Puppy Dog Breed Belgian Sheepdog
Latest Belgian Sheepdog Latest News
Latest Belgian Sheepdog Frequently Asked Questions:
..than why not here??? I have heard that on a dog show once, but there was no explanation as to why the breed is split in three in North America. I heard that the Belgium Malinois is like the short haired version that is allowed to to breed with the long haired version in Belgium.
Answer:Actually they are all Belgian Shepherds but vary in variety. Only the AKC deems them as separate breeds and that, sadly is due to politics in the 1950s. Tervs and Sheepdogs were shown together but the Tervs were doing most of the winning in the show rings! Sad, but true. There are four varieties - - Tervuren - Groenendael (Sheepdog) - Malinois - Laekenois (wire hair) However, genetics being genetics, Sheepdogs can have Tervuren offspring and visa versa. Malinois can have Tervuren and so on. Some countries do allow intervariety breeding, the AKC will not register the products of intervariety breeding if the parents are AKC registered. However, if the pup is imported from parents that are not registered with the AKC? The AKC will recognize the variety of the dog as written on the export pedigree...therefore we have Tervs from Malinois, Tervs from Groenendael over here. Clear as mud, right?
I'm planning to buy a Belgian sheepdog, which one is more protective and loyal? Female or male? Are they like a one-man dog?
Answer:Okay, this is my breed, so this will be long. :) To answer your question first : Yes, they do. Belgian Shepherd Dogs develop an intense bond with their handler and tend to be a one-man dog, although they will also bond to the rest of the family. It's something to consider, it sounds very sweet and idyllic with a dog that's so focused on you, but in reality the intensity of a Belgian Shepherd Dog is too much for many dog owners. For example, my husband is happy that he's not the primary object of our Groenendael's affection, because she would be way too much for him if he were - and this is not uncommon at all. Being the object of near god-like worship can be exhausting. You must earn a BSD's respect. It cannot be forced through silly things like dominance or alpha rolls. If the dog finds you worthy, it will be fiercely loyal regardless of gender. Protection instincts depends on the individual dog and which lines it comes from. If you're considering IPO training, males generally tend to be better for the job than females, although females can compete and do well too. For IPO training, it's vital that you do your home-work and pick a dog with the right mentality and from the right lines. There are a few good Tervueren and Groenendael IPO lines in Europe, but in general your best bet for this kind of work would be Malinois. On the other hand, if you're looking for more of a family dog with a job, stay well away from the high-drive Malinois lines. Belgian Shepherd Dogs are not a dog for everyone and they require an experienced handler. Training a Belgian Shepherd Dog is like walking a fine line, be too hard on it and a breed typical BSD will ignore you - and a poorly bred BSD will become fearful and aggressive. Be too soft and it will walk all over you. - They need a lot of mental and physical exercise - think near Border Collie activity level. - Unless you're working them extensively as a working dog, they will not thrive in a kennel environment. - They are herding dogs, which means that with a young BSD, you will not only be dealing with puppy play-biting, but also herding nips and herding behaviour, such as bumping into you at full speed. This can be a problem if you have young children. - They need EXTENSIVE socialization at a young age. - They tend to have a much worse teenage phase than most other breeds and they won't be fully mentally mature until 2-3 years old. - They were bred to guard and protect livestock and make independent decisions about whether someone or something was a threat or not - something you have to take into consideration when you're training the dog. It MUST refer to you at all times, you MUST have full control over the dog at all times. Some poorly bred lines of the breed have problems with a nervous and fearful temperament, especially the Tervueren and Groenendael. There is a reason why the Tervueren has gotten the unflattering nick-name of "Nervueren". This is something you need to be very aware off when getting one of these breeds. Look for mental tested dogs from a reputable breeder. If you're getting an adult dog, make sure to get a chance to observe it in different situations and not just in its home environment. If you're getting a puppy, make sure to, as a minimum, meet the mother - she should preferably be mental tested as should the father - and the puppy before you get it. While BSDs should reserved with strangers, they must never be fearful or aggressive - any signs of such behaviour and you should run the other way. Fast. Also make sure the dog comes form hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia and epilepsy free lines. I love the BSD, my first dog was a Tervueren and my current dog is a Groenendael, but I have to admit that when people ask me about whether they should get one or not, then 99% of the times, I advice them not to, because the BSDs tend to be too much of a handful for most dog owners, even experienced ones. The BSDs are not forgiving when it comes to handler mistakes - and I've lost count of the times I've seen lovely, mentally sound and breed typical BSDs turn into absolute nightmares (destructive behaviour, aggression, dominance) merely because they had owners who thought they could handle a BSD the same way as a Golden Retriever - and these were not horrible people, they were sweet, responsible dog owners, who just got in way over their heads. So please, consider carefully if this really is the breed for you, before you get one.
Answer:I have had three Belgians, 2 Grons and 1 Turv, I have still got 2 of them and think that they are great fun. The oldest is 10 and a real character, he opens all the doors in our house so is always raiding bins. The youngest (Turv) is 3 and loves our kids, she goes on the trampoline with them and runs with them when they ride their bikes over a field. I think that they should only be owned by experienced dog people as they need so much socializing at an early age. But given the right training and socialization they are the perfect (although a little cheeky) pet.
Answer:12-14 years
Hi, we are planning to get a dog and are going to get either of the 2 in the title. which ones are easier to train and better for first time owners? Also can someone post a link to a reputable breeder for bother of those breeds or a link to a rescue for those breeds? i need the breeeders and rescues to be close to mississauga ontario, or toronto ontario. in the title i meant Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael) or Belgian TERVUREN or do you think that a labrador would be better suited? can you guys please post link and rescues for labs aswell? thanks. can you post breeders and rescues near or in mississauga ontario, or toronto ontario. ? thanks :D
Answer:A well-bred Belgian of ANY of the types would NOT be what I would consider a good dog for a novice owner. You're far better off to start with a Lab. Nearly every shelter on earth has a plethora of Labs and Lab mixes. Petfinder.com can point you to one that is close to you.
