The Lakenois

Credit: Wikipedia

   The Lakenois is by far the most uncommon of the four types in the States, I am not sure how common a sight they may be in Europe.

   I hear that they, too, like the Malinois, are extensively used as K9 and military units, but that is pretty much all I have heard of them.

 I do know that there are at least a few breeders here in the States that show them in AKC shows, but other than that they're a pretty rare dog.


I have heard very little about the Lakenois; being rare, there are significantly fewer personal stories about them than the other varieties. The reports that I have heard seem to agree that the Lakenois were no longer a gentle, steady minded guardian... placing them more in the category of too high powered for family comfort. Always remember: investigate the background & family of any dog!

Credit: Dog Breed Info

Credit: NextDayPets

 

Puppy Photo ~ Days old

Day old Tervuren pups: 2013 model.

Puppy Photo ~ Harper

 

Harper at 6 weeks.

The Malinois

Credit: Wikipedia

    The Mal is a well known face to anyone in military, police, or security K9 units.
   NARC and SAR have many of them, and I've spoken with handlers whose voice took on a new tone when they started to talk about their Mals.

Credit: PetCareRX

  Related to the current direction the breeders have focused on, some feel that the Mal can be too much of a work-a-holic to make a good, laid back family companion... but many Malinois have stretched themselves out on kitchen and living room floors all over the country. With their short hair they are easiest to groom of all the Belgians, and certainly maintain the stately bearing of the breed's legacy.

 

Credit: studioblog

As I mentioned, many feel that the Mal is too much for a home situation; including breeders who have told people looking for family guardians to look elsewhere. Just like every breed: Always thoughtfully investigate the background & family of any dog!

The Tervuren

Credit: PetFinder

   Tervurens are fast becoming the most popular of the types for home and family guardian, as well as being well represented in the NARC, SAR, and police K9, and any and all athletic competitions and sport trials.

   Personally, I have to say that I find them the most gorgeous of the four types... there is nothing quite the same as a beautifully groomed Tervuren at full alert.

 And their hearts and minds are just as stunning!

Credit: True Knight Tervurens

Credit: DogBreedInfo

 I've heard recent concerns about the tempers and health of today's Terv's, some being labeled as "nervy tervy." This saddens me a  great deal, that individuals among this terrific breed are showing up less than stellar. So please keep in mind: Always investigate the background & family of any dog!

Puppy Photo ~ Argus

"Argus" at 7 weeks.

The Groenendael

Credit: PetWave

The Groenendael is rarely called that in the States, here it is mostly known simply as the Belgian Sheepdog... although those in the know will refer to it as Groenendael to eleminate confusion amongst the types.
  Some breeders have both Groenendaels and Tervs, their coloring being the only thing that distinguishes the two types.

Credit: Beljekali (Australian Breeder)

 The Belgian Sheepdog is well known as a kind and gentle family guardian, and generally considered to be the most laid back and calm of all the Belgians. They are sometimes competed in trials and athletic sports, and several are found serving as the Search and Rescue dogs. There was a SAR Groenendael on  ground zero after 9/11.

I have heard recent concerns about temperament issues in the today's Groenendael, some describing the ones they recently met as "slinky," or un-forward. Always investigate the background & family of any dog!

Credit: A-Te-Ell (Swedish breeder)

Puppy Photo ~ Orion

 

 "Orion" at 9 weeks.

Part 4: Tervuren History: Four Versions

 There were four distinct coat types recorded by the Club du Chein de Berger Belge. 

 The illustration at right shows a decent rendition of their differences.

 These were...

Image found on the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America site.

  the Greonendale

("Grohn-en-dale")

black, long hair

the Tervuren

("Terv-ur-en" or "Terv-u-ren") 

mahogany, long hair

the Malinois

("Mahl-in-waugh") 

mahogany, short hair

the Lakenois

("Layk-en-waugh")

wiry, or curly, coated, commonly brown or light

 I have listed them in order of their perceived popularity/commonality in the States... I understand it is rare indeed to see a Lakenois in America, although I hear the Groenendale fanciers are seeing declining numbers of the blacks. But they are numerously and fondly remembered by many, and so I still leave them at the top of the list at this time.

