The Belgian Shepherd Dog (also known as the Belgian Sheepdog or Chien de Berger Belge) is used to refer to both a breed of dog as well as a type of medium-sized to large-sized dog. It is a member of the Sheepdog Group, and as such can be commonly mistaken for the German or King Shepherd. Four breeds have been identified by various kennels as a separate breed or variety: Groenendael, Laekenois, Tervuren, and the Malinois. All are registered as a herding dog, more specifically a sheep dog.
Breed recognization
In Belgium (the country of origin) they are considered to be one breed, hair colour and structure divides them into four varieties. In some non FCI countries and other regions, they are considered separate breeds.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes only the Groenendael under the name "Belgian Sheepdog", but also recognizes the Tervuren (with the alternative spelling "Tervueren") and the Malinois as individual breeds. The Laekenois can be registered as part of the AKC foundation stock service and should eventually be recognised fully by the AKC.
The Australian National Kennel Council and the New Zealand Kennel Club recognize all four as separate breeds. The Canadian Kennel Club, Kennel Union of South Africa and the Kennel Club (UK) follow the FCI classification scheme and recognises all four as varieties of the same breed.
In years gone past, the Groenendael and Tervuren were one breed with coat variations until the Club decided to petition the AKC to make the separation into two separate breeds.
Temperament
Belgian Shepherds are highly intelligent and are bred to be alert and sensitive to everything going on around them, and to develop extremely strong relationship bonds. This means that they need significant socializing as puppies, lifelong activity outlets, and will seek to be with "their human" all the time, preferably doing something rather than waiting around. They can find it very difficult to be left alone. They tend strongly to be a "one person dog."
All the Belgian Shepherd breeds need a lot of activity and close interaction with people. Like most herding breeds, they need a job to do (be it herding, learning tricks, or dog agility). The Belgian breeds are intelligent and sociable dogs who can easily become bored with such simple and undemanding repetition. Many Belgians make superb assistance dogs who thrive on knowing that their jobs are indeed necessary for their chosen person. They are widely considered to be a good looking dog, loyal, intelligent, fun, and well suited to family life. However because of their high sensitivity to criticism or to being ignored, their careful handling and socializing needs, their need for ongoing stimulation and purposeful activity, and their potential, they require a lot of exercise and interaction
Training
Belgians are highly trainable dogs that thrive on stimulation, work, and partnership with their owner. They enjoy extensive training and can be taught to do any job a dog is capable of doing, including finding their toys by name, gathering dirty laundry, catching insects that get into the house, digging up weeds on command, and other tasks in addition to the usual obedience, retrieving and house-guarding. These activities are both work and play for the dog and should be enjoyed, not hurried through.
As with most working dogs, the owner of a Belgian Shepherd must maintain his dog's respect, and respect the dog in return. Belgian shepherds can over-react badly to punishment or deterrence based training, so as a rule their training should be based on reward.
Overly permissive training can also cause problems for the same reason; the dog learns that it controls the relationship and loses respect for its owner. It is important for the owner to know how to train dogs or to enroll in training classes to avoid misunderstandings. Professional training is highly recommended by trainers/academies specific to this type of dog, as well as continued training or development beyond the basics, such as obedience, agility and herding and other sports. This is because Belgian Shepherds as a rule require mental stimulation as much or more so than physical. Most Belgian owners know that rote or pattern-based training is not the ideal for Belgians. Nor is drilling a particular activity going to prove successful
Negative behaviors in Belgian Shepherds usually result from insufficient stimulation, both physical and mental. Belgians can become annoying, destructive, manipulative or territorial, all in an effort to engage with their family and environment. These behaviors can be prevented or alleviated with play, work, and exercise. Any nervousness or phobias can also be prevented with early socialization; puppies can be taught to greet new and potentially frightening things with curiosity rather than fear, playing on their natural curiosity and intelligence.
Health
There have been few health surveys of the individual Belgian Shepherd varieties. The UK Kennel Club conducted a 2004 health survey of all Belgian Shepherd varieties combined. The Belgian Sheepdog (=Groenendael) Club of America Health Committee has a health registry questionnaire, but it is not clear whether or when results will be reported. The American Belgian Tervuren Club conducted health surveys in 1998 and 2003. Only the 2003 report included longevity information.
Mortality
Median longevity of Belgian Shepherds (all varieties combined) in the 2004 UK survey, was 12.5 years, which is on the high side, both for purebred dogs in general and for breeds similar in size. The longest-lived of 113 deceased Belgians in the UK survey was 18.2 years. Leading causes of death were cancer (23%), cerebral vascular, i.e., stroke (13%), and old age (13%). Average longevity of Belgian Tervurens in the 2003 American Belgian Tervuren Club survey was lower, at 10.6 years, than in the UK survey. The difference in surveys does not necessarily mean Belgian Tervurens live shorter lives than other varieties of Belgian Shepherds. Breed longevities in USA/Canada surveys are usually shorter than those in UK surveys. Leading causes of death in the 2003 American Belgian Tervuren Club survey were cancer (35%), old age (23%), and organ failure (heart, kidney, liver) (13%).
Morbidity
Belgian Shepherds are afflicted with the most common dog health issues (reproductive, musculoskeletal, and dermatological) at rates similar to breeds in general. They differ most notably from other breeds in the high incidence of seizures and/or epilepsy. In the UK survey of Belgian Shepherds and both the 1998 and 2003 ABTC survey of Belgian Tervurens, about 9% of dogs had seizures or epilepsy. Other studies have reported rates of epilepsy in Belgian Tervurens as high as 17%, or about one in six dogs. For comparison, the incidence of epilepsy/seizures in the general dog population is estimated at between 0.5% and 5.7%. See Epilepsy in animals for more information on symptoms and treatments.
