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Belgian Shepherd dogs
The Belgian Shepherd Dog or Belgian Sheepdog comes in one of four varieties: the Groenendael, the Tervueren, the Laekenois, and the Malinois. The four types have similarities, but are basically four breeds, only being grouped together as 'Belgian Shepherds' by the Kennel Club [UK] when they recognised them as breeds that could be shown at dog shows like Crufts. The name Shepherd is misleading as from what I know about them, the Groenendael was never a shepherd dog, but was bred and trained to guard merchants warehouses, just what you need; a noisy, howling nipper, to keep thieves at bay! It would have helped at night that they are jet black and very fast on their feet. All four types or breeds share the following characteristics: They are large and strong, elegant, graceful and versatile. They are eager to learn and do things, so are easily trained, and can learn and do just about anything dogs can do. They excel in performance activities, and thrive on any work, getting a real kick out of helping or performing small tasks such as taking mail or the newspaper to someone, or carrying a shopping basket. They are also observant and watchful, with strong protective instincts, and this is where they can be difficult for people who are not aware of their needs. They can be exuberant and rowdy at times, and have high exercise and activity needs, so if they don't have enough exercise they can be quite destructive; chewing up furniture, howling [well, it's almost screaming in the case of the Groenendael] and they can also nip and bite if not controlled. So they are not for everyone. Households with small children, or where there's little time to spend exercising the dog, would be well advised to get a more placid breed. They are not aggressive however, it's more a question of needing plenty of training and lots to do. They can be extremely affectionate [as can all dogs] when they know you. They are all about the same size as a German Shepherd, although this is superficial as they are much lighter than the German and lighter on their feet; their apparent size is made up of a much longer and fluffier coat, making them seem bigger than they are. They have very small feet compared to German Shepherds, quite the ballet dancer in fact. Many people who aren't familiar with the breed mistake them for German Shepherd cross dogs, but the face is much narrower and the ears more pointed, so it's easy to distinguish once you're familiar with them. The Teuveren and Groenendael are the most similar, with colour being the defining factor, the Groenendael being all black, the Teuveren being fawn to black with some ginger. The other two are clearly different breeds, although they probably started out from the same dogs. The other important point to note for these two long-haired breeds is shedding of fur; it happens daily for most of the year and caring for these breeds involves a lot of brushing. In a single session in the summer you can easily get a carrier bag full of hair, so home knitters might be interested! |
http://www.oneworldnet.co.uk/ebooks/
| http://www.oneworldnet.co.uk/ebooks/index5.php
   
Malinois
Groenendael
Tervueren
Laekenois
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