Credit: BSCA website

  It was the Greonendale that first made it to these shores, and they were entered into the AKC as the
Belgian Sheepdog.

 To quote the website of the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America...

"Belgians were registered and shown as one breed in the United States until issues arose over color and inter-variety breeding. In 1959, the AKC gave each variety a separate status. The long-haired black dogs kept the AKC breed name of Belgian Sheepdog."

Puppy Photo ~ Harper

"Harper" at 6 weeks.

Q.P.A.: Answered! "Wolf dog?"

 Questions People Ask: Answered!

Even though the breed has been around for a long time, many Belgian Shepherd owners have to be ready with responses to some pretty common questions.... which we'll try to cover here.

 One of these is: "Is it part wolf?"

   The answer to that, of course, is "No".

~ As an aside: it is actually the German Shepherd that holds that honor, being founded by Captain Max
Von Stephanitz based on his prized dog "Hektor" (renamed "Horand" von Grafath); recorded to be three quarters herding dog and one quarter wolf.
 Later he brought in two more 1/4 wolf dogs as prominent breeding sires, and the progeny of these dogs Von Stephanitz so admired are the foundations of German Shepherds today. ~

 The Belgian Shepherd was established around the same time that Captain Von Stephanitz set up the German Shepherd Dog Club; the English Collie had been standardized shortly before as well... and a group of Belgian dog enthusiasts decided that Belgium needed a shepherd breed, too. They searched the various shepherds from around the country, and found that the province of Brabant supported a certain consistent type that was distinct from other country's breeds.
  This they choose to be the Belgian Shepherd, and in 1892 the first standard for the Belgian Shepherd Dog  was issued. It recognized three varieties: dogs with long coats, short coats and rough coats.

   There is absolutely no record or hint of a record (that I can find at all) that ever suggests there is any wolf in the Belgian Shepherd Dog.
 
    So even though the uninitiated will probably always ask "Is that a wolf dog?!" it is only the alert stance, pricked ears and proud bearing that makes people think of a regal, free spirit.
    And as Tervs all know, it's much better being partners.... and lots more fun!

Puppy Photo ~ Flash & Gypsy

A Tervuren father-daughter moment.

Part 3: Tervuren History

 It seems that around the turn of the century setting up breed clubs, with breed standards and records of pedigree, became the popular thing to do.

To understand the establishing of these breed clubs, we have to think in terms of the day. Prior to this, dogs were known by their varieties, and those were often named for the regions in which they had developed.
 With the advent of the Age of Industry, dogs began to lose their important place in the lives of their people. Cities grew, factories did not need dogs. The local varieties began to diminish, and at the same time, a moneyed class unconnected with the daily work of the farm was emerging. These people often took it upon themselves to preserve the breeding of the dogs they fancied.

   In southwest Germany, the town of Rottweil had a type of muscular dogs of mastiff descent which helped both with herding the livestock, protecting it, and also pulling small carts for deliveries around town.
   So suddenly, in 1901 the Rottweiler & Leonberger Club came into being.


  In the fall of 1891 a group in Belgian formed the Club du Chein de Berger Belge (Belgian Shepherd Dog Club) "for the purpose of determining if there was a true shepherd dog representative only of Belgium." Shortly after, veterinary professor Adolphe Reul headed up a gathering on the outskirts of Brussels to find the dog for the club. Seeing a distinctively different type consistent among the shepherd dogs of Brabant, they settled on this as their Chein de Burger Belge, and the Belgian Shepherd was born.

  It would take a decade for the club and it's dogs to be recognized by the Societe Royale Saint-Hubert (the Belgium equivalent of the AKC,)  but the Belgian Shepherd was here to stay.

   And the year 1911 saw the first Belgian Shepherds to be registered in the AKC.

