Afghan Sheepdog
The Afghan Sheepdog isn't a purebred dog. It is a cross among the Afghan Hound along with the Belgian Sheepdog. The very best way to figure out the temperament of a mixed breed is usually to appear up all breeds in the cross and know it is possible to get any combination of any of the characteristics observed in either breed. Not all of those designer hybrid dogs getting bred are 50% purebred to 50% purebred. It truly is extremely widespread for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses.
Elegant and proud, the Belgian Sheepdog is strong, but not bulky. During WWI, Belgian Sheepdogs distinguished themselves on the battlefields, serving as message carriers, ambulance dogs, and even pulling machine guns. It is no wonder that today this breed performs well in sports like obedience, herding, and tracking. They are also excellent workers, and work as search and rescue dogs, guide dogs, and therapy dogs. This breed is completely black, or may be black with white, although there are limitations to their white markings.
A Look Back
The Belgian Sheepdog is known as the Groenendael, or Chien de Berger Belge in most parts of the world. The breed’s origin can be traced to the late 1800's where it was listed in both stud books and at dog shows. A versatile animal, it performed a variety of function
The physique of the Belgian Sheepdog is very well muscled, with tight skin in addition to a squarely proportioned physique. The general size with the head should be in proportion with all the physique. The best of the skull is flattened instead of rounded. The muzzle is moderately pointed with a moderate quit. The lips really should be tight. The dog's bite should be either even or scissors. The medium sized, almond-shaped eyes are brown. The erect ears are triangle in form and in proportion for the head. The legs are parallel, straight and powerful. The feathered tail is strong in the base with all the tailbone reaching the hock. The dewclaws are generally removed. The feet are cat-like in shape. The weather-resistant coat is moderately lengthy, having a ruff of fur about the neck and additional feathering on the legs, tail and underneath the body. The coat color is black, either solid or using a modest level of white on the chest, chin or toes.
Temperament
Belgian Shepherd Dogs are described as highly intelligent, alert, sensitive to almost everything going on about them and kind very strong relationship bonds. They are said to become loyal, intelligent, fun, highly trainable and very well suited to loved ones life. They should receive lots of socializing as puppies and will benefit from common activity and close interaction with people all through their lifespan. Their herding heritage offers them a comparatively high power level, and psychological in addition to physical exercising is needed to keep a Belgian happy and healthy.
Belgian Shepherds do properly in sports for instance obedience coaching and dog agility. They may be used as assistance and search and rescue dogs, and also police, military and narcotics dogs.
The Belgian Shepherd/Groenendael will be the most common with the 4 Belgian Sheepdogs. It is a quite vivid and obedient dog. determined and observant with powerful protective and territorial instincts. This breed needs substantial socialization, preferably from an early age, to avert them from becoming shy or sensitive. Belgian Shepherds need to have an skilled master who is firm, but not heavy handed. Should you be harsh or overbearing they'll turn into uncooperative. Owners need to display a confident, organic authority over the dog. Constant guidelines must be set and created clear.
This breed is instinctively protective so it needs to be trained and socialized quite nicely from an early age. Puppies needs to be socialize ideal from birth. Fantastic for working and competitors obedience.
These dogs make superb police and guard dogs. This kind of function is at the moment their key occupation. They do nevertheless, make fantastic pets if they have owners who can challenge their minds with an air of leadership. They may be ever watchful, alert and loyal. Belgian Sheepdogs are excellent with children if socialized very well with them. This breed must be portion from the family and not locked up inside a kennel. They want leadership, day-to-day exercise as well as training and companionship, for with out it they may possibly grow to be destructive and hard to take care of. The Belgian Shepherd is high power, with a high psychological capability, and are fast to comprehend. They want a job to do, specifically if you are dealing with functioning lines. Take care when introducing this dog with modest non-canine pets. They are able to be rather dominant toward other dogs and require an owner who can communicate for the dog that dominance is an unwanted behavior. Provided they may be correctly socialized with cats and also other pets, they should not present any challenges. This Belgian Sheepdog may instinctively display herding behavior including chasing and circling, moving effortlessly for hours and nipping at people's heels. They must be taught not to complete this to people. This is a very demanding dog that may be becoming a lot more and additional common. It requirements an knowledgeable owner for it can quickly be complicated to manage unless of course the owner knows the way to handle him. The way the owner handles the dog can produce wide variations in temperament and aggressiveness. Talk to a person experienced with the breed before you acquire your dog. These dogs are usually impressive; don't base your invest in solely on achievement records and appearances. Only adopt this kind of dog if you completely recognize what it means to become alpha.
