Belgian Shepherd

Belgian Shepherd, or sheep dog, is the name with which a group of sheepdogs that share morphological, anatomical and behavioral characteristics is known. In fact, the only element differentiated between them is the color and type of fur, so they are incorporated within the same breed.

Belgian Shepherds are characterized by being very intelligent dogs and good workers. They are faithful to their owners and, above all, they are very obedient, that is, they are very suitable for family life.

They also tend to be a bit territorial and aggressively defend their family members, and can be brought up as guard dogs.

race history

The development of this breed came about as a result of an attempt to unify the large number of dog breeds that were used for herding in Belgium and Germany.

The breeds that were used were the Laekenois, Malinois, Tervueren and Groenendael.

From the mixture of races, the Belgian Shepherd inherited his great intelligence, especially useful for jobs like herding.

In addition, they are very dynamic and agile puppies, with a lot of energy and are quite apt for activities that require physical performance. 

Characteristics

The Belgian Shepherd is a very elegant dog, with a slender body, especially between the neck and the skull, which is why it is known as an aristocrat within the sheep dog breeds.

However, they should not be confused by the delicate appearance, it is a dog very fit for work, with great strength and agility.

It has a long tail, slender legs, athletic body and wide, triangular ears similar to Pastor Collie’s. It has the appearance of a German Shepherd, only its fur is different.

Through the fur, they can differentiate the four strands that give rise to this breed:

● Groenendael heritage: black, thick and dry fur.

● Tervueren Inheritance: Fur similar to Groenendael, but with caramel tones, although they may have some black spots.

● Laekenois heritage: short brown fur, curly in some areas.

● Malinois heritage: short, dense and smooth coat.

Training

The improvement of this class of pastors is easy because they are very intelligent. However, it is always more recommended to start the improvement of a dog from a puppy. 

You should pay special attention to socialization, as it is a very territorial dog, it can become quite aggressive  if not exposed to contact with other animals and people.

You usually need large spaces to run, but with adequate exercise you can adapt well to life at home.

In case you don’t keep busy or tired, you may become nervous or break things out of boredom.

Special cares

The Belgian Shepherd is, in general terms, a healthy dog, but it can have back problems, like many other shepherd dogs.

It has also been known an important number of cases of epilepsy in this race, and care must be taken with the disease.

The most frequent problems with this breed are related to dermatitis, as the fur tends to matte or soil, creating environments conducive to the emergence of bacteria. That’s why it’s important to brush it at least twice a week.

Personality

The Belgian Shepherd is a gentle dog with his owners, although he is suspicious of strangers. It can be very affectionate if treated with affection, but in general they are independent and don’t require much attention.

They are very good with children, with whom they are patient and vigilant. They will also take care of the home, although they are not dogs that bark a lot, so you won’t have any problems unless you wake up on one of their night walks.

In general, they act like dogs, exercise well and tend to be easygoing, understanding and very willing to please their owner.