AKA: Tervuren, Chien de Berger Belge

Description: The Belgian Tervuren is a muscular and squarely proportioned breed, with a flat skull and a tapered muzzle. It has almond-shaped eyes that are small and dark. The ears stand erect and stand like equilateral triangles on its head. Its nose is black and the teeth meet in a scissors bite.

The chest is deep and reaches down to the elbow. The front legs are straight and parallel to each other. The hindquarters are muscular and looks light. The feet is round and cat-like. The tail is long, feathered, and reaches at least to the hock.

The Belgian Tervuren has a medium- to long-length coat, with a dense undercoat and a straight, black-tipped outercoat. Extra feathering is found on the rump, and on the back of its legs. There is also a ruff around its neck that goes down to the chest.

Dynamics: The Belgian Tervuren is one of the four popular Belgian Sheepdogs. It is an intellegent breed, serious, obedient, and protective. Training it has to be firm, but not harsh, else the dog will be uncooperative. The Belgian Tervuren has to be socialized at an early age because of their strong protective and territorial instincts. It will be able to get along well with children and other household pets. It can be dominant among the other dogs, however.

The Belgian Tervuren is used as police and guard dog but they also make excellent pets. This breed actually thrive on loving companionship. They are alert, watchful, and loyal. This is a very demanding dog, though, and needs a owner who knows how to handle it.

Given time, training, and affection, the Belgian Tervuren will not present any problems. However, when left too long on its own and ignored, it might become restless and destructive. This breed may also display herding behavior such as chasing and running around and nipping at their heels.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: males 65-75 lbs (29-34 kg), females 60-70 lbs (27-32 kg)

Height: males 24-26 inches (61-66 cm), females 22-24 inches (56-61 cm)

Color: The base color of the Belgian Tervuren ranges from fawn to mahogany. Shades of gray are also accepted by some registries. White markings on the chest, toes, and chin are also common. The breed’s color generally darkens as it grows older.

Country of Origin: The Belgian Tervuren originated in Belgium, named after the Belgian village of Tervuren. It was Brewer M. Corbeel who founded the Belgian Tervuren after his fawn dog was crossed with a black longhaired dog owned by M. Donhieux.

Grooming: Daily combing and brushing is needed in grooming the Belgian Tervuren. Check and clip out mats that form. Cut the hair from between the toes and on the outer ears.

Activities: With its great stack of energy and stamina, the Belgian needs a lot of exercise and regular outdoor activities. This breed excels in herding, police and law enforcement work, drug busts, bomb and gas detection, search and rescue, tracking, obedience, sledding, agility, therapy, guide to the disabled or elderly, and naturally as a companion dog.

Other Info: The Belgian Tervuren has a life expectancy of 12-14 years. It is a generally healthy breed but is prone to minor health concerns such as epilepsy, skin allergies, eye problems, and hip and elbow dysplasia. Excessive shyness and excessive aggressiveness should also be carefully avoided through socialization and training.

The Belgian Tervuren will be fine in an apartment but it has to have its daily exercises and outdoor activities. This breed likes cool climates, but it does well with others.

AKA: Belgian Malinois, Chien de Berger Belge, Belgian Shepherd Malinois, Mechelaar, Mechelse Herder (Mechelse Schelper)

Description: The Belgian Malinois is one of the four Belgian shepherd dogs that originated in Belgium. It is a squarely muscular dog that is well-proportioned and agile. The chest is deep and reaches to the elbow. The front legs are straight and dewclaws may be removed. As for the hind legs, dewclaws has to be removed.

The neck has longer hair compared to the rest of the body, forming a collar around it. Th Malinois also has small dark almond-shaped eyes and triangular ears that stand erect. The skull is flat, the nose black, and the teeth meets in a scissors or level bite.

Dynamics: The Belgian Malinois is a very smart and obedient dog. Like the other Belgian Sheepdogs, it is watchful and has serious and strong protective and territorial instincts. It needs patient and extensive training. The training should not be harsh because the Malinois will become uncooperative in this case.

The Malinois has to be socialized from puppyhood to get along well with children and other animals. Take special care in introducing it with noncanine animals. They are loyal, alert, and instinctively protective, which can make it dominant over other dogs. If left alone, the Malinois will find some ways to amuse itself. It has a lot of energy and may sometimes show herding behavior by chasing and circling around.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: 55-65 lbs (24-29 kg)

Height: males 24-26 inches (61-66 cm), females 22-24 inches (56-61 cm)

Color: The Malinois’ coat ranges from fawn, red, mahogany, and black, and has black tips, mask, and ears. Some white can sometimes be seen on the chest and feet.

Country of Origin: The Belgian Malinois originated from Belgium and is named after the Belgian city of Malines.

