Belgian Shepherd Dog: features, types and content

The breed Belgian Shepherd is not widespread, as most breeders prefer to deal exclusively with representatives of the German variety. But if you read the detailed description of its representatives, find out the peculiarities of their character, the opinion of lovers of large dogs will change dramatically.

As stated in many scientific records, the history of the Belgian Shepherd begins in ancient times. This is evidenced by letters dating back to the 17th century, which provide information about the four-legged assistants to the shepherds, where the lion's share of the work of the dogs was in looking after the numerous livestock.

But despite this fact Most breeders are convinced that the history of the appearance of the Belgian Shepherd began much earlier. After all, scientists found documents from 1650 describing representatives of the Belgian breed, more precisely, dogs that are very similar to them. But if one understands exclusively historical documents, it becomes clear that The Belgian Shepherd is a fairly young breed that has been around for about 100 years. It is only important to understand which of these conflicting data is true.

Everything is explained quite simply. In ancient times, people were not engaged in purposeful breeding of specific breeds of dogs. Moreover, shepherds in the past were not considered prestigious pets. European aristocrats did not consider it necessary to create special cynological clubs for representatives of the described breed, because their ladies of heart preferred to start as a pet decorative dogs with an unusual appearance.

And yet, despite the lack of interest, people approached the breeding of this breed only in the second half of the XIX century. Just then, an expanded palette of coat colors appeared in shepherd dogs, although the basic assessment was also given to the breed's working characteristics, namely, assistance in cattle grazing. They skillfully drove off the animals that strayed from the herd and protected livestock from the encroachments of wild animals.

The Belgian farmers, who viewed Shepherd Dogs from a consumer point of view, had a similar opinion. But everything changed with the advent of the industrial revolution. In this crucial period of time for Belgium, the country's economy began to be rebuilt. Villagers were forced to move from their villages to cities, which negatively affected the demand for herding dogs.

The Belgian breed owes its official recognition to the outbreak of nationalist sentiment that arose in the 19th century in Europe. Then most of the nationalities began to engage in the creation of special breeds of four-paw pets, which would become their national treasure. Already in September 1891, a society of Belgian breed breeders was formed in Brussels.

A little later, in November, the first exhibition event was held in Kurgam, where more than a hundred pedigreed dogs performed.As an official guest, Professor Rioul was invited, who was studying dog characteristics and planned to assign a certain breed to each Belgian region.

Among the dogs present at the show are only a third received the recommendations of the scientist for subsequent breeding. Riyul chose medium-sized dogs, and the professors were not at all interested in the characteristics of animal hair. Thanks to his hard work in 1892, the primary exterior of the Belgian Shepherd Dogs was introduced.

The breed selection process has been going on for more than a decade. At first, only three categories of Belgian Shepherd dogs were presented, distinguished by color. This fact led the rest of the dog breeders to a lot of negative emotions, as their wards did not fit the standards of officially accepted categories. They also created their own dog training club, where they were engaged in independent breeding of their purebred pets. This confrontation of dog breeders lasted several years, after which the clubs merged, which affected the change in breed standards.

Thus, the three categories of Belgian Shepherds were supplemented by a fourth variety.

• Grunendal. Dogs with black hair of medium size. The name they owe to a small village located near Brussels.
• Laquinoy. Long-haired dogs with ashen wool color. The breed was named after one of the Laken districts.
• Malinois. Shorthair dogs with a yellowish color. The name of the variety comes from the small town of Mechelen.
• Tervuren. Long-haired dogs with red color. The category got its name in honor of a small town located not far from the capital.

And yet the numerous disputes of breeders do not subside to this day. Members of the Belgian club insist that the four varieties of Belgian shepherd dogs represented are different breeds, and the world federation of dog handlers claims that they are the same Belgian shepherds. Accordingly, the credibility of the official representatives, namely the federation of cynologists.

