Welcome to the first post of our new Breed Feature.
Every few weeks we will make a post dedicated to a specific dog or cat breed. We will go over some of their physical traits and personalities and tell you what is unique about them. We will also cover common health concerns and things you can do to help prevent or manage them.
Meet the Belgian Shepherd; a herding breed that originated in Belgium in the late 1800’s. There are 4 variants of the breed recognized, all having different coat lengths and colours. The most common and most recognizable is the Groenendael which has a thick, long, black coat. Other variants include the Belgian Malinois (short coat, black and tan colouring), the Laekenois (has a wooly light brown coat), and the Tervuren (looks very similar to the Groenendael but with a mahogany colouring). The breed ranges from 45-65lbs. Grooming needs depends on the coat length and thickness, but most will need frequent brushing to keep the fur tidy and minimize shedding.
True to their herding origins, the breed is very athletic and intelligent. They need plenty of mental and physical stimulation but in return they are very loyal and loving dogs. The can be both excellent working dogs and wonderful family members. The average lifespan is 10 years, and although they have no specific breed associated health concerns, any condition common to larger breeds can affect them.
This is Galaxy, she is a client of ours and a regular in Doggie Daycare. Galaxy was adopted last fall when she was 2 years old, so we don’t know her exact breeding, but she shows many of the Belgian Shepherd characteristics. She is strong, and very loyal to her new mom, but when she lets go in Daycare with her friends, she can play for hours! Her shepherd roots shine through when she is playing and sometimes she tries to herd her friends!
Thanks to Galaxy and her mom, Margaret, for starting off our breed features!
Until our next feature, a little trivia quiz!
True or False – Dogs and cats can only see in black and white.