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OUR DOGS
Shetland
Sheepdog
Belgian Shepherds
Tervueren
Groenendael
Malinois
Laekenois
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BELGIAN SHEPHERD UK BREED STANDARD
General Appearance
Medium-sized dog, well proportioned, intelligent, attentive, hardy and alert.
[Four Varieties: Groenendael; Laekenois, Malinois and Tervueren.]
Characteristics
With fine proportions and proud carriage of head, conveying an impression of
graceful strength. Not only a sheep dog, but a guard dog.
Temperament
Wary, neither timid, nervous nor aggressive.
Head and Skull
Head finely chiselled, long but not excessively so. Skull and muzzle roughly
equal in length, with at most slight bias in favour of muzzle, giving impression
of a balanced whole. Skull of medium width in proportion to length of head,
forehead flat, centre line not very pronounced; in profile, parallel to
imaginary line extending muzzle line. Muzzle of medium length tapering gradually
to nose. Nose black, well-flared nostrils. Moderate stop. Arches above eyes not
prominent, muzzle finely chiselled under eyes. Cheeks spare, quite flat but well
muscled.
Eyes
Medium size, neither protruding nor sunken, slightly almond-shaped, preferably
dark brown; black rimmed eyelids. Direct, lively and enquiring look.
Ears
Distinctly triangular appearance, stiff and erect, set high, moderate length
with external ear well rounded at base.
Mouth
Wide, lips thin-textured, very firm, strongly pigmented. Strong white teeth
firmly set in well developed jaws. Scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely
overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Pincer bite tolerated.
Neck
Very supple. Neck slightly elongated, well muscled and without dewlap,
broadening slightly towards shoulders. Nape very slightly arched.
Forequarters
Withers distinct, strongly boned throughout with wiry, powerful muscle
structure. Shoulder blades long and oblique, firmly attached, flat, forming such
angle with humerus as to enable elbows to work easily. Forelegs long, well
muscled, parallel. Pasterns strong and short. Carpus clearly defined. Dewclaws
permissible.
Body
Body powerful but elegant. In males, length from point of shoulders to point of
buttocks approximately equal to height at withers. In females slightly longer
permissible. Chest deep and well let down. Ribs moderately well sprung. Upper
line of body straight, broad and powerfully muscled. Belly moderately developed
neither drooping not unduly cut up continuing lower line of chest in a graceful
curve. Rump very slightly sloping, broad but not excessively so. Skin springy
but quite taut over whole body. All external mucous membranes highly pigmented.
Hindquarters
Well muscled and powerful. Good but not excessive angulation; hocks well let
down. Viewed from behind, legs parallel. Dewclaws to be removed.
Feet
Toes arched, very close together; soles thick and springy with large dark claws.
Forefeet round. Hindfeet slightly oval.
Tail
Firmly set, strong at base, of medium length. When at rest, hangs down, with tip
slightly bent backwards at level of hock; when moving it should lift
accentuating curve towards tip, never curled, nor bent to one side. Tip may be
carried slightly higher than topline.
Gait/Movement
Brisk, free and even.
Coat
There are three distinct coat types:
Groenendael/Tervueren - Outer coat long, straight and abundant. Texture of
medium harshness. Not silky or wiry. Undercoat extremely dense. Hair shorter on
head, outside of ears and lower part of legs. Opening of ear protected by hair.
Hair especially long and abundant, ruff-like around neck, particularly in males.
Fringe of long hair down back of forelegs, long and abundant hair evident on
hindquarters and tail. Males longer coated than females.
Laekenois - Harsh, wiry, dry and not curly. Any sprinkling of fluffy fine hair
in locks in rough coats is undesirable. Length of coat about 6 cms (21/2 ins) on
all parts of body. Hair around eyes but not to obscure them. Muzzle hair not so
long as to make head appear square or heavy. Tail not plumed.
Malinois - Hair very short on head, exterior of ears and lower parts of legs.
Short on rest of body, thicker on tail and around neck where it resembles a
ridge or collar, beginning at base of ear and extending to throat. Hindquarters
fringed with longer hair. Tail thick and bushy. Coat thick, close of good firm
texture with woolly undercoat, neither silky nor wiry.
No variation in these types is acceptable.
Colour
The acceptable colours relate directly to coat type.
Groenendael - Black or black with limited white as follows: small to moderate
patch or strip on chest, between pads of feet and on tips of hind toes. Frosting
(white or grey) on muzzle.
Laekenois - Reddish fawn with black shading, principally in muzzle and tail.
Tervueren/Malinois - All shades of red, fawn, grey with black overlay. Coat
characteristically double pigmented, wherein tip of each light coloured hair is
blackened. On mature males this blackening especially pronounced on shoulders,
back and rib sections. Black mask on face, not extended above line of eyes and
ears mostly black. Tail should have a darker or black tip. Small to moderate
white patch or strip permitted on chest, between pads of feet and on tips of
hind toes. Frosting (white or grey) on the muzzle. Beyond the age of 18 months a
washed out colour or colour too black undesirable.
No variation on these colours by coat type is acceptable.
Size
Ideal height: dogs: 61-66 cms (24-26 ins); bitches: 56-61 cms (22-24 ins).
Weight, in proportion to size.
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the
seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into
the scrotum.
March 1994
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Belsharose
