The Belgian sheepdog, also known as Groenendael in Europe, is an extremely intelligent herding breed that's built for hard work. Athletic and energetic, they make perfect pets for active families that like to take their dogs along for runs, hikes, bike rides, and other outdoor activities. If you're looking for a highly-trainable working dog that will also make a wonderful family companion, then the Belgian sheepdog is the right choice for you.
Characteristics of Belgian Sheepdogs
Belgian sheepdogs are a medium-sized, square-proportioned breed known for their elegant posture and imposing appearance. Their bearing reflects pride and muscular determination. They can be easily recognized by their long snout and pointed ears. From the neck to the hindquarters, their entire body is covered with a long thick coat of coarse black fur. With dark eyes reflecting a sharp intelligence, they are often referred to as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
When it comes to the size of Belgian sheepdogs, males are usually larger and heavier than the females. Males often reach a height of 26 inches whereas females are shorter. The weight of Belgian sheepdogs ranges from 45 to 60 pounds in females and from 55 to 75 pounds in males. The lifespan of this breed is about 12 to 14 years.
These dogs are exceptionally loyal and are always eager to please their owners. Prized for their working ability, they make excellent guard dogs, military dogs, and guide dogs for the blind. These dogs do have a strong-willed temperament, but they also have a sensitive and gentle side that craves human companionship. This is why they also make ideal family dogs.
Caring for Belgian Sheepdogs
Grooming. Maintaining the double-layer coat of a Belgian sheepdog, which consists of a dense undercoat and a harder outer overcoat, is not as tough as you might think. Most of the year, all it requires is a weekly brushing and an occasional bath. But once or twice a year, Belgian sheepdogs shed heavily. During this time, you need to brush their coat thoroughly every day to remove the dead hair and excess fur.
A Belgian needs to be groomed and cleaned just like any other breed. To clean your pet's teeth, use toothpaste and toothbrushes designed specifically for dogs. Make a habit of regularly trimming your dog's nails and cleaning the dirt and debris from their ears.
Exercise. Belgian sheepdogs are a herding breed, which means they require almost two hours of exercise each day. These are alert and active dogs that do not like lounging around. They get bored easily. Without human companionship, they may either start finding their own destructive forms of entertainment or develop separation anxiety. So, they aren't a good choice for people who need to be away from them for long hours at a time.
As their owner, it's not enough if you leave them to play outside. Belgians crave time with humans, which is why you need to actively participate in exercise sessions with them. Develop creative ways of providing them with mental stimulation. Play fetch, go for a long run, or train them for agility, obedience, and tracking competitions. All of these activities are highly suited for their intelligent nature.
Training. Along with exercise sessions, Belgians need to start training early. You can begin with your obedience classes at eight weeks of age. Since they have sensitive and strong-willed personalities, train them using positive reinforcement rather than with threats and punishments.
Diet. Any diet you prepare for your pet should be appropriate for its age and approved by your veterinarian. Belgians are highly active dogs, which means they require high-quality foods that can give them enough energy and nutrients. While treats can help during training, don't give too many as that could lead to obesity.
Medical care. Belgian sheepdogs can catch common viral and bacterial infections such as rabies, parvo, and distemper. Like other dog breeds, they can also get infested with pests like fleas, ticks, and heartworms. You can prevent many of these problems by following the schedule of tests and vaccinations recommended by your veterinary doctor.
It's during these appointments that your dog will get a thorough checkup for conditions and diseases common in Belgians. Among canine medications, it's good to keep heartworm medicine at home as recommended by your vet.
Lastly, remember to seek immediate veterinary help if your dog shows any abnormal symptoms like a change in appetite, red gums, tartar buildup, itchy skin, mental dullness, or behavioral changes.
Health Problems to Watch for With Belgian Sheepdogs
Belgian sheepdogs are generally a robust and healthy breed. But like other purebreds, they can be affected by diseases and hereditary disorders.
Also, like other breeds that have a low fat-to-body-weight ratio, Belgians can be especially sensitive to anesthesia. So, if your pet should need surgery, keep this in mind. You may wish to read the report on this subject available from the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America (BSCA).
Below are some of the health problems commonly found in Belgian sheepdogs. Any responsible breeder should properly screen the parent dogs for these medical issues to reduce their likelihood of passing to the next generation:
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). This condition can damage the retina in your dog's eye and cause blindness over time.
- Cataracts. Dogs with cataracts can develop cloudy spots on their eyes. But just like in the case of humans, they can be treated through surgery.
