| The Belgian Shepherd Groenendael is in the sheepdog family, and is one of four varieties of Belgian Shepherd. The other three varieties are Laekenois, Malinois, and Tervuren. All varieties are anatomically identical, large-sized, square-proportioned, with sharply triangular ears, and differ in their hair texture, hair length, and colors. The Groenendael is recognized by his distinctive black coat. All Belgian Shepherds give the appearance of being athletic, strong, imposing, and balanced. He is a hardy dog, accustomed to living in the open air and built to resist inclement weather and the atmospheric changes so frequent in the Belgian climate. |
| Height: |
Male: 23-26½ inches; Female: 21-24½ inches |
| Weight: |
Male 55-75 pounds; Female: 50-65 pounds |
| Color(s): |
Black; with or without a small to moderate white patch on his chest and the tips of his toes, and white or gray frosting on his muzzle |
| Coat: |
Long and straight; abundant, dense, of good texture; double; rich and dense outer coat, giving good protection against wet and cold; very dense undercoat |
| Description: |
The Belgian Groenendael is the most popular variety of the Belgian Shepherds. They are hard-working, intelligent dogs, and make superb assistance dogs, thriving on this work.
Special Note: In some countries, the four varieties of Belgian Shepherd Dog are considered to be one breed. The American Kennel Club (AKC), in the United States, recognizes the Groenendael, under the name "Belgian Sheepdog". The United Kennel Club (UKC) and the Canadian Kennel Club (AKC) recognize all four varieties as the same breed. |
| Temperament: |
All four varieties of the Belgian Shepherd Dog are hard-working, active, loyal, affectionate, and intelligent dogs, who have been bred to be alert and sensitive to everything going on around them, and to develop extremely strong relationship bonds. The Belgian Shepherd wants to be with his human all the time, preferably doing some activity, and can find it very difficult to be left alone. He tends to be a "one-person dog". He is loyal and fun, and well-suited to family life. He cannot live outdoors or in a kennel. He needs to spend time with his family every day, and may experience separation anxiety if left alone for long periods of time. He is wary of strangers, and protective, and makes a good watch dog, as he is very observant and attentive to the slightest change in his environment. He will get along well with children, when introduced to children at an early age. Play, work, and exercise are important to keep a well-balanced Belgian Shepherd, and he is best-suited for an owner with plenty of time, energy, confidence, and love. Due to his high level of maintenance, the Belgian Shepherd is not generally recommended for first-time dog owners. |
| Training: |
The Belgian Shepherd is dominant by nature, and for training to be successful, his owner must established himself as the authority, the "pack leader". Once the Belgian's role in the pack is established, he is very loyal and obedient. He is a sensitive breed, and cannot be trained using harsh training methods. The Belgian Shepherd is an intelligent breed, that can quickly become bored with simple and undemanding repetition. He thrives on stimulation, work, and partnership with his owner. He does best with reward-based training, and does not do well with punishment or deterrence-based training. Because Belgian Shepherds require as much mental as physical stimulation, professional training is recommended by trainers for this type of dog, as well as continued development beyond the basics, such as obedience, agility, herding and other sports. The Belgian Shepherd requires significant socialization as a puppy, due to his size, strength, and because he is very people oriented. |
| Care & Grooming: |
The Belgian Shepherd requires a lot of exercise, ongoing stimulation, and purposeful activity outlets, and prefers these to be with people. Like most herding breeds, he does best when he has a job to do, such as herding, learning tricks, or dog agility training. Expect to spend about two hours a day with your Belgian. Exercise should include not only a walk, but also a training session to keep the dog mentally stimulated. He requires thorough grooming once a week, however when shedding, they lose massive amounts of coat, and need grooming every day. |
| Shedding: |
Heavy once or twice a year when they lose massive amounts of their coat |
| Health: |
Belgian Shepherds are afflicted with the most common dog health issues, such as 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. Other reported health problems include cataracts, thyroid problems, PRA, HD, and pannus. |
| Lifespan: |
10-14 years |
| Litter Size: |
6-10 puppies |
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