However, recognition of the breed only by Belgian dog handlers turned out to be insufficient. The next step to world recognition was the appeal of breeders to the Royal Organization of Canine. However, their application was rejected. In 1901, members of the Royal Society still registered the breed. Moreover, for each category they formulated special standards, where the main criteria were coat color and length.

With the onset of the 20th century, the Belgian Shepherd Dogs began to join the Belgian Police Service. Along with this, they patrolled state borders, escorting the military, and caught smugglers with prohibited items trying to illegally enter their territory. Thanks to their skills in 1907, these dogs were taken to serve in the United States, and a year later they started to serve in France.

Particular attention should be paid to the role of the Belgian dog breed in wartime. Throughout the First World War, dogs served. They were engaged in guarding the entrusted perimeters, delivering postal items, helping military doctors to take the wounded from the battlefield. This period turned the views of dog breeders on the Belgian Shepherd. In such a difficult time, the animals revealed all the traits of their character, namely, courage, strength and loyalty.

The Belgian Shepherd Dogs are strong, medium sized dogs. Their external data and structural features speak about performance.It is important to note that there is no refinement in the exterior of the Belgians.

The beauty of the animal lies in other features, namely the muscles and movements that are visible in each step of the animal. In addition, the dimensions of animals vary in sex - The growth of males is 60-66 cm, and the height of females is 56-62 cm. Color depends entirely on their category. The weight of an adult male is on average 26-30 kg, while females can weigh slightly less, namely 20-25 kg.

According to the characteristics of the exterior, the Belgian Shepherds differ in their moderate body lines. The head is distinguished by a harmonious warehouse, but it seems a bit dry. The skull is relatively proportional. The frontal part has no clear lines. The cheekbones are barely noticeable against the general background of the muzzle, while possessing developed muscles.

The muzzle of shepherd dogs has an elongated shape, tapering to the tip of the nose. Nostrils are black, wide. Thin lines of lips tightly pressed to the jaws. On the mucous membranes there is no pigmentation of pink shades.

Ears are distinguished by a high fit and look like triangles. The tips are pointed, the auricles have a rounded shape. In moments of anxiety, the Belgian ears take a vertical position and rush their tips upwards.

The eyes are of medium size, looking almond-shaped. There is a brown pigment on the iris. The brighter it is, the better the exterior of the dog. The eyelids of the Belgian Shepherd dogs have a clear and even black contour. In the eyes of these dogs, one senses the mind and interest in the world around them.

A distinctive feature of the Belgians is the white teeth that require careful maintenance. According to the standard exterior bite can be scissor-like or straight. The absence of firstals does not constitute a rejection of the breed.

The neck of the Belgian breed has an elongated shape, smoothly flowing to the body, characterized by proportionality. The small rib cage is distinguished by voluminous muscles that characterize the dog's enduring qualities.

The tail of the Belgians is of medium length, with a thickened part on the base. With complete calm, the tail hangs down, and when excited, it rises.

The forelimbs of the Belgians have a strong bone structure and developed muscles. Toes on paws tightly pressed to each other. The hind legs are perpendicular to the ground, have a curved shape, which allows the dogs to easily push off from any surface.

Further, the distinctive features of the wool of each category of Belgian shepherds should be considered.

• Grunendal are owners of long wool with a thick undercoat that protects the animal from the weather. A distinctive feature of the wool Groenendales is the lack of gloss.
• Laquinoy have tough and rough to the touch coat.
• Category Short Wool Malinois located almost the entire surface of the body. The exception is the collar, hips and tail.
• Wool tervuren In many ways, it resembles the “fur coat” of the Groenendael with the only difference in the length of the hair on the head and the backs of the legs.

After reviewing the generalized description of the exterior of the Belgian Shepherd, you must carefully consider each category of this breed separately. As you know, today there are four categories of breeds Belgian Shepherd.

• grunendal;
• tervuren;
• Malinois;
• lacenois

The first three species have many similarities in appearance. The fourth variety is considered small, respectively, has significant differences with respect to their fellows. Their ears are slightly smaller, the muzzle is shorter, but the body is much denser.

