Belgian Shepherd belongs to the shepherd breeds. Dogs have excellent intelligence, and are also able to make independent decisions even in difficult situations.
Material Content:
Origin history
At the end of the 19th century, the Belgian Adolf Riyuli made several attempts to breed a shepherd dog on the basis of the same type. The dog was supposed to be of medium height, have erect ears, a distinctive color and a certain length of coat. To achieve the ideal, the scientist crossed the local dogs that accompanied the herds. Since the experiments were carried out with motley individuals, four representatives of the Belgian Shepherd were immediately bred.
Riyuli wanted to get a breed that would become a national pride and he succeeded. Soon, the fame of the Belgian Shepherd spread throughout the world, and began to use it for official purposes.
In 2011, a new white breed of Belgian Shepherd Dogs was bred, today it is very rare and is not recognized by many cynological organizations at all.
Description and characteristics of the breed
All types of Belgian Shepherd Dog have similar sizes and equipment. Therefore, we will focus on the standard description. The dogs have a proportional physique, medium, but powerful, body, well-developed muscular muscles.
Dogs grow up to 66 centimeters, females - up to 62 cm. Dogs are very friendly to familiar people, but to outsiders show restraint without aggression. If the shepherd has excessive activity, then this is a disadvantage.
Shepherd dogs are easy to learn, try to complete any tasks and please the owner. They get along well with all the household, love the kids.
Types of Belgian Shepherd Dog
In total there are 4 types of Belgian shepherd:
- Belgian Shepherd Dog Malinois is the most common breed. Their distinguishing feature is the ideal security and search skills. Now only they are listed in the cynological divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Dogs - owners of a dense and dense coat of wool. On the face they must have a black mask. Wool has fawn color.
- Belgian Shepherd Groenendael - This breed is significantly different from Malinois. Her representatives have an unusual appearance. They also serve as guards, in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and are used to work at customs. During the First World War, shepherds played the role of sappers, rescuers and demolitionists. Possess long black hair, to the touch it is very soft. In the neck, the coat is more elongated, forms a noticeable collar.
- Belgian Shepherd Tervueren - The breed has a longer coat and shorter hair throughout the head. Color has a red tint with black spots. They have excellent security and search qualities, serve in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- Belgian Shepherd Dog Lakenua - they are distinguished by a red color with black spots. Most accumulation of black in the region of the head and tail. Despite the fact that the breed has the most balanced psyche, it is not particularly popular with dog breeders.
There is another interesting subspecies of shepherd dogs from Belgium - the Belgian Shepherd Shepherd. For a long time there was a debate about whether it refers nevertheless to shepherd dogs or to Spitz. In her homeland she is referred to the first, sometimes called a black shepherd, as she has an exclusively black color.
Today it is forbidden to cross dogs between subspecies. An exception is written permission, which may be issued by the breed’s official council.
Life span
Belgians live on average about 11-12 years, but there have been cases when dogs survived to 15 years. To do this, you need to adhere to proper care and a balanced diet.
The purpose and nature of the dog
Despite the fact that all subspecies of the shepherd from Belgium are similar to each other, they still have certain differences in behavior and character:
- Lakenua is the most good-natured, obedient and complaisant subspecies.
- Groenendali is quite sensitive pets, it seems that they are able to fulfill almost any request. Dogs can take part in relay races and in rescue operations.
- Malinois - have the instinct of a guard, can become a reliable bodyguard. They have pronounced dominant qualities.
- Tervuren - possess guard qualities, restrained, never attack without an obvious reason.
Absolutely all subspecies are united by energy, activity and poise; they have no aggression. Pets are able to protect the owner, all family members, as well as trusted property.
Breed standard and puppy selection
The following characteristics of appearance are characteristic of the standard:
- Head - has proportional shapes with a smooth transition from the forehead to the muzzle. Closer to the nose, the muzzle is narrower.
- The nose is black. The mouth opens well, this allows you to view the entire dental system. The teeth are white, strong, the jaw is well developed. Lips are thin and dry.
- The eyes are almond-shaped, set on shallow, but they are not convex. The color is brown, the look is vibrant.
- The ears are small, triangular, sitting high.
