Laekenois: breed characteristics and content

The breed of the Belgian Shepherd is quite rare. One of the most remarkable moments is the dog's coat, which looks like a twisted wire. In addition, this dog has a great stamina, and also has a sports figure. Initially, it was bred only for the protection of various objects, and later became a shepherd.

Already from the name it is possible to understand that Laekenois appeared in Belgium. In its territory at the end of the XIX century there were quite a few dogs that helped to herd the herds. And although they all had the same job, their appearance was different. Professional dog lovers decided to combine the best qualities of all these animals into one species. So in 1891 a club of lovers of these animals was created. They organized an exhibition where hundreds of dogs took part, among which the best were selected and used to breed quality breeds.

As a result of this, four types of Belgian shepherds came out at once. These are Tervurenas, Malinois, Gruenendali and Laekenois. Today, the International Association of Dog Handlers ranks them all on the same standard. However, in some countries they are still considered separate breeds.

Lackenois was named after the residence of Chateau de Lacken, which belonged to Queen Henriette of Belgium. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, standards of this breed were established. In accordance with them, the dog must have ashen color, as well as wool, resembling wire. However, controversy arose over some of the followers. Some of them wanted to recognize only the standard red lakenois, while the latter were adherents of ashy color.

Purebred purebred Belgian Shepherd dogs are quite strong and large animals, whose body is thickly covered with "wire" hair. In addition, they have a very elegant head, as well as a proud posture. All this gives the dog an aristocratic look. However, in fact it is a hard-working dog that can both feed a huge herd, and work in the guard service, and guard the house of its owner.

The description of the generally accepted Laquinoy standards is as follows.

• The height of the female varies within 60 centimeters, but the male can be taller, up to 65 centimeters. The females weigh at least 25 kilograms, the weight of males is about 30 kilograms.
• The muzzle has a wedge-shaped and rectangular shape.
• The nose is smooth, and the lips are very thin.
• The mouth is filled with a series of large and strong teeth that form a scissor bite.
• The eyes of the animals are small, differ in diagonal and elongated shape, the color of the iris is usually brown or black.
• On the very top there are small triangular ears.
• The neck is long and set high, besides, it expands to the shoulder blades.
• The build is very strong, with a large chest. The back of the animal is straight and slightly shortened, the loin is strong, with beveled croup. Belly tucked up.
• The tail of the Belgian Shepherd has an average length. If the animal is calm, then its tail will be lowered down, and if it is happy, the tail rises up.
• The paws of the lakenois are long and powerful, with slightly rounded tips.
• Such animals have a rather thick undercoat, since most of them live in cold conditions.
• Due to its unusual wool, the dog looks sloppy, she has a disheveled look all the time. On the face and paws, the fur will be shorter than on the rest of the body.In some places it reaches 5-6 centimeters.

The history of lacenois began quite recently, so the animals have not yet had time to inherit all the qualities of their ancestors. Dogs can graze and herd, and engage in various investigative work. And, if their shepherd's skills are not so demanded, then it is quite possible to involve dogs in investigative work.

They have a very strong character, however, they absolutely do not like loneliness. Shepherd dogs are very attached to their owners, but they can only recognize one owner. Such people seem very angry and dangerous to other people. And this is absolutely true, because they are excellent defenders and guards.

They should be brought to people and to acquaint with their acquaintances and with other animals. This will give an opportunity to instill confidence in them and not be too timid. In addition, dogs in the future will be less aggressive.

Belgian dogs get along well with children. It does not have to be a game. Dogs can simply execute commands, which is very popular with small children. But with other pets that live in the house, they may not get along. Usually, dogs have a negative attitude towards rodents. They evoke hunter instincts in dogs, and dogs look at them as at the victim, which must be caught. In addition, with cats, they also do not get along well. The only exception is the cats that were raised with sheepdogs.

If we talk about the content of such unusual animals, then it is not a difficult process at all. It is enough to give them a little attention, to feed them properly, and also to care for them. First of all, we must pay tribute to the care of their wool.

Since Belgian dogs belong to hard-haired animals, they will need such a procedure as trimming. However, such dogs are not always ready for procedures. Therefore, most often they molt naturally, with the result that they have a new coat.

But if the pet lives in a regular apartment, the wool scattered throughout the apartment will be a real nuisance to the owners. In this case, you need to comb the pets with a special comb, which will allow you to go through the molting period faster. It is necessary to do this during the molting daily. In addition, the Belgian thanks to the procedure will always look beautiful and neat.

