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The Groenendael or the Belgian Shepherd Dog
(also know as the Belgian Sheepdog or Chien de Berger Belge)
can refer to any of four varieties of dog: the Groenendael,
the Laekenois, the Tervuren, or the Malinois. In some regions,
these are considered four different varieties of a single
breed; in other regions, they are considered separate breeds.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes only the Groenendael
under the name "Belgian Sheepdog", but also
recognizes the Tervuren (with the alternative spelling
"Tervueren") and the Malinois as individual breeds.
The Laekenois can be registered as part of the AKC foundation
stock service and should eventually be recognised fully by the
AKC.
The Australian National Kennel Council and the New Zealand
Kennel Club recognize all four as separate breeds. The
Canadian Kennel Club, Kennel Union of South Africa and the
Kennel Club (UK) follow the FCI classification scheme and
recognises all four as varieties of the same breed. All are
hard-working, intelligent dogs of the same general size and
temperament. They differ in their coats and superficially in
appearance.
They are so closely related that, when breeding any two dogs
of the same coat colour and length (eg Groenendael), it is
possible for puppies of different "breeds" to be in
the same litter. For example, a Groenendael litter could
contain a brown-coated long-haired puppy; in countries that
consider them the same breed with 4 coat varieties, this is
fine and the puppy would be a valid Tervuren, but the AKC
considers it to be an aberration of the all-black Belgian
Shepherd and disqualifies it in the conformation ring.
This dog can be bred with other Groenendaels (indeed the AKC
allows this because the dog is after all registered as a
Groenendael!) and worked in obedience, agility and other
sports venues. Likewise, a Malinois could have a long-coated
puppy; in some countries, this is merely the Tervueren coat
variation but the AKC again considers it to be a
disqualifiable fault in the conformation ring.
In years gone past, the Groenendael and Tervuren were one
breed with coat variations until the Club decided to petition
the AKC to make the separation into two separate breeds.
Belgian Shepherds are bred to be highly intelligent, alert and
sensitive to everything going on around them, and to develop
extremely strong relationship bonds. This means that they need
significant socializing as puppies, lifelong activity outlets,
and will seek to be with "their human" all the time,
preferably doing something rather than waiting around. They
can find it very difficult to be left alone. During their
juvenile years, they can go through irrational fears (similar
to the child who believes there is a monster in the closet),
and can suddenly develop anxiety over some object or place
which has never been a problem before, although these fade
over time with a good positive lead. They tend strongly to be
a "one person dog."
All the Belgian Shepherd breeds need a lot of activity and
close interaction with people. Like most herding breeds, they
need a job to do (be it herding, learning tricks, dog
agility). Throwing a toy endlessly for the dog to fetch works
for some breeds, but the Belgian breeds are intelligent and
sociable dogs who can easily become bored with such simple and
undemanding repetition. Many Belgians make superb assistance
dogs who thrive on knowing that their jobs are indeed
necessary for their chosen person.
They are widely considered to be a fine looking dog, loyal,
intelligent, fun, and well suited to family life. However
because of their high sensitivity to criticism or to being
ignored, their careful handling and socialising needs, their
need for ongoing stimulation and purposeful activity, and
their potential (in common with other high energy dogs such as
Siberian Huskies) to become destructive if bored, they are not
usually considered suitable for a first-time or inexperienced
owner, or one who cannot meet their needs.
Belgians are highly trainable dogs that thrive on intellectual
stimulation, work, and partnership with their owner. They
enjoy extensive training and can be taught to do any job a dog
is capable of doing, including finding their toys by name,
gathering dirty laundry, catching insects that get into the
house, digging up weeds on command, and other tasks in
addition to the usual obedience, retrieving and
house-guarding. These activities are both work and play for
the dog and should be enjoyed, not hurried through.
As with most working dogs, the owner of a Belgian Shepherd
must maintain his dog's repect, and respect the dog in return.
Belgian shepherds can over-react badly to "negative"
(punishment or deterrence based) training, so as a rule their
training should be based on reward. Punishment in training can
cause the Tervuren to lose respect for its trainer, if the
trainer becomes angry, loses their temper, or punishes in a
way that does not fit the crime. Striking the Belgian or
raging shows the dog that you have lost control of the
situation. Some Belgians may even provoke their trainer and
then laugh at the result, exhibiting their famous sense of
humor!
Overly permissive training can also cause problems for the
same reason; the dog learns that it controls the relationship
and loses respect for its owner. Belgians can "play
dumb", pretend to be frightened or confused, and
otherwise manipulate a permissive owner in order to get
attention (usually their most-coveted reward). It is important
for the owner to know how to train dogs or to enroll in
training classes to avoid misunderstandings. Professional
training is highly recommended by trainers/academies specific
to this type of dog, as well as continued training or
development beyond the basics, such as obedience, agility and
herding and other sports. This is because Belgian Shepherds as
a rule require mental stimulation as much or more so then
physical. Most Belgian owners know that rote or pattern-based
training is not the ideal for Belgians. Nor is drilling a
particular activity going to prove successful. If a Belgian
does something right 3 times in a row, he does not see the
sense in doing it the fourth time.
