The Belgian Sheepdog developed in the city of Groenendael, Belgium. This city is on the border of Luxembourg and is nestled in the foothills of that country's Alpine Mountains. In most of the world this breed is called the "Groenendael" and it is only in America that it is called the "Belgian Sheepdog." They are very intelligent and have been used throughout Europe for police work. They make great pets since they are very faithful companions and loyal watchdogs.
As stated in the Belgian Sheepdog standard, the Belgian Sheepdog is known as the Groenendael, or Chiende Berger Belge, in most parts of the world. Its origin can be traced to the late 1800s when it was listed among the many other shepherds as a Chien de Berger de Races Continentals, which also included German Shepherds, Hollander Herders, Beaucerons, Bouvier des Flandres and Briards.
In Belgium, efforts were made to determine if there was a true shepherd dog representative only of Belgium. In November of 1891, under the direction of veterinarian professor Adolphe Reul, a gathering was held on the outskirts of Brussels to examine the shepherd dogs of that area. From this gathering it was concluded that for this Brabant Provence there was a consistent type of sheepdog that differed only in color, hair texture, and
hair length. These dogs were then called Belgian Shepherd Dogs. The coat textures, coat lengths and the coat colors determined the variety designations.
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| Belgian Sheepdog |
The long-coated red or gray with black mask was designated the Tervuren. The short-coated red or gray with dark mask was designated the Malinois. The longcoated black Groenendael was designated as the Belgian Sheepdog and the wire-coated red or gray was designated the Laekenois. In 1959 the American Kennel Club determined thedifferent varieties to be separate breeds.
Throughout their history, Belgian Sheepdogs have earned their reputation as truly well-rounded dogs, and to this day they continue to captivate us. Their elegance of carriage, striking black silhouette, and balanced movement are a pleasure to behold. Their talents in obedience, tracking, herding, agility, flyball, ringsport and as sled dogs have kept even the most activity-minded people satisfied. Their skills in police work, Red Cross, search and rescue, and as assistance and therapy dogs have proven very valuable to society. However, these dogs have found their greatest value in the hearts of their owners as devoted companions willing to give their all to those they love.
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| Belgian Sheepdog Special Breeders Health Care |
Belgian Sheepdog Temperament
Belgian Sheepdogs are sensitive, intelligent, high-energy dogs. They are easily trained as long as training is done with gentle handling and without severe physical correction. Most Belgian Sheepdogs are energetic dogs and require vigorous daily exercise to keep them healthy and happy. Running and playing with another dog, retrieving a ball, swimming or participating in other activities are some ways your dog can get the exercise he needs. If adequate exercise is not provided on a daily basis, your dog may bark or become destructive out of
frustration and boredom.
Belgian Sheepdogs are healthy and long-lived dogs and are excellent companions. They are tolerant of respectful children. Due to their herding and working history, they are intuitively protective of their people. They are dogs that thrive on human companionship. They have an intense need to be near their owners,
following them from room to room when indoors and watching them closely at all times. Because of this trait, your Belgian Sheepdog will be happiest when kept in the house as a member of your family.
Dogs kept in kennels or outdoors in fenced yards need a significant amount of “people time” each day in order to remain emotionally healthy. Isolation from humans will quickly ruin a Belgian Sheepdog’s personality and general outlook.
Belgian Sheepdog Care and Grooming
Belgian Sheepdogs require a proper diet of quality food and regular medical care with required vaccinations for protection against diseases. Heartworm medication is highly recommended if you live in a heartworm area. A healthy Belgian Sheepdog coat sheds dirt and does not require a great deal of maintenance. Weekly brushing down to the skin with a pin brush will eliminate mats and tangles and remove dander and dust. A slicker brush and undercoat rake will help remove undercoat during the shedding season.
Weekly toenail trimming and teeth cleaning should also be part of your dog’s grooming routine. Owners who have taken proper care of their dogs are usually rewarded with their Belgians Sheepdogs living long active lives. A Belgian Sheepdog living to 14 years of age is not unheard of.
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| Belgian Sheepdog Power Full Muscullar |
Belgian Sheepdog Be a Responsible Pet Owner
As a dog owner, your responsibility includes ensuring that your dog has a securely fenced area in which to exercise and leashing him when exercising in public places. When your Belgian Sheepdog is not being supervised, he should be confined to your home or a fenced area. Your dog should never be allowed to run free or roam as he could be injured or killed or cause damage to property. You should never keep a dog
tied or chained because of the high risk of injury to the dog.
Belgian Sheepdog Health Concerns
Belgian Sheepdogs are generally a healthy breed but, like all living things, can be susceptible to disease and affected by hereditary issues. Every breed has health concerns that owners (both new and experienced) need to be aware of in order to make the best decisions about ownership. In this breed, some problems that are seen are cancer, epilepsy, hip and elbow dysplaysia, PRA and cataracts. Hypothyroidism and retained testicles issues are seen as well. Each of these health issues are commonly found across all pedigree lines.
A breeder that subscribes to the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America Code of Ethics will try to reduce the likelihood that these health issues will occur in the dogs that they produce by completing health clearances on their breeding dogs. But most of these health issues are polygenetic and come from more than one gene pair. These traits are more complex than the typical dominant or recessive genetic trait and therefore, much more difficult to identify in breeding stock unless the dog is symptomatically affected.
When properly fed, this breed's solid black coat is beautiful. However, when fed protein with a low amount of the amino acid Phenylalanine, its coat can lose its pigmentation and that beautiful black color can turn to a dull orange. Native food supplies for this breed would have included beets, (which are the main vegetable crop of the area), wheat, mutton, poultry, and a limited amount of beef.
Another point to consider is that the health concerns highlighted here are very rarely unmanageable or result in the death of a pet. Many times, the health concerns referenced are much more of an inconvenience to the owners than they are to the dogs which learn to compensate quickly.
For the Belgian Sheepdog I recommend foods from low fat poultry and high carbohydrate beet, blended with wheat and beef. You should avoid feeding a commercial food with soy, fish, yellow corn or horse meat to this breed.
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