Belgian Sheepdog

The black, longhaired coat gives the Belgian Sheepdog an air of elegance, but don’t be fooled. There’s a lot more to this dog than beauty. He’s highly energetic — the breed standard calls for him to be always in motion when not under command — and he likes, no, needs to have a job that makes use of his intelligence. His high energy levels necessitates much more activity than a simple walk around the block. Choose this breed only if you are a high-energy person who enjoys active daily exercises such as running, bicycling, and hiking. He’s also well suited any dog sport or activity you can teach, including agility, flyball, herding, obedience, rally, search and rescue, and tracking. The Belgian Sheepdog has an intense desire to be with his people and will follow them around. He is alert and watchful, but he also has a playful side. He should never be fearful, shy, or aggressive. He is an excellent watchdog and has the size and ability to be protective when necessary. The ideal Belgian Sheepdog has parents with approachable temperaments and has been socialized from an early age to be accepting of new people. Those elements -- combined with companion dog training -- will help him to become a discriminating dog who can make appropriate decisions when it comes to protection. When the Belgian Sheepdog is raised with children, he can be quite accepting. He is best suited to a home with older children who understand how to handle him with respect. Don’t forget that he is a herding breed and may have the tendency to chase or nip at children. This should never be permitted! The Belgian Shepherd may or may not get along with cats. He has a strong prey drive and may chase cats or other small furry animals outdoors. Some Belgian Shepherds do get along well with indoor cats if they have been raised together. Begin socialization and training early to make the most of the Belgian Sheepdog’s intelligence, rapid learning ability, and drive. He is sensitive to harsh corrections. Be firm, fair. and consistent, using positive reinforcement techniques such as praise, play, and food rewards. If your home has a yard, it should be securely fenced to prevent the dog from leaving the premises as well as to prevent strange dogs and other animals from entering. That doesn’t mean an underground electronic fence! If the Belgian Sheepdog wants to leave the yard, a shock isn’t going to stop him, and this type of fence does not prevent other dogs from coming onto your property. This is an indoor/outdoor dog. While the Belgian Sheepdog should certainly have access to a securely fenced yard where he can run in large, sweeping circles as if he were herding a flock, he should be with his family when they are home. The Belgian Sheepdog is also known as the Groenendael. He is the long-coated black variety of the four Belgian herding breeds. In Europe, the four Belgian Shepherd breeds are also known collectively as Chiens de Berger (bair-zhay) Belge (belzh). When you look at a Belgian Sheepdog, you see an elegant dog with a square body, wedge-shaped head, triangular ears, dark brown eyes, and a long black coat with especially abundant hair around the neck, on the back of the legs, and on the tail. Sensitive, highly intelligent, extremely active, and protective -- the Belgian Sheepdog is an excellent choice for an experienced dog owner who can give him the training, work, and exercise he needs to fulfill his herd-dog heritage. If you are a runner or bicyclist, enjoy participating in dog sports such as agility and flyball, or often take strenuous hikes or long-distance walks, a Belgian Sheepdog will enjoy life in your home. Other activities that will keep him occupied include running and playing in a yard with another dog, playing fetch, and practicing his obedience exercises. If you’re a slacker and he’s bored, however, he can become noisy and destructive in his attempts to find something meaningful to do.