One of the four Belgian Sheepdogs, the Belgian Shepherd also known as “Groenendael”, is the most popular. This breed is black in color, and may have touches of grey or white. They are muscular, athletic and agile. The Belgian Sheepdog is sometimes shy and must be socialized at a young age. This breed requires a lot of early socialization, and firm (but not harsh) training from an experienced trainer. Harsh training tends to make Belgian Sheepdogs uncooperative. They usually form a very strong bond to their family and can easily suffer from separation anxiety. They are usually extremely protective by nature and relatively suspicious of strangers, which make them excellent police/guard dogs.
Belgian Sheepdog Breed Information
Breed Group
Herding Group
Coat
Very dense undercoat with a medium harsh, long outer coat
Color(s)
Black, black with white, black with gray
Size
22-26 inches
Weight
60-75 lbs
Exercise:
Requires a lot of exercise, used to living outdoors
Temperament
Hardworking, intelligent, obedient, protective, energetic, may be shy,
Trainability
Easy to train, very intelligent
Average Lifespan
12-15 years
Common Health Problems
Skin Allergies, Hip dysplasia, eye problems, epilepsy, obesity
Most PetCare Clients Insure Belgian Sheepdogs with:
I signed up for QuickCare Gold on the website for my dog Oscar in the winter. I had received mailings from various pet insurance companies, and when I did my own comparisons PetCare seemed to be the best. By late spring Oscar was starting to walk funny, and I thought it was just a sprain. After a few weeks I took him to the vet, and was told he may need surgery because he had a Patella Luxation (slipped knee). By the end of July it was much worse and my vet operated on him. I was so glad that I had taken out my PetCare insurance policy to cover the cost. Pet insurance does work.
Client: Barbara Giannini, Los Angeles, CA Pet: Oscar, Yorkshire Terrier Condition: Patella Luxation Claim Paid: $1189.50
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