The Belgian Sheepdog should reflect the qualities of intelligence, courage, alertness and devotion to master. To his inherent aptitude as a guardian of flocks ought to be added protectiveness from the individual and property of his master. He must be watchful, attentive, and generally in motion when not beneath command. In his relationship with humans, he must be observant and vigilant with strangers, but not apprehensive. He must not show fear or shyness. He ought to not show viciousness by unwarranted or unprovoked attack. With these he understands effectively, he is most affectionate and friendly, zealous of their interest, and pretty possessive. Viciousness is a disqualification.
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Afghan Sheepdog
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Belgium Shepherd
(Belgian Sheepdog) (Belgian Groenendael) (Chien de Berger Belge) (Groenendaeler)
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Height, Weight
Height: Dogs 24-26 inches (61-66 cm.) Bitches 22-24 inches (56-61 cm.)
Weight: Dogs 65-75 pounds (29-34 kg.) Bitches 60-70 pounds (27-32 kg.)
Health Issues
This hardy, healthful breed has no main well being issues. Some minor issues which have been witnessed are epilepsy, skin allergies, eye challenges, excessive shyness, excessive aggressiveness and occasionally noticed hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Do not overfeed this breed, for it includes a tendency to turn out to be obese and lazy.
Living Circumstances
The Belgian Shepherd/Groenendael will do okay in an apartment if it really is sufficiently exercised. It is actually moderately active indoors and will do finest with at the very least an average-sized yard. The Groenendael can sleep outdoors, despite the fact that he prefers to become with his persons.
Exercising
This is usually a operating dog that is accustomed to an active outdoor life. As such it desires plenty of workout, which includes a lengthy each day walk. Also, they may drastically advantage becoming off the leash as a great deal as you possibly can in a secure area.
Life Expectancy
About 13-14 years
Litter Size
Average 6 - 10 puppies
Grooming
The Belgian Shepherd/Groenendael includes a lengthy, straight, medium length, heavy outer coat in addition to a dense underneath coat that requires every day combing and brushing. Extra care needs to be given when the dog is shedding. Clip out mats that type, especially in the ruff and on the legs, and clip hair from in between the toes and on the outer ears. This breed is a seasonal, heavy shedder, shedding twice a year with some further shedding throughout the year.
Group
Herding, AKC Herding
Recognition
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR, DRA
"This is my Belgian Sheepdog, Wildland’s Indiana Jones. Indiana was born October 23,1992 and passed away August 16, 2007. I could not ask for a better companion. She was very intelligent, and had a superb sense of humor. Playful, friendly and patient. Indiana would make up her personal games to play with me. She competed and was titled in Schutzhund, Obedience, Tracking, Agility and Herding. She was pointed within the US and Canada ahead of she created pyometria and was spayed. She was also a certified Treatment Dog, earned her Temperament Test certificate, and her CGC. She also passed a mock Water Dog Excellent test which is for Newfies. Indiana was awarded the Jet Award of Merit for heroism where she saved me from a would be attacker."
"This dog was amazing. When I was teaching her behaviors, she would generally try and never quit. She loved to go for walks with me in the park, chasing Frisbees and swimming. She was an completely wonderful swimmer. I could inform her stay although we had been within the water and toss her toy. She would fetch it on command, and when she was ½ way back, I'd cue her to lie down. Recall, this water was more than her head, so how could she lie down? She would paddle just sufficient to stay afloat. When I cued her to come, she would swim and come in front of me and then paddle just sufficient to keep afloat."
"Because we competed in unique venues of dog sports, we trained quite a bit and I believe this is why she was incredibly well-balanced. I cannot keep in mind her ever becoming out of control nor suppressed emotionally."
The Belgian Shepherd (also generally known as the Belgian Sheepdog or Chien de Berger Belge) is usually a breed of medium-to-large-sized herding dog. It originated in Belgium and is similar to other sheep herding dogs from that area, like the Dutch Shepherd Dog, the German Shepherd Dog, the Briard and other folks. 4 types have already been identified by different registries as separate breeds or varieties: Groenendael, Laekenois, Tervuren, and Malinois.
General Look
The first impression of the Belgian Sheepdog is the fact that of a very well balanced, square dog, stylish in look, with an exceedingly proud carriage of the head and neck. He is usually a powerful, agile, nicely muscled animal, alert and full of life. His entire conformation provides the impression of depth and solidity with no bulkiness. The male dog is normally somewhat far more impressive and grand than his female counterpart. The bitch really should have a distinctly feminine appear. Faults - Any deviation from these specifications is often a fault. In determining regardless of whether a fault is minor, considerable, or big, these two variables really should be used as a guide: 1. The extent to which it deviates from the normal. two. The extent to which such deviation would basically influence the operating capability with the dog.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Males need to be 24-26 inches in height and females 22-24 inches, measured in the withers. Males below 22½ or more than 27½ inches in height and females beneath 20½ or over 25½ inches in height shall be disqualified. The length, measured from point of breastbone to point of rump, should equal the height. Bitches may possibly be slightly longer. Bone structure should be moderately heavy in proportion to his height to ensure that he is effectively balanced throughout and neither spindly or leggy nor cumbersome and bulky. The Belgian Sheepdog must stand squarely on all fours. Side view - The topline, front legs, and back legs need to closely approximate a square.