With regard to performance, all categories of Belgian Shepherd dogs have similar data, although each individual species has some individual traits.

These charming long-haired pets are much more common in black color. Some members of this category have white hair on their chest, resembling a tie. These dogs have an inquiring mind, they are very sensitive to the mood of their owner and are ready to give him a help paw at any time.

These dogs have a rather long hair that has a bright red color with a tint of red. On the face there is a neat black mask. A distinctive feature of the nature of these dogs is courage. Without hesitation, they are ready to rush to the defense of their family.

Unlike their counterparts, the representatives of this category are short-haired. The color of them is fawn, on the face there is a black mask with neat contours. By the nature of these dogs can be dominant position. Malinois are gambling creatures, ready to play all day long. They have excellent guard qualities.

A distinctive feature of these dogs is hard wool of ashen color. Some representatives of this category color may be red, more close to the yellow shade. By the nature of these creatures are very good-natured, calm and obedient.

The Belgian Shepherd is a rather unusual breed. Confirmation of this is the diversity of characters of each category of breed. When meeting with an animal, these factors are not striking, but after spending some time with him it will become clear that each dog behaves differently. For example, the Groenendael is ideal for the role of a guard. From his attention can not escape any offender.

As soon as the Groenendael notices the danger, he notifies his owners with a loud barking. But he feels fear and timidity in the company of strangers. At the same time, even to the family of their owner, these pets show some caution. The dog does not immediately have confidence in people whom he sees for the first time in his life.

Representatives of this category are quite mobile animals. They tend to care and care for each family member. The ideal owners for the Grünändal will be people who lead an active lifestyle. Thanks to this, the dog will not stay in four walls and will be able to get out with the owner for long walks. If you do not give the animal natural freedom, the dog will throw out the accumulated energy in the house. And it may not always end well.

The Belgian Shepherd’s LaChenoux category combines several conflicting characteristics. For example, playfulness and seriousness, an active lifestyle and passive recreation. Along with the Gruenendahl, the Lakinua cope with the work of a security guard with high quality and, if necessary, are ready to fight with the intruder, thereby protecting their owner. Lakinua easily finds common ground with other pets if she grew up with other four-legged family members at puppy age.

Exceptions are rodents and birds living in cages. As an ideal pastime, the Belgian Laekenois prefer raids to the cottage, trips to the mountains, where the animal can get physical exertion and throw out the accumulated energy.

Representatives of the Malinois category, along with their fellows, need regular shaking to be able to throw out the accumulated energy. Otherwise, it is very balanced and obedient dogs.Like a faithful dog, they step on their heels and listen carefully to his every word.

Malinois does not like loneliness. Being alone in a stuffy apartment, such a dog may begin to grieve, and then try to get rid of stored energy, which can lead to a slight pogrom. The owner of a shepherd dog Malinois should give his pet a lot of attention, but do not pamper the dog, and, if necessary, be strict. Although this may not be necessary, as representatives of this breed differ appeasable character.

The Belgian Tervuren, unlike its counterparts, is notable for its impulsive character and lively temperament. Although initially the first representatives of this category were different shyness. As a result of tribal selection, these properties of character have been eradicated. Tervurens actively respond to any sign of their owner, so even the animal’s call to itself smoothly flows into a fun game.

It is worth noting that the representatives of this category of breed have a maximum degree of attachment to only one of the family members, who are accepted as the host. The playful nature of the animal requires constant communication with the person. If the dog remains alone for some time, it can direct its energy to an unnecessary channel, namely to tear off slippers or break a vase.

Presented to the four categories of Belgian shepherds common features of the breed.

• These dogs are able to make decisions in unexpected situations.
• Belgian Shepherd Dogs are pretty sensitive creatures. They keenly accept criticism and comments from the owner.
• Once in an unknown environment, it is easy to adapt.
• They have a tendency to dominate over other representatives of the animal world.

Choosing a small and healthy puppy is not an easy task. There is no difference what category of Belgian breed was preferred.

