Belgian shepherd

Belgian Shepherd

  • Life expectancy

    10 - 14 years

  • Weight

    Male 25 - 30 kg

    Female 20 - 25 kg

  • Height

    Male 25 - 30 kg

    Female 25 - 30 kg

  • Hair

    Hard,short,long

  • Group

    Shepherd dogs and cattle dogs

  • Nicknames

    Ovejero belga

Index

The Belgian Shepherd, as its name indicates, is native to Belgium, where it was originally bred as a working or herding dog. It is an ancient breed that has always been highly appreciated in its place of origin, but in recent times the Belgian Shepherd has become known in other parts of the world, thanks to its loyal character and its canine skills.

Belgian Shepherds are very intelligent and are also known to be sensitive to everything that happens in their environment. They excel in all types of canine activities and are highly appreciated as assistance, search and rescue dogs. They form strong bonds with their families, which makes them great companions. They must be well socialized, trained and handled correctly from a young age to avoid unwanted and dominant behaviors.

Characteristics of the Belgian shepherd

  • SIZE

  • EXERCISE NEEDS

  • EASY TO TRAIN

  • GOOD WITH CHILDREN

  • KINDNESS TO OTHER PETS

  • HEALTH OF THE BREED

  • COST TO KEEP

  • INTELLIGENCE

  • TOLERANCE TO BEING ALONE

Why choose a Belgian shepherd?

PROS

  • Belgian Shepherds are very intelligent so they learn quickly and excel in many canine activities.

  • They are natural guard dogs and do not need to be trained.

  • They are extremely versatile and can be taught to do almost anything.

  • They are best suited for people who live in the countryside or have large secure back gardens

CONS

  • Belgian Shepherds need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation

  • They get bored easily and can be destructive around the home if not given enough exercise.

  • They can be aggressive with other dogs and animals if they are not well socialized.

  • They can have a strong character and be stubborn at times.

  • They are not the best option for first-time dog owners.

  • They have a great prey instinct

  • They shed large amounts of hair throughout the year, but more in spring and autumn.

Belgian shepherd puppies for sale

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Origin and history of the Belgian shepherd

The breed was developed at the end of the 19th century in Belgium and four varieties were created in different regions of the country. The Groenendael, named after the town Groenendael in Belgium, is the classic type of Belgian Shepherd. The Tervueren, which was created by a Belgian brewer. The Malinois, slightly smaller and with its shorter coat, originating from Malines, a region in the northwest of Belgium and, finally, the Laekenois which comes from the city of Laeken, is the oldest, rarest and least popular of the four types of Belgian shepherd dog.

These beautiful dogs have been very popular for many years and were even used during the First and Second World Wars to carry messages to and from the front, as well as to pull ambulances and machine gun carriages.

At the end of the 19th century a Belgian breed club was created and in 1891 the four varieties received their own breed standards, established by a Belgian veterinarian named Professor Adolphe Reul. The Kennel Club classifies the four Belgian Shepherd varieties as a single breed, although other clubs tend to classify them as separate breeds, such as the American Kennel Club.

Belgian shepherd breeders

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Character ofthe Belgian shepherd

Belgian Shepherds were originally bred as working dogs and are excellent at it, whether as herders or guards. When living in a domestic environment it is important to keep them busy as these dogs are very energetic. They are not the best option for people who lead a sedentary life or for first-time owners because they need to be well socialized and trained by people who are familiar with these types of dogs.

Being so intelligent, they quickly grasp new things, both good and bad. Puppies must be very well socialized from an early age.

If left to their own devices or not given enough mental stimulation and daily exercise, Belgian Shepherds will soon become bored, which can lead to them developing many behavioral problems, such as being destructive in the home. They love to be with people and do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. These dogs like to participate in everything that happens in the home.

They tend to be quite aloof and cautious when around strangers, but rarely display any type of aggressive behavior. Another thing to keep in mind is that Belgian Shepherds are known for being natural guard dogs that do not need to be trained to "protect", which could lead to them becoming overly dominant and aggressive.

Curiosities about the Belgian shepherd

  • They have always been highly appreciated assistance and search and rescue dogs thanks to their intelligence, resistance and tracking ability.

Names for Belgian shepherd

Tano, Garu, Cory, Susy, Nei

The Belgian shepherd of our breeders

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