ear the hair is upright and frames the head. The back of the thighs is covered with very long abundant hair forming the culottes or breeches. The tail is furnished with long, abundant hair forming a plume.
The Groenendael and the Tervueren are the long-haired.
B. SHORT HAIR: The hair is very short on the head, the outer sides of the ears and the lower part of the legs. It is short over the rest of the body and fuller at the tail and around the neck where it forms a collarette or ruff which begins at the base of the ear, stretching as far as the throat. As well, the back of the thighs is fringed with longer hair. The tail is ear of corn shaped, but does not form a plume.
The Malinois is the short-haired.
C. ROUGH HAIR: What especially characterises the rough hair variety is the roughness and dryness of the hair, which, moreover, is rasping and tousled. About 6 cm long over the whole body, the hair is shorter on the top of the muzzle, the forehead and the legs. The hair around the eyes and those furnishing the muzzle should not be so long as to disguise the shape of the head. However, it is essential to have furnishings on the muzzle. The tail should not form a plume.
The Laekenois is the rough-haired.
Grooming
Refer to your breeder for how they groom their dogs.
The "no-smell" coat of a Belgian Shepherd means no washing is ever necessary. Bathe if you your dog likes it, but not because you feel you have to.
Long coat varieties shed seasonally, with hormone or changes to the weather in the calendar seasons. Between shedding, a once a week brush through with a pin brush is quite sufficient. During shedding, which usually lasts a week or two, a daily brush to remove the dead coat is a good routine.
Short coat Malinois can shed all year round, and a weekly brush through with a pin brush will keep the coat in order.
Curly/tousled rough coat Laekenois require plucking to remove old coat for the show ring look. Check with your breeder, and google how to do this.
The "no-smell" coat of a Belgian Shepherd means no washing is ever necessary. Bathe if you your dog likes it, but not because you feel you have to.
Long coat varieties shed seasonally, with hormone or changes to the weather in the calendar seasons. Between shedding, a once a week brush through with a pin brush is quite sufficient. During shedding, which usually lasts a week or two, a daily brush to remove the dead coat is a good routine.
Short coat Malinois can shed all year round, and a weekly brush through with a pin brush will keep the coat in order.
Curly/tousled rough coat Laekenois require plucking to remove old coat for the show ring look. Check with your breeder, and google how to do this.
Ideal type of home
Active homes are perfect for a Belgian Shepherd.
Owners that go out to work 8 hours a day 5 days per week are perfect a home for a Belgian Shepherd providing they provide enrichment opportunities for their dog while the owner is away from home, and spend quality time while at home with the dog.
Stay at home, not so active owners, are perfect for Belgian Shepherds providing they provide enrichment activities for their dog.
Belgians love to be with their people. They thrive with human contact. They are family dogs and love adventures and activities with their humans.
Owners that go out to work 8 hours a day 5 days per week are perfect a home for a Belgian Shepherd providing they provide enrichment opportunities for their dog while the owner is away from home, and spend quality time while at home with the dog.
Stay at home, not so active owners, are perfect for Belgian Shepherds providing they provide enrichment activities for their dog.
Belgians love to be with their people. They thrive with human contact. They are family dogs and love adventures and activities with their humans.
Lifespan
12-14 years
The oldest noted has been just short of 19 years.
The oldest noted has been just short of 19 years.
Character
The Belgian Shepherd Dog is a watchful and active dog, bursting with energy, and always ready to leap into action. As well as its innate skill at guarding flocks, it also possesses the highly prized qualities of the best guard dog of property. Without any hesitation it is the stubborn and keen protector of its owner. It brings together all those qualities necessary for a shepherd, defence and service dog.
Its lively, alert temperament and its confident nature, showing no fear or aggressiveness, should be obvious in its body stance and the proud attentive expression in its sparkling eyes.
Its lively, alert temperament and its confident nature, showing no fear or aggressiveness, should be obvious in its body stance and the proud attentive expression in its sparkling eyes.
Diet
Quality food, with plenty of raw meaty bones. A natural diet is a better option than a processed diet. Refer to the breeder of your dog to inquire what foods they feed.
Lifestyle
A Belgian is versatile and will give any task or activity asked of them 110% to please you.
Colour
Mask: For Tervueren and Malinois the mask must be very pronounced and tend to encompass the top and bottom lip, the corners of the lips and the eyelids in one single black zone. A strict minimum of six points of skin pigmentation is called for: the two ears, the two upper eyelids and the two lips, upper and lower, which must be black.
Black overlay: In Tervueren and Malinois, the black overlay means that the hairs have a black tip which shades the base colour. This blackening is in any case “flamed” and must not be present in great patches nor in real stripes (brindled). In the Laekenois the black shading is more discreetly expressed.
Groenendael: Only uniform black.
Tervueren: Only fawn with black overlay or grey with black overlay, with black mask; however, the fawn with black overlay is still preferred. The fawn must be rich, neither light nor washed-out. Any dog whose coat colour is anything but fawn with black overlay or does not match the desired intensity of colour cannot be considered an elite specimen.
Malinois: Only fawn with black overlay and with black mask.
Laekenois: Only fawn with traces of black overlay, mainly on the muzzle and the tail.
For all varieties: a small amount of white is tolerated on forechest and toes.
Black overlay: In Tervueren and Malinois, the black overlay means that the hairs have a black tip which shades the base colour. This blackening is in any case “flamed” and must not be present in great patches nor in real stripes (brindled). In the Laekenois the black shading is more discreetly expressed.
Groenendael: Only uniform black.
Tervueren: Only fawn with black overlay or grey with black overlay, with black mask; however, the fawn with black overlay is still preferred. The fawn must be rich, neither light nor washed-out. Any dog whose coat colour is anything but fawn with black overlay or does not match the desired intensity of colour cannot be considered an elite specimen.
Malinois: Only fawn with black overlay and with black mask.
Laekenois: Only fawn with traces of black overlay, mainly on the muzzle and the tail.
For all varieties: a small amount of white is tolerated on forechest and toes.
Recommended health screening tests
The BSDCQ recommends that all Belgian Shepherd Dogs are tested according to the current minimum standards of overseas Canine Clubs, that is for hip, elbow and eye health certification, plus full breed DNA profile (testing for genetic health) and any available test for any known health issue in the breed as testing becomes available.
Additional health screening tests
Additional health screening tests include Thyroid, Heart and Dentition certification.
Cover photo by Van Moned kennels, Netherlands. With thanks!
