The Belgian Shepherd in its four varieties has become one of the favorites of children and young athletes. Thanks to its intelligence, agility and skill, it has been recognized and awarded in large-scale competitions and used with great efficiency by armed forces around the world.
Origin of the Belgian Sheepdog
Since the end of the 19th century, in northwestern Europe, specifically in Belgium, the standardization of flock guide dogs which gave rise to the current Belgian Shepherd. However, it wasn't until 1.910 that the specific characteristics of this breed were defined.
Throughout its existence, there have been many discussions due to the number of varieties and colors, as they have been considered very diverse. However, its morphology, profile, willingness to graze herds and learning ability, has shown that the coincidences are more consistent than the origin of the controversies.
At present four varieties of Belgian shepherd can be differentiated, which have been named in attention to the name of the place where they were selected. These are: Groenendael, Malinois, Tervueren and Laekenois.
Characteristics of the Belgian Shepherd Dog
Even when there are four varieties, the Belgian shepherd has characteristics and general traits that define in one way or another its particularity compared to others. Medium Dog Breeds and big. Which can be based on their attitude and behavior as well as physical coincidences, among them we can mention:
- Just as they were originally dedicated to herding flocks, today they are docile dogs with children and show interest in protecting them.
- They enjoy their contact with nature to the fullest, so it is not advisable to confine them to living in an apartment (although they can adapt, they would not be happy)
- They are usually confident and intrepid dogs, showing great ability for defense training.
- Its size is medium to large, with an elegant and distinguished bearing. They weigh between 25 and 45 kg and can measure a maximum of 68 cm in height.
- They have a characteristic head, with triangular ears and stops as a sign of being aware of what is happening around them. The snout is elongated and its nose is completely black.
- The reproductive capacity of bitches is approximately 6 puppies per litter and there can be crosses between the different types of Belgian Shepherd.
- They have a life expectancy of 12 years and in general they are quite healthy dogs (everything depends on their care and periodic review by the veterinarian)
Types of Belgian Shepherd Dog
Although many assume that they are different Dog breeds, the four types of Belgian shepherd coincide in crucial aspects to be defined as the same species, such as, among other traits: their morphology, attitude and willingness to learn.
Basically their differences lie in the appearance of each one, which corresponds to the coat: of different colors, density and distribution on the body. The belgian shepherd types Are detailed below:
groenendael
He comes from a Belgian neighborhood called Groenendael, where he was chosen as a Belgian shepherd by Professor Nicola Rose, around the year 1.898.
The most outstanding characteristic is its amazing fur, only shiny black, more abundant in the tail and around the neck. It is distinguished by being strong and agile. His bearing is that of a stocky but refined dog, which accompanies his designation as a high-level athlete.
This breed has proven to be good with children, although due to its energetic and playful attitude, caution should be exercised with children under 6 years of age, as it can inadvertently cause harm. To keep them as pets and achieve greater docility, it is recommended to keep them training from puppy.
Malinois
Its name originates from the Belgian city of Mechelen, where this specimen comes from. It is the favorite Belgian Shepherd for the training in armed forces all over the world, developing close emotional bonds with their owners. During their training, they develop their protective and cooperative instincts to the fullest.
Their favorite practices are search and tracking, especially when accompanied by a person. The best strategy training for this breed It is positive reinforcement, reacting in an extraordinary way to emotional stimulation.
It is quite stylized, its most outstanding features are its short, carbon brown fur (which darkens from the tip to the root) and its marked black mask that goes from its eyes to its snout.
His ears are always upright, guarantors of a dog that remains alert. They can be considered mature from the age of 3, when they have their maximum energetic power. They are mostly extremely cheerful and expressive.
As a curious fact, at the end of 2019, this species was recognized as a war hero, since in the American operation against the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) Abubaker Al Bagdadi, a Malinois Belgian shepherd was the one who cornered him after chasing him through a tunnel in a remote town in Syria.
Tervueren
Selected in the Belgian city of Tervuren, it is easy to distinguish it due to its long coat all over its body except on its face, where it is short and retains the dark hue that defines its features. It increases its density and abundance in the tail and around the neck, resembling the mane of a lion.
The tonality of its fur on the body can be seen in brown or reddish tones, both charcoal and with the legs in light tones.
In terms of their size and elegance, they are the most benefited among the types of Belgian shepherd, together with the Groenendael, they are specimens that deserve prizes and awards not only for their abilities and skills but for their extraordinary beauty, increasingly desired as pets.
Excellent candidates for activities such as: flyball, guard and defense, among others; as well as tracking training and rescue of people injured in accidents and natural disasters.
laekenois
Originally from Brucelas, in the city of Laken (Belgium), it is considered the oldest and rarest of the Belgian Shepherd Dogs. This is less common. Due to its unique coat, it looks very different from its fellow breeders, since it is curly, somewhat messy and hard.
Although they can be seen with carbonized parts, the color of their fur is quite regular in reddish and yellow tones.
They tend to be less active than their peers and therefore tend to gain weight easily, they can have obesity problems if they are not subjected to a regular exercise routine.
As a curious fact, this dog, in addition to developing in herding herds, was used as a messenger dog during the First and Second World Wars.
variety of this breed
It is simply a deep-seated confusion with the White Swiss Shepherd. In fact, none of the four Belgian Shepherd varieties have this pigmentation, unless they have a skin condition such as albinism.
