The
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) is recognized by all major kennel clubs. In the
United States it is recognized under the name
Belgian Sheepdog.
Like all Belgian Shepherds, the Groenendael is a medium-sized, hard-working, square-proportioned
breed of
dog in the
sheepdog family. The Groenendael is recognized by its distinctive black coat.
Description
Appearance
The Groenendael should be athletic, strong, imposing, rustic, and
balanced in appearance. It should look natural, never as though it has
been prepared just for the show ring. Its coat should be profuse, but
never look as though it would inhibit the dog's working ability in any
way. The colour is always black, with small white markings being allowed
on the chest. When being shown, its handler should never have to force
it into position; ideally the handler should not have to touch the dog
at all.
Size
The Groenendael should be 60–66 centimetres (24–26 in) at the
withers
for males, and 56–62 centimetres (22–24 in) for females. The weight
should be approximately 25–30 kilograms (55–66 lb) for males, and 20–25
kilograms (44–55 lb) for females.
Coat
The groenendael has a thick, double coat. The texture should be hard
and dense, never woolly, silky, frizzy, fine, or wiry. The undercoat
should be thick and profuse. In
conformation shows, dogs without an undercoat are heavily penalized.
Temperament
A Groenendael at 4 months
The Groenendael is (very) intelligent, active, loyal and quietly
affectionate. Groenendaels are not a breed for the faint of heart.
However for those who have plenty of time, energy, confidence and love,
they are wonderful friends. Training and socializing is essential. They
are wary of strangers and protective. They love children as long as they
are introduced to them at an early age. The Groenendael bonds deeply to
its people and cannot live outdoors or in a kennel. It needs to spend
time with its family every day and may experience separation anxiety if
left alone for long periods of time.
Care
The Groenendael needs a large amount of exercise as a rule. Expect to
spend about two hours a day working with it. Exercise should include
not only a walk, but also a training session to keep the dog mentally
stimulated. These dogs have great "work ethic" and need a job to do,
such as obedience,
flyball,
schutzhund training,
dog agility
or livestock work in order to be happy. They are a sensitive breed and
cannot be trained using harsh training methods. They need thorough
grooming once a week, however when shedding (which happens once or twice
a year) they lose massive amounts of coat and need grooming every day.
Health
See Health section of
Belgian Shepherd for more information.
Activities
Belgian Shepherds can compete in
dog agility trials,
obedience,
showmanship,
flyball,
tracking, and
herding events.
Herding
instincts and trainability can be measured at noncompetitive herding
tests. Groenendael exhibiting basic herding instincts can be trained to
compete in herding trials.
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