The medium-sized dog was originally used for herding purposes in Belgium, its home country. The dog is alert, protective and his versatile nature makes him useful in various fields like work and sports. The dog is also used in police work.
Physical Traits
Area of Origin: Belgium
Used for: Herding, Police work
Average Life Span: 10-12 years
Color: Black
Coat: Long straight and dense
Average Height: 22-26 inches
Average Weight: 60-75 pounds
Group: Herding
History and Domestication
Sometimes referred to as Groenendael, the Belgium Sheepdog is known for its hard-working nature. It is a variation of Continental shepherd of Belgium Shepherd but with a longer black coat compared to the latter. The Belgian Shepherd was registered by the Societe Royale Saint-Hubert between 1891 and 1901. Hard efforts were made to develop standard size for the breed as well as make them better at exhibition shows.
The earliest of these dogs were used for guarding and herding purposes. They later played significant role during World War 1 and came to be used as police dogs. Later in 1959, it got its current name, a distinct name from Belgian Shepherd which was separated into breeds.
Standard Physical Characteristics
The Belgian Sheepdog has a square proportioned body with moderately heavy bones inside his body. Its gait is tireless, effortless and very smooth enabling it to herd for longer durations. It gets its sophisticated look from its intelligent facial expressions which are very striking too. It has a dense undercoat which is generally black in color. Its coat is long and straight. The interesting thing about Belgian sheepdogs is that they tend to move in circle instead of a straight line.
Care, Grooming and Health
The Belgian Sheepdog loves living inside the house with its human mates though it does adapt well to outdoor living. It performs well when it has an access to yard. The dog needs exercise on a regular basis and he needs to be taken for his daily walks and jogs. The coat requires regular brushing especially during the time of shedding. This is very healthy breed and doesn’t face many health problems.
Living Conditions
The Belgian Sheepdog is well suited for an apartment life but it requires intense exercise. It does well with an average sized yard.
Temperament
The dog is best defined as intense as it exhibits an independent nature and is very protective towards its human mates. The breed is a great choice if you want a house dog. Te dog gets very conscious of strangers and can shows signs of aggression towards other dogs and pets. The dog is known to be extremely obedient but also playful and alert at the same time. The dog is intelligent and a quick learner and hence needs a trainer who is kind and consistent. The breed learns very quickly. Some of them can display dominating nature if not dealt with properly and not trained in a good manner.