- The neck is slightly elongated, clearly visible, has good muscles, expands to the shoulders.
- The body is powerful, square in shape, but it is not heavy.
- The limbs are quite muscular, strong, have strong dry muscles, are set parallel to each other.
- Tail at base thickened.At rest, it can hang, but when the animal is excited, it assumes a standing curved shape.
When choosing a puppy, consider all of the above features. As practice shows, it’s unlikely that you can buy a purebred pet with good indicators and an excellent pedigree. For these purposes, it is worth contacting a special nursery. The cost of a puppy starts from 30 thousand rubles, and if you want a premium pet that will take part in exhibitions, then be prepared to pay at least 60 thousand for it.
Maintenance, care and feeding
Caring for a Belgian Shepherd Dog does not require specific skills. The rules are the same for almost all representatives of the breed, there can only be certain differences in combing, since this process depends on the length of the coat.
- Combing out. The wool of Malinois is considered the easiest to care for. It is enough to comb them out every two weeks. Breeds with longer hair require a weekly combing.
- Bathing. Usually this procedure is carried out on demand, the Belgian Shepherd is washed at least once a season. Be sure to use a special shampoo, as representatives of the breed have sensitive skin.
- Observe dental hygiene, they must be cleaned daily. For this procedure, use a special paste and brush.
- At least once a month, check the length of the nails, if necessary, they need to be shortened. If a pet walks a lot on asphalt, then pruning is much less common.
- Check your auricles every week. All contaminants are removed with a cotton swab dipped in water or a special solution. Once a month, drops should be used to prevent infectious diseases. If redness has been noticed, then it is necessary to consult a specialist.
- Check your eyes regularly, remove all accumulations in the corner with a cotton pad.
Care procedures should be done from a very young age. This is how one can accustom a dog to calm behavior during all manipulations with it.
As for feeding, it is better to give preference to industrial feeds. Despite the fact that the Belgian Shepherd is unpretentious in food, nutrition should be balanced. Therefore, you will have to carefully consider your pet's diet. Purchased feed already contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Buy food from trusted manufacturers, choose those that are suitable for active dogs. This will help restore the energy spent during walks.
If you still decide to feed with natural products, then consider the following factors:
- The menu should be varied. Despite the fact that the animal is considered a predator, it should not be fed with one meat. In addition to lean meat in the diet should be cereals - buckwheat, rice, barley. Add vegetables and vegetable oil. Once a week boiled fish, sour-milk products and boiled egg are allowed.
- Vitamins - in this matter it is worth getting advice from a veterinarian. He will pick up your dog the necessary vitamin and mineral complex.
- Watch the portion size, it should be compared with the age and weight of the animal. Do not overfeed the dog, he must always be energetic and agile.
- Belgians are forbidden to give sweets, smoked meats, raw pork, tubular bones and river fish. These foods can harm the animal and cause many diseases.
Training and raising a Belgian Shepherd Dog
Training any dog requires certain skills. The Belgians have good intelligence and intelligence, so they require a firm, but gentle appeal to themselves. In no case do not use brute force, otherwise you can get an aggressive or cowardly creature with unpredictable behavior.
It is necessary to train and educate an animal from childhood. Early socialization will allow you to achieve fast and desired results in training.The Belgian is able to master various professions, including lifeguard and guide. He can be a great companion.
At the first stage of training, you need to accustom the dog to the nickname, to learn the most primitive commands with it - “stand”, “to me”, “sit”, “fu”, “lie” and so on.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Like all pets, Belgians have their pros and cons.
The advantages of the breed include the following:
- sensitivity - the dog has good guard and security skills;
- has excellent innate intelligence and smartness;
- with proper care, it is easy to train, it is even possible to train a dog in circus tricks;
- dogs are infinitely loyal to their master and family members.
The disadvantages of the breed:
- Belgian Shepherd is not suitable for beginner dog breeders;
- year-round molting, provided that the pet will live in the apartment;
- do not tolerate loneliness, therefore, do not recommend dogs to leave themselves for a long time;
- constant physical activity and active walks are necessary.
Do not forget that a healthy pet should always be active and mobile, have a good appetite. Pay due attention to care and start to work with your pet as soon as he gets into your home.