Breed recognization
In Belgium (the country of origin) they are considered to be one breed, hair colour and structure divides them into four varieties. In some non FCI countries and other regions, they are considered separate breeds.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes only the Groenendael under the name "Belgian Sheepdog", but also recognizes the Tervuren (with the alternative spelling "Tervueren") and the Malinois as individual breeds. The Laekenois can be registered as part of the AKC foundation stock service and should eventually be recognised fully by the AKC.
The Australian National Kennel Council and the New Zealand Kennel Club recognize all four as separate breeds. The Canadian Kennel Club, Kennel Union of South Africa and the Kennel Club (UK) follow the FCI classification scheme and recognises all four as varieties of the same breed.
In years gone past, the Groenendael and Tervuren were one breed with coat variations until the Club decided to petition the AKC to make the separation into two separate breeds.
Temperament
Belgian Shepherds are highly intelligent and are bred to be alert and sensitive to everything going on around them, and to develop extremely strong relationship bonds. This means that they need significant socializing as puppies, lifelong activity outlets, and will seek to be with "their human" all the time, preferably doing something rather than waiting around. They can find it very difficult to be left alone. They tend strongly to be a "one person dog."
All the Belgian Shepherd breeds need a lot of activity and close interaction with people. Like most herding breeds, they need a job to do (be it herding, learning tricks, or dog agility). The Belgian breeds are intelligent and sociable dogs who can easily become bored with such simple and undemanding repetition. Many Belgians make superb assistance dogs who thrive on knowing that their jobs are indeed necessary for their chosen person. They are widely considered to be a good looking dog, loyal, intelligent, fun, and well suited to family life. However because of their high sensitivity to criticism or to being ignored, their careful handling and socializing needs, their need for ongoing stimulation and purposeful activity, and their potential, they require a lot of exercise and interaction
Training
Belgians are highly trainable dogs that thrive on stimulation, work, and partnership with their owner. They enjoy extensive training and can be taught to do any job a dog is capable of doing, including finding their toys by name, gathering dirty laundry, catching insects that get into the house, digging up weeds on command, and other tasks in addition to the usual obedience, retrieving and house-guarding. These activities are both work and play for the dog and should be enjoyed, not hurried through.
As with most working dogs, the owner of a Belgian Shepherd must maintain his dog's respect, and respect the dog in return. Belgian shepherds can over-react badly to punishment or deterrence based training, so as a rule their training should be based on reward.
Overly permissive training can also cause problems for the same reason; the dog learns that it controls the relationship and loses respect for its owner. It is important for the owner to know how to train dogs or to enroll in training classes to avoid misunderstandings. Professional training is highly recommended by trainers/academies specific to this type of dog, as well as continued training or development beyond the basics, such as obedience, agility and herding and other sports. This is because Belgian Shepherds as a rule require mental stimulation as much or more so than physical. Most Belgian owners know that rote or pattern-based training is not the ideal for Belgians. Nor is drilling a particular activity going to prove successful
Negative behaviors in Belgian Shepherds usually result from insufficient stimulation, both physical and mental. Belgians can become annoying, destructive, manipulative or territorial, all in an effort to engage with their family and environment. These behaviors can be prevented or alleviated with play, work, and exercise. Any nervousness or phobias can also be prevented with early socialization; puppies can be taught to greet new and potentially frightening things with curiosity rather than fear, playing on their natural curiosity and intelligence.
Health
There have been few health surveys of the individual Belgian Shepherd varieties. The UK Kennel Club conducted a 2004 health survey of all Belgian Shepherd varieties combined. The Belgian Sheepdog (=Groenendael) Club of America Health Committee has a health registry questionnaire, but it is not clear whether or when results will be reported. The American Belgian Tervuren Club conducted health surveys in 1998 and 2003. Only the 2003 report included longevity information.
Mortality
Median longevity of Belgian Shepherds (all varieties combined) in the 2004 UK survey, was 12.5 years, which is on the high side, both for purebred dogs in general and for breeds similar in size. The longest-lived of 113 deceased Belgians in the UK survey was 18.2 years. Leading causes of death were cancer (23%), cerebral vascular, i.e., stroke (13%), and old age (13%). Average longevity of Belgian Tervurens in the 2003 American Belgian Tervuren Club survey was lower, at 10.6 years, than in the UK survey. The difference in surveys does not necessarily mean Belgian Tervurens live shorter lives than other varieties of Belgian Shepherds. Breed longevities in USA/Canada surveys are usually shorter than those in UK surveys. Leading causes of death in the 2003 American Belgian Tervuren Club survey were cancer (35%), old age (23%), and organ failure (heart, kidney, liver) (13%).
Morbidity
Belgian Shepherds are afflicted with the most common dog health issues (reproductive, musculoskeletal, and dermatological) at rates similar to breeds in general. They differ most notably from other breeds in the high incidence of seizures and/or epilepsy. In the UK survey of Belgian Shepherds and both the 1998 and 2003 ABTC survey of Belgian Tervurens, about 9% of dogs had seizures or epilepsy. Other studies have reported rates of epilepsy in Belgian Tervurens as high as 17%, or about one in six dogs. For comparison, the incidence of epilepsy/seizures in the general dog population is estimated at between 0.5% and 5.7%. See Epilepsy in animals for more information on symptoms and treatments.
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