Grooming: Grooming the Malinois is easy because its hair is short. Brush regularly with a bristle brush and bathe only when necessary.

Activities: The Malinois is a working dog with lots of energy. It is used to an activ outdoor life so it needs to have plenty of exercise. It also prefers to be off a leash and run free. Presently, the Belgian Malinois is used at tracking, guarding and protection, narcotics and bomb detection, search and rescue, herding, and pulling sleds or carts.

Other Info: The Malinois has a life expectancy of 12-14 years. It has no major health concerns although it is still prone to skin allergies, eye problems, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. Excessive shyness or excessive aggressiveness is not good for the Malinois too.

The Belgian Malinois will do okay in an apartment but it has to be sufficiently exercised and taken outdoors from time to time. This breed prefers cool climates but can adapt to others.

AKA: Chien de Berger Belge, Belgian Shepherd Laekenois

Description: One of the four Belgian shepherd dogs, the Laekenois has a unique wire coat that distinguishes it from the other breeds. It has a shaggy and woolly look because its coat can grow up to 2 inches long. The hair is dense and bushy on the tail.

Its body is sturdy, well proportioned, and muscular. The ears look small and set high on the head and the eyes are dark in contrast to the light hair color. The front legs are straight and the feet are round and cat-like. Dewclaws may be removed from the front legs and has to be removed from the hind legs. The skull is flat, the nose black, and the teeth meets in a scissors or level bite.

Dynamics: The Laekenois is the rarest among the four Belgian shepherd dogs. Like the other three, it is serious, smart, and obedient. It also has strong protective and territorial instincts. It needs patient and extensive training. It does not pay to be harsh to the Laekenois because it will only be uncooperative in this case.

The Laekenois has to be socialized from its puppyhood to socialize well with children and people. Take extra care when introducing it to noncanine animals. They are instinctively protective and can be dominant with other dogs.

It is best for a Laekenois if it is given time, attention, and companionship. If left alone, this breed will find ways to amuse itself. It has lots of energy and needs to have something to do most of the time.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: 55-65 lbs (24-29 kg)

Height: males 24-26 inches (61-66 cm), females 22-24 inches (56-61 cm)

Color: The Laekenois comes in a range from fawn to mahogany with black overlay.

Country of Origin: The Laekenois originated from Belgium. It was once the favored sheep tender and the “dog to have” but is now the rarest among the four Belgian Sheepdogs.

Activities: The Laekenois has lots of energy to dispose of and needs a lot of exercise. It is accustomed to an active outdoor life and prefer to be off a leash and kennel.

Grooming: Grooming the Laekenois takes special attention. The rough, wiry coat has to be trimmed about twice a year. Excess hair should be removed and do not trim to closely to the skin. Use a coarse-toothed comb for grooming. Bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The Laekenois has a life expectancy of 12-14 years. It has no major health concerns but it is still prone to skin allergies, eye problems, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. Excessive shyness or excessive aggressiveness is not also good for the Laekenois to have. The Laekenois will do fine in an apartment but it has to be taken out on exercises and daily walks. It is only moderately active indoors and will sometimes sleep outdoors. This breed prefers cool climates, but will be okay to other conditions.

AKA: Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Shepherd, Chien de Berger Beige

Description: The most popular the four Belgian shepherd dogs, the Groenendael is a muscular black dog with a body that is squarely proportioned. It has a coat that is moderately long, especially a little full at the neck, underside, legs, and tail. The face and lower legs have short hair. The Groenendael has a dense undercoat.

The Groenendael has almond-shaped brown eyes, a black nose, and triangular ears that stand erect. The muzzle is long and the chest is deep, reaching into the elbow. The front legs are straight and parallel to each other. Dewclaws may be removed from the front legs but it is imperatively removed from the back legs. The feet is cat-like and round. The skull is flat and the teeth is in a scissors or level bite.

Dynamics: The Belgian Shepherd Groenendael is a serious, smart, and obedient dog. It has strong protective and territorial instincts, which makes it a very good shepherd and guard dog. It can be shy or sensitive, and needs extensive socialization from puppyhood. The training should be patient and not harsh for the Groenendael has a tendency to be uncooperative if it feels heated upon.

Due to its protective instincts and loyalty, the Groenendael can become an excellent police and guard dog. But it can also be a very good pet. It is a loving companion and it is good with children if socialized with them.

The Groenendael is best when it has something to do. If left alone, it will find some ways to entertain itself. It has a lot of energy inside it and can be dominant at times. Extra care should be taken when introducing it with other dogs and non-canine pets. The breed tends to be dominant over them unless properly socialized.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: males 65-75 lbs (29-34 kg), females 60-70 lbs (27-32 kg)

Height: males 24-26 inches (61-66 cm), females 22-24 inches (55-61 cm)

Color: The Groenendael’s coat is black. Some may posses a little white on the chest, chin or toes.