- Elbow andhip dysplasia These conditions can cause your dog's joints to become malformed. In very severe cases, some dogs even need surgery.
- Epilepsy. This is a neurological condition that can cause seizures in dogs. Pets prone to epilepsy can begin getting seizures as early as six months of age. Medications work, but only in mild and moderate cases.
Special Considerations for Belgian Sheepdogs
From an early age, Belgian sheepdogs learn to socialize with the kids that are raised along with them. These dogs are protective and loving towards the children whom they consider family. But that may not be the case when it comes to the neighboring children or friends of your kids.
If you invite other kids to your house, make sure you supervise the way your dog interacts with those children. The Belgian can mistakenly assume the noise and playful chaos to be an assault and try to scare away your kid's friends.
To avoid such situations, you should teach your dog appropriate behaviors early on. Being such an intelligent and loyal breed, Belgians don't take much time to learn and can be trained pretty easily.
Belgians can get along well with other pets, be it cats or dogs, if they have been raised together. But they might act hostile if they find a strange or foreign animal on their property.
You should always remember that at the core, Belgian sheepdogs are herding animals. This instinct to chase a flock of sheep is hardwired in them and doesn't disappear just because they are brought up in a family. So, it's normal for them to take off after other pets, animals, cyclists, joggers, and even cars on the street.
With such a nature, make sure your dog stays behind fenced yards and goes on leashed walks, which will ensure not just your pet's safety but that of the people around him.
History of Belgian Sheepdogs
Throughout history, Belgium's climate and terrain have supported dairy and livestock farming. As more and more farmers raised cattle, herding dogs became an important part of Belgian farm life. Gradually, a time came when Belgium boasted eight unique varieties of shepherd dogs. It was the 1890s when these dogs were officially classified for the first time.
Besides Belgian sheepdogs (long coat, black) the three other popular breeds are Tervuren (long coat, black mask, fawn-mahogany), Laekenois (rough coat, fawn), and Malinois (short coat, black mask, fawn-mahogany). These dogs are structurally similar but have coats of different colors, textures, and lengths.
The United Kennel Club recognizes all the four varieties as a single breed. However, the American Kennel Club (AKC) gives each variety a separate status, with the long-haired and black dogs keeping the AKC breed name, Belgian sheepdog.
Belgian sheepdogs can be traced back to the 1800s when they were first listed within the group known as “Chien de Berger de Races Continentales.“ Also called continental shepherds, this group also includes breeds like Briards, German shepherds, bouviers, Hollander herders, and Beauceron.
In the early 1890s, efforts were made by breeding experts to figure out which among the different dog breeds were the true representative of the shepherd dogs of Belgium. The aim was to develop a pure Belgian breed for nationalistic purposes. This resulted in the formation of the Club du Chien de Berger Belge (Belgian Shepherd Dog Club) in September 1891. This is the club that led the development and rise of the Belgian sheepdogs.
A few months after the club was formed, fanciers and breeders gathered on the outskirts of Brussels. Their purpose was to inspect the local shepherd dogs from that area. After careful consideration and discussion, a panel of judges including veterinary professor Adolphe Reul determined the features of the local shepherd dogs of that province.
They stated that the Belgian shepherd dogs were square-shaped with a medium size, dark brown eyes, and distinct triangular ears. Only the hair length, color and coat texture of the dogs were different. Future examinations of dogs from other provinces of Belgium offered similar results.
Today's Belgian sheepdogs, known for their solid black coat and long hair, were mainly developed by Nicolas Rose, a renowned breeder of that time. He bought the foundation couple, Petite and Picard d'Uccle, whose offspring began the current Belgian sheepdog breed. Rose was also the one who gave the breed its European name, Groenendael. This name was inspired by the village of Groenendael, where Rose first bred them.
Thanks to their keen intelligence and trainability, the dogs became immensely popular in Belgium. By the turn of the 20th century, their popularity spread to other countries and continents. The law enforcement officers in New York, Paris, and New Jersey used them as police dogs during this time. Even customs officers employed them time and again to help identify smugglers.
Belgian sheepdogs proved their value during World War I, serving as messengers, Red Cross dogs, and freighters of machine-gun carts. They even helped during World War II by working as war dogs. Their popularity kept on increasing over the years, leading to the formation of the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America in 1949. Today, they're used in search and rescue as well as police work while also serving as service dogs for the handicapped and guide dogs for the blind.
