| The Groenendael |
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| The breed standard |
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| You are choosing a companion, and family member, to live in your home for the next 12 or more years. Be sure and spend time researching if this is the right breed for you, your lifestyle, and your entire family for many years to come. |
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| What kind of temperament does a Belgian Sheepdog have? |
| While there is a range of temperaments and activity levels in the breed, in general they are willing to please and people oriented. They do tend to be sensitive and usually don't take well to harsh training techniques. |
| However some are strong willed and need firm consistent handling from puppy hood. A responsible breeder will try and match the puppy's temperament and energy level to its new home. |
| Belgians, unlike the typical Golden or Lab, tend to be protective and territorial, they will protect their family and home, but this can be a negative in a busy household where there are frequent visitors and the family pet is expected to 'know' that one stranger coming into the home is 'ok' but another is not. That is asking for quite a bit of discrimination and a less naturally protective dog might work better. They can learn to discriminate, but building that ability takes time, training, and consistent socialization and exposure to a variety of situations and people over the first year to develop. |
| How are Belgian Sheepdogs with children? |
| Belgians can make excellent family pets. As a breed they are not as tolerant of young hands pulling tails and ears as are the retriever and hound breeds. If both the child and puppy learn to respect each other they are devoted and loyal companions. They are a herding breed and running children and kids on bikes are a temptation to chase and try and keep together. A puppy will need supervision and training to redirect it’s natural tendencies. |
| How much exercise does a Belgian Sheepdog need? |
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| Belgian Sheepdogs are a herding breed and they should have a moderately high activity level and drive to work, this is one reason they can make excellent performance dogs. Belgians have excelled in obedience, agility and tracking, but unless they have a constructive outlet for their energy they can become bored and destructive. They need exercise and attention every day. They like to be with 'their' person and will often follow their owner from room to room. |
| They are excellent companions for joggers or hikers in dog friendly areas and a good session of Frisbee or retrieving can provide an outlet when time is short. Often rescued or re-homed neutered dogs that are past the first two or three years of the highest activity can be ideal companions as they don't have as high a need for physical and mental activity. Belgians do have a strong prey drive and will chase deer or other wildlife if allowed to run loose. |
| More on Belgian Temperament |
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| Many Belgians are social and enjoy interacting with people they meet, but the Belgian Sheepdog is not a Golden or Labrador. They have been used for protecting home and farm as well as for police work and, if needed, have to be able to stand up to and back down unwilling livestock including intimidating cattle. This requires a dog with self confidence and the ability to react forcefully in the right situation. |
| It is the owner's responsibility to make sure their Belgian is exposed to enough situations and given the feedback, both negative and positive, to ensure their Belgian matures with the ability to discriminate between appropriate shows of aggression, for example someone is breaking into the house late at night or trying to assault you while out for a jog, and inappropriate aggression when on a busy walking path or when friends come to visit. They need an owner who can provide leadership in what is acceptable behavior to the dog, or he may decide he needs to take charge! |
| How much grooming does a Belgian Sheepdog need? |
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| Coat care is not demanding on a regular basis. They do shed heavily two times a year, the soft dense undercoat comes out, especially in the summertime. At those times daily brushing is needed, at other times a good weekly brushing and nail trimming is adequate. Sometimes the soft coat in the breeches, around the ears, and on the tail will tangle and need extra attention. |
| Do Belgian Sheepdogs have health problems? |
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| While they are a relatively healthy breed some do have hip and elbow dysplasia, and there are some eye problems and epilepsy. |
| Be sure to ask for health clearances on the sire and dam of a litter. Breeders should have OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certificates for hips and elbows as well as current CERF clearances for eye diseases. Unfortunately there is no test yet for epilepsy. Reputable breeders will research pedigrees and should be able to provide health information on most close relatives. |
| You can search for health clearances at: http://www.offa.org/search.html |