Puppy Photo ~ Flash

Here's Flash at 2 months. What a cutie he was! (And is.)

"TK Flash of Light"

"What is a Belgian Shepherd?" Part II

 In the last "What is a Belgian Shepherd?" post, we covered the basics. But there are more details just below that surface.

 Being an all around farm dog, they needed to be both brave and brainy; so that they could face down any danger to their charges, and listen well so they could work quickly in sync with their masters, as well as improvise in a pinch. 

  As may be expected, Belgian Shepherds are highly intelligent. (I've known people describe them as "scary smart" and it is pretty much true.") They watch their people to such a high degree that their owners need to be very aware of what they're communicating with their body language, or they can mess the poor dog up. These dogs read every move, and are happiest when included in what-so-ever their person happens to be doing.
 If allowed to integrate with their person in daily life, they can get to the point where it seems they understand English.
 
  They are dogs of extreme loyalty, and this can be vouched for by any who have had them. This of course must be taken into consideration when raising a puppy, they need to be properly exposed to friendly outsiders and shown that strangers generally pose no threat.
  They are vigilant watchdogs, highly alert; they notice everything and will quickly bark at a stranger, (or strange thing).  A well raised Tervuren will mirror the owner's attitude, if you say "It's okay" then it's okay. If you don't like it, they don't like it. If it's trying to kill you... well, I'd hate to say what will end up happening to it.

Puppy Photo ~ Jay

"Jay" at 3 weeks.

What is a Tervuren?

The Belgian Shepherd, as it is known around the world, (or "chien de berger Belge") is a somewhat rare breed, both in America and abroad.
 I have found walking a Tervuren in public to be a delightful experience, I've never met more strangers in such a short time! A Tervuren can't be overlooked, and most folks find them irresistible. They have to ask about them, pet them and every once in a while, (and most touching of all,)  share their story of the "best dog of their life".
  A Belgian.

 We'll explore further into the history and uses of these unique dogs, but right now for a quick overview.

  The Belgian Shepherd is a shepherd dog. 

It was a farm dog. It helped its master herd the farm's livestock, as well as protected them.
  In the years that followed Belgian Shepherds have performed in almost every capacity known to man to help their handlers; from Herding to NARC dogs, guarding the home to  Search and Rescue (a black Belgian was at ground zero after 9/11)
 They have been farm dogs, war dogs,  police dogs,  family dogs, and children's dogs.
 For fun, they love to learn anything their person teaches them, from every-day commands to parlor tricks to competing in Agility, Fly Ball, Schutzhund, Obedience, Showmanship, Tracking, Herding trials, even high jumping into water as Dock Dogs!

Puppy Photo ~ Luna

 

"Luna" @ 9 weeks

Puppy Photo

What can be cuter than a puppy pic? Not much, unless it's the puppy itself in real life!
 Unfortunately, these darling little imps grow up much too fast... but luckily for Tervuren owners, they turn into gorgeous dogs with loyal, loving personalities all their own.
    We'll  try to only indulge in the cuteness and feature a puppy pic once a week.

An adorable Tervuren Shepherd puppy at 3 weeks of age.

Tervuren Stories

 If there's one thing I love almost as much as spending time with my own Tervurens, it's hearing Tervuren stories from other people. The amount and variety is amazing, and each one is touching in it's own special way.
  For Belgian Shepherd lovers, there's really no other relationship like the one shared with their Belgian Shepherd!

 So I'll be jotting down the stories I've heard, as well as I can remember them, and using this blog to capture and commemorate the tales of these Belgians, from both today and yesterday.
  I hope others may find these tales inspiring as well.

Welcome to True Knight Tervurens!

To start this whole thing off right, I'm showing a photo I took of Flash in the winter. Unintentionally, there was a blur effect going on, and so even though his pose is so classic, it's not the detail shot we might have loved. As it is, I still find it a great sort of "tribute shot" to the breed, and all the dogs that have looked so much like him through the decades in this country, as well as centuries while still in Europe.