Belgian Sheepdog

Want a dog that would warm up to you instantly? If so, then the Belgian Sheepdog (also known as the Belgian Shepherd or Chien de Berger Belge) is right for you. It was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1912 although its other breed was recognized as well. Belgians are highly trainable dogs that strive on stimulation, work, and partnership. They enjoy extensive training and can be taught to do a job that any dog can do such as getting the laundry, retrieving, guarding and more. For the dogs, these activities are not only jobs but can be regarded as play. Throwing a toy and asking the dog to fetch it works for some, but the Belgian breed is far more intelligent to engage in it endlessly.

Belgians are great companions for children as they are a loving and gentle breed. As a result, strangers may be negatively treated by the dogs. They are a people dog, and tend to always be with their masters. Belgians have to maintain close interaction with people, finding it difficult to be left alone. They are also overprotective of children that are understanding or are the ones that raised him. Its boundless virility makes it a wonderful playmate for the younger children.

They might respond negatively through training, especially when his owner lacks his respect. Bored Belgians are annoying, and hard to deal with. They even provoke their owner, to the point that they exhibit schadenfraude. Since they are overly protective, Belgians might detest another pet in the household or would rather think of it as prey. Once a Belgian does training for three days, it might not want to do it a fourth time due to its inept intelligence.

A Belgian Sheepdog weights about 40-75 pounds and stands erect at about 22-26 inches. The exterior coat is long and black which some perceive as a white undercoat. It can have about 6-10 puppies. It fits in best in cold climactic places as opposed to intense lukewarm.

Good Grooming For Belgian Sheepdogs

The thing about this breed of dog is that it sheds enormous amounts of fur, and is probably not the best for one with allergies associated with hair. A Belgian may need more clippings, especially between the toes, legs, and outer ears. Due to its heavy shredding, it is imperative to brush the coat once in a week and much more when it shreds heavily. Water can help avoid damaging the hair. The teeth must be cleaned at all times to prevent any dental problems in the future.

Health And Lifespan

Longevity for the Belgian Sheepdog is 12.5 years, a relatively high amount for purebred dogs and similar sized dogs. They are afflicted with health problems that any dog undergoes such as cancer, old age, organ failure, and cerebral vascular (stroke). They also suffer epilepsy which 9% of dogs have while 17% of Belgians suffer from the seizures. In a UK survey of Belgian Sheepdogs, it was gathered that in certain varieties of the breed the risk of having epilepsy is much higher.

Quick Facts

Alias:	Groenendael, Chien de Berger Belge	Size:	Medium/Large
Training:	High	Grooming:	Low
Shedding:	High	Exercise:	Walk and lots of runs daily
Energy:	High	Protection:	High, guard dog