Belgian Sheepdog

Of the three types of Belgian sheepdogs, only one is called the Belgian Sheepdog in this country. He is also known as the Groenendael, named for Chateau Groenendael, located near Brussels, Belgium.

This is an active, extremely loyal dog. He's happiest with an owner who can give him plenty of jobs to do (like playing games and obedience training). The Belgian Sheepdog gets along with gentle children and does best in country or suburban living with lots of exercise. He is protective of his family.

A close look at the Belgian Sheepdog shows that he and the little Schipperke probably shared a common ancestor. Both have upright ears, a fine, pointed muzzle, alert dark eyes, and a glorious, glossy black coat. The Belgian Sheepdog's coat is straight and abundant with longer hair around the neck and behind the front legs. The back legs are thickly coated in "trousers." The tail is covered with long, thick hair. He needs brushing about twice a week, daily during shedding.

Excerpts from the Standard

General Appearance: Elegant and proud; strong, agile, alert; solid, but not bulky.

Size, Proportion, and Substance: Height--males, 24 to 26 inches at withers; females, 22 to 24 inches.

Fun Facts

Belgian Sheepdogs have proved their smarts many times over. They perform well in sports like obedience, herding, and tracking. They work as search and rescue dogs, guide dogs, and therapy dogs. Most heroically, they performed valuable services during World Wars I and II. They carried messages, pulled ambulance wagons and machine guns, and guarded military sites.

Excerpted from The Complete Dog Book For Kids © 1996, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.