Country of Origin: The Groenendael, or the Belgian Shepherd, got its name from a village in Belgium. It was bred by Nicholas Rose, by pairing a Petite and a Picard d’Uccle.

Activities: This working dog needs a lot of exercise and is used to an active outdoor life. It is also best for them to be free from a leash and kennel and in a safe area.

Grooming: Grooming the Groenendael requires daily combing and brushing because of its heavy outer coat and dense undercoat. Take special care when they are shedding. Clip hair to form the ruff and legs, toes, and outer ears. The Groenendael sheds twice a year with additional shedding throughout.

Other Info: The Groenendael has a life expectancy of 13-14 years. It hardly has any major health problems but it is prone to epilepsy,skin allergies,eye problems, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. It also has a tendency to be either excessively shy or excessively aggressive, and this is generally not a good thing for a Groenendael. Be careful not to overfeed this breed because it can become lazy and obese.

This breed will be okay in an apartment but it has to be sufficiently exercise and taken outdoors from time to time. It will sometimes want to sleep outdoors, though generally it wants to be with his family.

Presently, the Groenendael is being used in herding, as a watch and guard dog, in drug detection, search and rescue, and as a family companion.

AKA: Matin Beige, Chien de Trait, Belgian Draft Mastiff

Description: The Belgian Mastiff is a very strong dog with an athletic and muscular build. It has a short coat, black nose, and big ears.

Dynamics: The Belgian Mastiff is not known to be a really friendly dog but it can be reared to be loving and loyal. It is courageous, intelligent, and powerful. The original Belgian Mastiff was a very hard working bobtail mastiff of the butcher’s dog type. The Belgian Mastiff’s primary work was as a draft dog. He pulled carts for the poorer Belgians who could not afford a horse. The Belgian army also used this breed to pull their heavy equipment. He was not known as a really friendly dog but he was very loving, loyal and protective towards his family. He was said to sometimes be vicious with strangers but over all was not a very aggressive dog. He was intelligent, courageous and powerful. It was an active dog who was not nervous and was pretty standoffish with strangers. This breed needed some type of job to do to vent his strong drive and energy. He was a calm and obedient dog.

Breed Group: Mastiff

Weight: 99-110 lbs (45-50 kg)

Height: 27-31 inches (69-78 cm)

Color: The coat came in reddish, brown-brindle, fawn, or black with a dark mask and or infrequent white markings.

Country of Origin: The Belgian Mastiff is suspected to originate from Belgium because the breed was used as cart pulling dogs there long ago. There are speculations that the breed most likely came from France because of its resemblance to the French hounds but there was no exact statement on this. There is also speculation that this breed may be already extinct.

Activities: As the Belgian Mastiff is a working dog, the breed needs to be doing something most of the time. Take it out for exercises and walks.

Other Info: The Belgian Mastiff requires very little grooming. The breed is also used for guard work, tracking, search, and rescue.

AKA: Griffon Belge, Griffon Bruxellois, Brussels Griffon, Petit Brabancon, Belgium Griffon

Description: The Belgian Griffon is a sturdy toy dog with a domed head and an undershot jaw. It has a very short nose and lustrous eyes. It has a pouting look that almost gives a human expression. The ears can be cropped. Its tail is docked and carried high.

There are two types of Belgian Griffon: the rough-coated, and the smooth-coated or petit Brabancon variety. The petit Brabancon requires less grooming than the former.

Dynamics: The Griffon is a cheerful and intelligent dog. It makes a fine companion as it is affectionate, willful, and charming. They can be very loving, but can also get moody at times. The Griffon basically loves to be spoiled.

The Griffon can get along well with other dogs and even with cats. It can be a little hard to housebreak, though. The Griffon can also be made into a good watch dog.

Breed Group: Terrier, Toy

Weight: 6-12 lbs (2.5-5.5 kg)

Height: 7-8 inches (18-20 cm)

Color: Griffons come in red, a mixture of red-brown & black, black & tan, or solid black.

Country of Origin: The Belgian Griffon originated in Belgium in the 1800s. The breed was popular among coach houses before the royal palaces recognized it as a pet.

Activities: A good walk will do for the Belgian Griffon. They are active indoors and don’t need much exercise outdoors.

Other Info: The Belgian Griffon has a life expectancy of 12-15 years. This dog is difficult to breed. It is also prone to eye and respiratory problems. The breed is fit for apartment life and is okay if the home does not have much space or a yard.

Grooming: Grooming the Belgian Griffon requires some attention, since the Griffon sheds little or no hair. But the coat can be clipped.