Head
Clean-cut and powerful, general size will need to be in proportion to the physique. Expression indicates alertness, attention, readiness for activity. Gaze must be intelligent and questioning. Eyes brown, preferably dark brown. Medium size, slightly almond shaped, not protruding. Ears triangular in form, stiff, erect, and in proportion to the head in size. Base with the ear should not come beneath the center from the eye. Ears hanging (as on a hound) shall disqualify. Skull - Leading flattened rather than rounded. The width approximately exactly the same, but not wider than the length. Quit moderate. Muzzle moderately pointed, avoiding any tendency to snipiness, and approximately equal in length to that of the topskull. The jaws ought to be powerful and impressive. Nose black with no spots or discolored regions. The lips should be tight and black, with no pink showing on the outside. Teeth - A complete complement of powerful, white teeth, evenly set. Ought to not be overshot or undershot. Really should have either an even bite or perhaps a scissors bite.
Neck, Topline, Physique
Neck round and rather outstretched, tapered from head to physique, effectively muscled, with tight skin. Topline--The withers are slightly increased and slope in to the back, which should be level, straight, and firm from withers to hip joints. Chest not broad, but deep. The lowest point must reach the elbow, forming a smooth ascendant curve for the abdomen. Abdomen--Moderate advancement. Neither tucked up nor paunchy. The loin section, viewed from above, is comparatively brief, broad and powerful, but blending smoothly into the back. The croup is medium extended, sloping gradually. Tail powerful in the base, bone to reach hock. At rest the dog holds it low, the tip bent back level with the hock. When in action he raises it and gives it a curl, which is strongest toward the tip, without forming a hook. Cropped or stump tail shall disqualify.
Forequarters
Shoulder extended and oblique, laid flat against the physique, forming a sharp angle (approximately 90 degrees) with the upper arm. Legs straight, powerful and parallel to each other. Bone oval instead of round. Advancement (length and substance) must be well proportioned towards the size with the dog. Pastern medium length, strong, and really slightly sloped. Feet round (cat footed), toes curved close with each other, well padded. Nails powerful and black, except that they might be white to match white toe suggestions.
Hindquarters
Legs--Length and substance effectively proportioned for the size of the dog. Bone oval instead of round. Legs are parallel to one another. Thighs broad and heavily muscled. The upper and lower thigh bones roughly parallel the shoulder blade and upper arm respectively, forming a reasonably sharp angle at stifle joint. The angle at the hock is fairly sharp, though the Belgian Sheepdog doesn't have extreme angulation. Metatarsus medium length, powerful and slightly sloped. Dewclaws, if any, ought to be removed. Feet slightly elongated. Toes curved close collectively, nicely padded. Nails powerful and black, except that they might be white to match white toe ideas.
Coat
The guard hairs with the coat must be extended, nicely fitting, straight and abundant. They will need to not be silky or wiry. The texture should be a medium harshness. The undercoat really should be incredibly dense, commensurate, having said that, with climatic circumstances. The Belgian Sheepdog is especially adaptable to extremes of temperature or climate. The hair is shorter on the head, outside with the ears, and lower portion with the legs. The opening from the ear is protected by tufts of hair. Ornamentation-- Primarily lengthy and abundant hair, like a collarette, around the neck; fringe of lengthy hair down the back of the forearm; specially extended and abundant hair trimming the hindquarters, the breeches; long, heavy and abundant hair on the tail.
Color
Black. May be completely black, or might be black with white, limited as follows: Tiny to moderate patch or strip on forechest. Between pads of feet. On tips of hind toes. On chin and muzzle (frost may be white or gray). On guidelines of front toes--allowable, but a fault. Disqualification
Any color besides black, ex-cept for white in specified places. Reddening as a result of climatic conditions in an otherwise right coat need to not be grounds for disqualification.
Gait
Motion will need to be smooth, totally free and easy, seemingly never tiring, exhibiting facility of movement instead of a very difficult driving action. He tends to single track on a rapid gait; the legs, each front and rear, converging toward the center line of gravity from the dog. The backline will need to stay firm and level, parallel towards the line of motion, with no crabbing. He shows a marked tendency to move in a circle rather than a straight line.
