Belgian Shepherd Dog

The Belgian Shepherd Dog (also known as the Belgian Sheepdog or Chien de Berger Belge) is a breed of medium to large-sized dog. It is a member of the Sheepdog Group. It originated in Belgium and as such is similar to other sheep herding dogs from that region: the Dutch Shepherd Dog, the German Shepherd Dog, and others. Four types have been identified by various registries as separate breeds or varieties: Groenendael, Laekenois, Tervuren, and the Malinois. All are registered as a herding dog, more specifically a sheep dog.

History

Breed Creation and Recognition

In the late 1800s a group of concerned dog fanciers under the guidance of Prof. A. Reul of the Cureghem Veterinary Medical School gathered foundation stock from the areas around Tervuren, Groenendael, Malines, and Laeken in Belgium. Official breed creation occurred around 1891, when the Club du Chien de Berger Belge (Belgian Shepherd Dog Club) was formed in Brussels. The first breed standard was written in 1892, but official recognition did not happen until 1901, when the Royal Saint-Hubert Society Stud Book (L.O.S.H) began registering Belgian Shepherd Dogs.