First of all, future owners need ask the breeder for information about the parents of the puppy, and if possible, even get to know them. This fact will allow to figure out what qualities and traits the dog could inherit from its ancestors.

When buying a dog you need to pay attention to his age. The ideal option is 2 months. By this time, the puppies of the Belgian Shepherd have already partially formed the psyche, so that they easily perceive the world around them.

Then you can proceed to direct inspection of all puppies from the litter, in order to choose the most interesting individual for yourself. It is necessary to pay attention to the most active and lively kids. Such puppies have a very strong immunity and in the future they will not cause trouble to the owner with diseases, lack of appetite or mood. Besides, playful puppies are easily and quickly trainable.

And most importantly - to acquire a purebred puppy should be in the official and reputable kennels. Buying a puppy in the bird market is extremely dangerous, despite the low price of the animal. Instead of a puppy of a Belgian shepherd from there you can bring a mongrel home. And if you can get a pedigree dog outside the kennel, most likely the organism of such an animal is weak and has a predisposition to multiple diseases, which is why you will have to constantly visit veterinary clinics.

High-quality grooming of the Belgian shepherds is a laborious process. The difficulty of the work lies in cleaning and treating animal hair.

The Belgians moult in the summer and winter. During shedding it is very important to comb the dog daily. In spring and autumn it is enough to scratch the animal once a week.In order to comb through the wool, it is necessary to use a brush with frequent teeth. Such a device provides maximum disposal of the hairs that have fallen out. It is important to scratch the dog in a relaxed atmosphere and exclusively in the direction of the coat.

The rest of the care is entirely dependent on the category of the Belgians.

Groenendaal dogs are prone to heavy molting. Fallen wool will lie on the furniture, on the floor, on clothes and even on the kitchen table. Lakinua have curly hair, which must be trimmed twice a year, so that the appearance of the animal will be neat and well-groomed.

The most unpretentious representative of the Belgian Shepherd is Malinois. Their coat is short, due to which you can comb your pet once a week. This is quite enough to get rid of dead hair and create a presentable appearance for the dog.

A distinctive feature of the category of tervuren is double wool. For this reason, representatives of this breed suffer from the formation of mats. Tervuren dogs should be carefully combed at least several times a week. In addition, they need to be taught from puppyhood to the procedure of cutting the hair on the paws.

The bathing of the Belgians is extremely rare. Specialized shampoos for thick hair, used in bath procedures, can adversely affect the structure of the dog's hair, the fur will lose its stiffness and haze. If the dog began to emit an unpleasant smell of a dirty dog, you can use special dry products with a pleasant aroma.

On a regular basis it is necessary to check the eyes and ears of a dog. If a strange discharge occurs, it is necessary to get rid of them with a cotton swab or a disc dipped in warm water or a weak tea brewing solution.

The owners of large dogs do not know the troubles in the issue of trimming claws, the Belgian shepherd dogs are no exception. They spend a lot of time on the street, their claws grind on the asphalt themselves. And only in winter, when ice and snow are lying on the roads, the owner will need to “manicure” his dog with a special clipper. Then you need to handle sharp corners with a file to remove the notches.

Equally important is caring for the oral cavity of the dog. Sheepdog requires daily cleaning of the teeth, so the pet owner needs to purchase a special toothbrush. It is forbidden to use toothpastes made for human consumption for dog's mouth. For the treatment of the oral cavity of pets, special cleaning products are created. They can be purchased at any pet store.

Modern lovers of large breed dogs give their preference to industrial feed. But the Belgian shepherd dogs in this matter are unpretentious and will eat what lies in the bowl. And yet, for the full development of the animal must be provided with a balanced diet.

Modern industrial feed fully provide pets with essential vitamins and minerals. A breeder, in turn, needs to purchase superpremium class food for his dog. The main thing - do not forget that for each age of the animal is developed a separate food.

But it is best to feed the four-legged guard of the breed Belgian Shepherd natural food. Important to remember, it should not be human food off the table. Otherwise, the animal will constantly beg, and sometimes even steal human food.