History
Breed creation and recognition
Within the late 1800s a group of concerned dog fanciers below the guidance of Prof. A. Reul from the Cureghem Veterinary Medical School gathered foundation stock from the regions around Tervuren, Groenendael, Malines, and Laeken in Belgium. Official breed creation occurred around 1891, when the Club du Chien de Berger Belge (Belgian Shepherd Dog Club) was formed in Brussels. The initial breed standard was written in 1892, but official recognition did not transpire until 1901, when the Royal Saint-Hubert Society Stud Book started registering Belgian Shepherd Dogs
By 1910, fanciers managed to eradicate the most glaring faults and standardize sort and temperament. There continues to be continued debate about acceptable colors and coat types. Structure, temperament and operating capacity have under no circumstances been debated in regards to the standard.
Breeds versus varieties controversy
In Belgium (the nation of origin) all 4 sorts are viewed as to become varieties of a single breed, differentiated by hair color and texture. Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes only the Groenendael below the name "Belgian Sheepdog", but also recognizes the Tervuren and the Malinois as individual breeds (Belgian Tervuren and Belgian Malinois respectively). The Laekenois is usually registered as component with the AKC Foundation Stock Service and will need to eventually be recognised totally by the AKC. In years gone past, the Groenendael and Tervuren were one breed with coat variations till the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America decided to petition the AKC to separate the two.
The Australian National Kennel Council and also the New Zealand Kennel Club acknowledge all 4 as separate breeds. The Canadian Kennel Club, Kennel Union of South Africa, United Kennel Club plus the Kennel Club (UK) follow the FCI classification scheme and recognise all 4 as varieties with the similar breed
Origin
The Belgian Groenendael, as it is known as worldwide, is merely known as the Belgian Shepherd by the American Kennel Club. It was named soon after the village of Groenendael in Belgian. It really is among the 4 varieties from the Belgian Sheepdogs, the Belgian Groenendael, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Tervuren, along with the much less preferred Belgian Laekenois, which all share a typical foundation. In most countries and breed clubs all 4 dogs are thought to be the identical breed with distinct varieties in coat forms. All four dogs share a breed normal in all countries accept for the AKC who given that 1959 recognizes them as separate breeds and doesn't acknowledge one of many four (the Laekenois), whereas the UKC, who is also a U.S. registry does recognize all 4 varieties as one particular breed. Versatile and highly intelligent, all four varieties from the Belgian Sheepdog excel at many different talents, like but not restricted to police operate such as, narcotics and bomb detection, protection and schutzhund, search and rescue, also obedience, agility, tracking, herding, sled and cart pulling and as a guide for the blind and assistant to the disabled. These high energy, very intelligent dogs require leadership, to be challenged, and nicely exercised day-to-day and therefore aren't for everybody, but can make an exceptional loved ones companion with all the suitable owners. The Belgian Malinois was the first from the four sheepdogs to establish variety. Till the other four had been established in kind they were called "Berger Belge a poil court autre que Malinois", which meant "Belgian short-coated Sheepdog who is not the Malinois." These days all 4 sheepdogs are well-liked in Belgian. Nowadays the Laekenois and Malinois additional often applied as functioning sort dogs, than the Belgian Groenendael and Tervuren but all forms nevertheless make outstanding workers.
Appearance
Structure
The Belgian Shepherd Dog is a medium-to-large size dog. All varieties share a comparable underlying musculoskeletal structure, closely resembling the preferred German Shepherd breed save for the hindlegs. All variants also share a close cranial functions, having a domed forehead, a extended, square-cut muzzle and black noses with their ears pointed and fully erect. One of the identifying characteristics from the breed is that it is actually square, with its height from the ground to leading of the withers getting equal to its length.
Groenendael
The Groenendael is characterized by a extended double coat in solid black. Fanciers consider that white marking are to be confined to a modest patch on the chest (not to extend towards the neck) and white toes. Coat texture is stiff, tight, and thick, created to withstand the components.
TervurenLike all Belgian Shepherds, the Tervuren is a medium-sized, square-proportioned dog within the sheepdog household. Males stand among 24 and 26 inches, and weigh approximately 65 pounds. Females are finer and smaller. It truly is acknowledged by its thick double coat, commonly mahogany with varying degrees of black overlay (fanciers take into consideration that totally missing overlay on males can be a really serious fault), which includes a black mask. A compact patch of white on the chest is permissible by club requirements, in addition to white hints on toes. The Tervuren may possibly also be sable or grey, but this might be penalised inside the show ring in some countries based on the common from the registering physique.
Wellbeing
There have already been number of well being surveys of the person Belgian Shepherd varieties.The UK Kennel Club performed a 2004 wellbeing survey of all Belgian Shepherd varieties combined.The Belgian Sheepdog (=Groenendael) Club of America Well being Committee has a well being registry questionnaire, however it is not clear regardless of whether or when final results is going to be reported. The American Belgian Tervuren Club performed well being surveys in 1998[9] and 2003.Only the 2003 report included longevity information and facts.