Negative behaviors in Belgian Shepherds usually result from
insufficient stimulation, both physical and mental. Bored
Belgians can become annoying, destructive, manipulative or
territorial, all in an effort to engage with their family and
environment. These behaviors can be prevented or alleviated
with play, work, and exercise. Any nervousness or phobias can
also be prevented with early socialization; puppies can be
taught to greet new and potentially frightening things with
curiousity rather than fear, playing on their natural
curiosity and intelligence.
There have been few health surveys of the individual Belgian
Shepherd varieties. The UK Kennel Club conducted a 2004 health
survey of all Belgian Shepherd varieties combined. The Belgian
Sheepdog (=Groenendael) Club of America Health Committee has a
health registry questionnaire, but it is not clear whether or
when results will be reported. The American Belgian Tervuren
Club conducted health surveys in 1998 and 2003. Only the 2003
report included longevity information.
Median longevity of Belgian Shepherds (all varieties combined)
in the 2004 UK survey, was 12.5 years, which is on the high
side, both for purebred dogs in general and for breeds similar
in size. The longest-lived of 113 deceased Belgians in the UK
survey was 18.2 years. Leading causes of death were cancer
(23%), cerebral vascular, i.e., stroke (13%), and old age
(13%).
Average longevity of Belgian Tervurens in the 2003 American
Belgian Tervuren Club survey was lower, at 10.6 years, than in
the UK survey. The difference in surveys does not necessarily
mean Belgian Tervurens live shorter lives than other varieties
of Belgian Shepherds. Breed longevities in USA/Canada surveys
are usually shorter than those in UK surveys. Leading causes
of death in the 2003 American Belgian Tervuren Club survey
were cancer (35%), old age (23%), and organ failure (heart,
kidney, liver) (13%).
Belgian Shepherds are afflicted with the most common dog
health issues (reproductive, musculoskeletal, and
dermatological) at rates similar to breeds in general. They
differ most notably from other breeds in the high incidence of
seizures and/or epilepsy. In the UK survey of Belgian
Shepherds and both the 1998 and 2003 ABTC survey of Belgian
Tervurens, about 9% of dogs had seizures or epilepsy. Other
studies have reported rates of epilepsy in Belgian Tervurens
as high as 17%, or about one in six dogs. For comparison, the
incidence of epilepsy/seizures in the general dog population
is estimated at between 0.5% and 5.7%.
Ownership: They are widely considered to be a fine looking
dog, loyal, intelligent, fun, and well suited to family life.
However because of their high sensitivity to criticism or to
being ignored, their careful handling and socialising needs,
their need for ongoing stimulation and purposeful activity,
and their potential (in common with other high energy dogs
such as Siberian Huskies) to develop problems or even become
destructive if bored, they are not usually considered suitable
for a first time or inexperienced owner, or one who cannot
meet their needs.
Temperament: Belgian Shepherds are bred to be highly
intelligent, alert and sensitive to everything going on around
them, and to develop extremely strong relationship bonds. This
means that they need significant socializing as puppies,
lifelong activity outlets, and will seek to be with
"their human" all the time, preferably doing
something rather than waiting around. They can find it very
difficult to be left alone. During their juvenile years, they
can go through irrational fears (similar to the child who
believes there is a monster in the closet), and can suddenly
develop anxiety over some object or place which has never been
a problem before, although these fade over time with a good
positive lead. They tend strongly to be a "one person
dog."
Belgian shepherds like to please, and can over-react badly
to "negative" (punishment or deterrence based)
training, so they should as a rule be clicker- or
reward-trained only. They can also behave as if they think
that they are smarter than their owners, so it is important
for the owner to know how to train dogs or to enroll in
training classes. Professional training is highly recommended
by trainers/academies specific to this type of dog, as well as
continued training or development beyond the basics, such as
obedience, agility and herding and other sports. This is
because Belgian Shepherds as a rule require mental stimulation
as much or more so then physical. Most Belgian owners know
that rote or pattern-based training is not the ideal for
Belgians. Nor is drilling a particular activity going to prove
successful. If a Belgian does something right 3 times in a
row, he, or she, does not see the sense in doing it the fourth
time!
All the Belgian Shepherd breeds need a lot of activity and
close interaction with people. Like most herding breeds, they
need a job to do (be it frisbee in the park, herding, learning
tricks, dog agility). Throwing a toy endlessly for the dog to
fetch works for some breeds, but the Belgian breeds are
intelligent and sociable dogs who can easily become bored with
such simple and undemanding repetition. Many Belgians make
superb assistance dogs who thrive on knowing that their jobs
are indeed necessary for their chosen person.
Ownership: They are widely considered to be a fine
looking dog, loyal, intelligent, fun, and well suited to
family life. However because of their high sensitivity to
criticism or to being ignored, their careful handling and
socialising needs, their need for ongoing stimulation and
purposeful activity, and their potential (in common with other
high energy dogs such as Siberian Huskies) to develop problems
or even become destructive if bored, they are not usually
considered suitable for a first time or inexperienced owner,
or one who cannot meet their needs.
Health: Belgians overall are fairly healthy as a
breed, especially compared to many other breeds. Their main
illnesses as a breed are epilepsy, hip dysplasia, thyroid
conditions, and cataracts. A study at UC indicates that 17%
(one in 6) will develop epilepsy, although most of these will
only develop occasional petit mal seizure and not be seriously
affected by it. Their more compact form means they are less
likely to develop dysplasia than German Shepherds or other
breeds (around 8% or 1 in 12). Cataracts can develop around
ages 2-4.
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