To do this, it is enough to shake off a little, and everything will immediately disappear. Swimming is necessary once a month or two. At the same time it is necessary to apply special means of hygiene. After bathing, you can moisten the hair of the laconois with the help of special conditioners or rinses. After bathing, the shepherd should be wrapped in a terry towel and a little wait until all moisture is absorbed.

Pets in an apartment should be brushed regularly. This should be done a couple of times a week. Cleaning will avoid any diseases of the oral cavity. In addition, it is very useful for teeth when an animal is given bones, special toys or treats for teeth.

However, in order to avoid problems with cleaning, you need to teach dogs to it from an early age. Only in this case the puppy will behave not only calmly, but also patiently.

Also, do not forget about the ears, which must be regularly cleaned. For this you need to use special tools. They need to drip in the ears, and after 3-4 minutes just wipe. To prevent sulfur or dirt from accumulating in the ears, it is necessary to remove the wool inside the ears.

Eyes should also be cleaned. But this should be done only in the case when they are slightly “acidified” or dirt gets into them.

In addition, animals living in the apartment, it is necessary to remove the claws with a clipper. But it is best to do this in veterinary clinics so that the dog does not bite or scratch its owner. At the same time it is necessary to put the animal to sleep.

Although almost all dogs of this breed have excellent health, some diseases may still appear to them. They can be passed from one generation to another. It is worth noting the following ailments.

• Dysplasia large joints. In this case, the hip bone cannot fit snugly to the joint itself. The dog’s gait is disturbed, and she acutely feels pain. A limp appears a little later.
• Eye disease which most often occur in old animals. It may be glaucoma or even cataract.
• Inversion of the stomach can be either congenital or acquired. Acquired disease most often appears in these dogs due to eating disorders, which in the future can lead to the death of the dog. To prevent this from happening, you need to give your pet a rest as much as possible, as well as carefully select its menu.
• Infertility. It occurs in dogs and female, and male.
• Aging too fast. It happens rapidly, and the dog by 6-8 years old not only feels old, but also looks like this.

The diet must be balanced and varied. Feed can be both industrial and natural. If preference is given first, then you need to buy only quality products of super-premium or holistics. So the dog can get all the necessary vitamins and minerals for it.

Choosing natural foods, it is necessary that certain foods are included in the diet.

• Squirrels, which are found in foods such as meat or fish, as well as in offal. In addition, they are still in the sour milk and chicken eggs. Meat can be given to dogs daily, but eggs only a few times a week.
• Fat can be found in meat, fish, butter or vegetable oil. However, with butter you should not be too zealous.
• Carbohydrates perfectly provide dogs with the necessary energy for them. For this may be suitable porridge from various cereals. For example, you can use products such as rice, buckwheat, or wheat porridge. You can cook it in water or meat broth. In addition, black bread is usually included in the number of carbohydrates.

In addition to these products, pets will need minerals and vitamins. In order for them to fit, it is necessary to consult with a veterinarian. And, when buying small puppies, you must definitely ask the sellers what they fed them. This will save the owners from mistakes in the choice of feed.

Virtually all Belgian breed sheepdogs are intelligent and easy to train. But at the same time, they are quite cautious and independent, which in some way can complicate the whole educational process.

From the very beginning, the puppy needs to show its leadership. In addition, you should prove it. You should not show him your weakness, otherwise in the future the dog simply will not obey the owner. A person should behave confidently. After all, as soon as the dog feels weakness, he will immediately try to take the lead in his hands.

Most often, the laquenois choose one master for themselves and only his commands are heard. Such a dog is friendly and respectful to the rest of the family, however, they can refuse to obey their orders.

A person who plans to train a dog should be patient, because such dogs are capricious. Each executed command should be encouraged with a treat, and if the pet tries to foul, the owner must say “No” in a firm and confident voice. Classes with a dog should be carried out every day, only so the dog can be taught discipline.

Summing up, we can say that choosing such unusual pets as Lacainua for yourself, one must be prepared not only to care for the puppy, but also to his upbringing. Only in this case, the animal can be kept in his house, without fear of bad consequences. Such dogs will not only be able to protect their master's house from various encroachments, but also will serve as excellent shepherds for any living creatures in the yard.

For more on the Belgian Shepherd Lackenoie, see the following video.