Natural dog menu should be varied. Dogs are by nature predators. But this does not mean that they should eat only raw meat.For the full development of the shepherd must receive a varied diet, which should be based on lean meats, such as beef, rabbit or chicken.

For breakfast, it is preferable to treat your pet with cereals, for example, buckwheat, rice or barley. At lunchtime, the dog should be fed with stewed vegetables and vegetable oil should be added to them. Once a week you should pamper your pet with sea fish, dairy products and boiled eggs, but in small quantities.

To know what vitamins are required to give the dog during the period of active growth, you must contact your veterinarian. He will be able to choose the right vitamin and mineral complex so that the animal does not have a deficit of important health elements.

It is strictly forbidden to feed the Belgian Shepherd with sweets, smoked products, tubular bones, raw pork and river fish. Violation of at least one of these prohibitions can result in serious problems with the health of the animal. For example, tubular bones, hitting the esophagus, can damage its walls, which will cause an internal bleeding in a dog and will be very difficult to save. Chocolate for four-pawed friends is a deadly poison. Helminths may be present in fish.

The dog must always have access to clean drinking water. This is especially important for pets who consume dry food, since it increases thirst.

Belgian Shepherd Dogs are breeds, the training of which must begin at an early age. The main thing with this - do not forget about insight. This factor will help to maximally feel the mental state of the dog, to understand its mood and psychological balance.

Belgian females are much more docile and calmer than males, who by nature need to show the independence of their own character. Experienced dog breeders recommend starting to raise a puppy from the first day of his appearance in the house.

Initially, you should not tire your puppy with long walks and a variety of games. If the pet is stretched out on its litter and begins to fall asleep, no need to disturb him. A dog, like any other creature, needs rest. After all, they still have a lot of time left to learn the various teams, learn their own nickname, get used to the leash with a collar and don’t cope with the need in the wrong place.

The nickname in the matter of education is a separate item. Firstly, the owner should remember that the pet's name should be short, and secondly, it should be associated exclusively with bright and kind emotions. You should not contact a four-footed friend by name if he naughty or ruined something. Understanding that punishment awaits him, the baby will not want to approach his master, respectively, he will not respond to the nickname.

The process of training Belgian Shepherd dogs differs in many nuances, depending on the breed category. It is important for Grunendal to execute commands and tasks unquestioningly. Representatives of this variety are related to training as a game, bringing great benefits. For this reason, they do not create any problems and clearly follow the instructions of their owner. Although some representatives of this breed, independence of character can overcome the instinct, which will negatively affect the achievement of the goal.

That is why the gründell it is necessary to train from a very early age without giving the dog a long break. Training must be dailyotherwise it will not be possible for the dog to wait for obedience.

Lacenois is easily amenable to learning and happy to go towards the owner. They enthusiastically run with their owner to race or overcome the obstacle course. The main feature of these dogs is tirelessness. Rather, a person will get tired of inventing tasks, rather than a dog performing them.

In the process of training do not use a strict voice and be too persistent. The dog will feel it and will do everything exactly the opposite. But if you approach the issue of training correctly, you will be able to educate the real guard and the best friend for a large family. After all, it is the laquenois for their qualities that are most often taken to the police service or to the army.

In addition to proper training, the Malinois should be brought to a common area with other dogs, where the shepherd can communicate with relatives, learn from them the basics of communication with their owners. They very quickly absorb the information received, which speaks of their highly developed intelligence. Only dog ​​communication can play the opposite role. The dog will see elements of disobedience among his kin and can take them for granted.

Tervuren try to dominate and exercise more independence than the other categories of the Belgian breed. For these dogs, an intensive course of instruction and obedience is important. The owner should avoid despotic mood and rude behavior when working with animals. Otherwise, the pet will not accept this behavior of the owner and will not respond to his words.

The dog must consistently execute commands, the owner must be patient if the dog does not cope with something, and then, in all fairness, treat the animal with a treat.

All about the Belgian Shepherd look in the next video.