Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael)
Working

Group:

Working

Size:

large

Lifespan:

10-12 years

Exercise:

very high

Grooming:

medium

Trainability:

very high

Watchdog ability:

very high

Protection ability:

very high

Area of Origin:

Belgium

Date of Origin:

1800’s

Other Names:

Belgian Sheepdog, Chien De Berger Belge

Original Function:

stock herding

History

Towards the end of the 19th Century, there were many varieties of sheep-herding dogs that existed on the European continent. While many of these dogs shared similar working abilities, type was quite varied. Fanciers, fearing extinction of many of the breeds, gathered to decide on a set of standards that would be the Belgian Shepherd Dog. While there was little confusion surrounding the structure and abilities of the dog, there was no common ground on what the coat type or colour should be. Therefore, four distinct varieties of the one breed emerged, based on coat-type. They were the Groenendael (known in America as the Belgian Sheepdog), the Teuverian, the Malinois, and the Laekenois (not recognised by the AKC); these varieties were named after the area in which they were most favoured. These energetic, smart dogs fit well into family and need plenty of outdoor activity, and excel in obedience if given the opportunity.

Temperament

Groenendaels exhibit the qualities inherent to true working dogs: alertness, protectiveness, confidence, extreme intelligence, and affection. This breed excels in obedience and makes a devoted family pet.

Upkeep

The Groenendael needs a good deal of exercise, either a good long jog or a long, strenuous play session. It needs room to move during the day and does best with access to a yard. Although it can live outdoors in temperate to cool climates, it is family-oriented and happier if it can share time in the house with its family. Its double coat needs brushing and combing twice weekly, more when shedding.

Official Breed Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
A medium-sized dog, well proportioned, intelligent, hardy and bred to withstand adverse weather. It should be alert and attentive with a lively and enquiring mien.

CHARACTERISTICS:
With its fine proportions and proud carriage of the head, the Belgian Shepherd Dog should convey an impression of that graceful strength which has become the mark of selected representatives of a working breed. In addition to its inborn skill as a sheep-dog, it has a great potential as a guard dog. Should be wary, but not timid, nervous or overly aggressive.

Head and Skull:
The head should be finely chiselled, long, but not excessively so, and gaunt. The skull and muzzle should be roughly equal in length, with at most a slight bias in favour of the muzzle, giving the impression of a balanced whole. The skull should be of medium width in proportion to the length of the head, flattened rather than rounded forehead and centre line not very pronounced; seen in profile it should be parallel to an imaginary line extending the muzzle line. The muzzle should be of medium length tapering gradually towards the nose. The nose should be black with well-flared nostrils. Moderate stop.

Eyes:
Of medium size, neither protruding nor sunken, slightly almond-shaped, brownish coloured and preferably dark; black ringed eyelids. Direct, lively and inquiring look. Arches above the eyes not prominent, the muzzle finely chiselled under the eyes.

Ears:
Distinctly triangular appearance, stiff and erect, set high, of proportionate length, with the external ear well rounded at the base.

Mouth:
Wide. Lips thin-textured, very firm, strongly pigmented, not showing the red of the mucous membranes. Cheeks spare, quite flat but well-muscled. Strong, white, regular teeth firmly set in well-developed jaws. Scissor bite i.e., the incisors of the upper jaw fitting closely over those of the lower jaw, extending slightly beyond them without losing contact with them. Edge to edge bite tolerated.

Neck:
Very supple. The neck should be slightly elongated, well-muscled and without dewlap, broadening slightly towards the shoulders. The nape should be very slightly arched.

Forequarters:
Strongly boned throughout with wiry and powerful muscle structure. The shoulder blades should be long and oblique, firmly attached, flat, forming an angle with the humerus, so as to enable the elbows to work easily. The forelegs should be long and well-muscled, and should move parallel. The bones joining the feet and pastern joint should be strong and short. Pastern joint clearly defined. Feet round, toes arched and very close together; soles thick and springy with large dark claws. Dew claws are permitted.

Body:
The body should be powerful without being bulky. The length from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttocks should be approximately equal to the height at the withers in the case of the male; in the female it may be slightly greater. The chest should not be very broad but deep and low. Ribs should be well sprung. The upper line of the body (back and lumbar region) should be straight, broad and powerfully muscled. The belly should be moderately developed neither drooping nor unduly cut-up, continuing the lower line of the chest in a graceful curve. The rump should be very slightly sloping, broad but not excessively so.

Hindquarters:
The hindquarters should be well muscled and powerful but not bulky. Good, but not excessive, angulation, with hocks close to the ground. Viewed from behind the legs should be parallel. Dew claws are not permitted. Feet slightly oval, toes arched and very close together; soles thick and springy with large dark claws.

Tail:
The tail should be firmly set, strong at the base and of medium length. At rest it should hang down, with the tip slightly bent backwards at the level of the hock; on the move it should lift, accentuating the curve towards the tip; however it should under no circumstances curl up or bend to one side and at no time should any part of the tail be lifted above the line of the back.

Gait:
Movement should be brisk and even, covering the maximum amount of ground.

Coat:
The outer coat should be long, straight and abundant. It should not be silky or wiry, the texture should be of medium harshness. The undercoat should be extremely dense. The hair should be shorter on the head, outside of the ears and lower part of the legs. The opening of the ear should be protected by hair. The hair should be especially long and abundant, like a ruff around the neck, particularly in the male. There should be a fringe of long hair down the back of the forearm, long and abundant hair evident on the hindquarters and the tail. The male should be longer coated than the female.

Colour:
Black. May be completely black or black with limited white as follows: Small to moderate patch or strip on chest, between pads of the feet and on the tips of the hind toes. Frosting (white or grey) on the muzzle.

Skin:
Springy but quite taut over the whole body. All external mucous membranes highly pigmented.

Size:
The desired heights are: Dog: 61 - 66 cm (24 - 26 in) Bitch: 56 - 61 cm (22 - 24 in).

Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault is regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.