photo thanks to Javier, Serie Negro kennel Mexico
One breed, four varieties
Belgian Shepherds are a unique and intrinsically unspoilt breed which retain many of the original breed characteristics, and much as we understand we are now in the 21st century, we are keen that the essence of our breed remains unchanged. A Belgian shepherd to be sound with good movement. It must be agile, it must be alert, and it must maintain its guarding instinct in order to perform the functions for which it was bred.
I am a firm believer that we must not accept that we need to change breed type in order for the breed to perform its working functions, nor should we attempt to change our breeds characteristics for the show ring. There is a huge danger in this area as the breed is seen as a dog performing hugely demanding diverse roles that we do not allow type or character to change.
Our varieties
Groenendael – the long-coated black, and first recognised from Groenendael just outside Brussels, championed in 1890. The first recognised breeder was a gentleman named Nicolas Rose. He owned a famous hotel called Chateau de Groenendael.
Officially, the first of the Belgians to arrive in the UK in 1959, although there are records of some arriving in the 1930s. Black, or black with limited white as follows: small to moderate patch or strip on chest, between pads of feet and on tips of the toes. Frosting (white or grey) on muzzle.
Tervueren - Long coated red, fawn, grey; from the small town of Tervuren just outside Brussels
Malinois – the shorted coated red, fawn or grey from the town of Mechelen (also known as Malines). Very popular on the continent, where it is much prized for its working attributes. Arrived in the UK in 1972.
Laekenois – the wire or rough-coated fawn or red, from the town of Laeken - the rarest of our varieties. Arrived in the UK in 1977.
The origins
The breed, as its name suggests, was developed in Belgium around the late 1800s. The first noted variety being the Groenendael. Each of the four varieties was named after the Belgian town in which it originated and where it was championed by breeders of that area.
The breed has been based, and relied throughout its history, on intervariety breeding, which has enabled us to not only increase the gene pool in the individual varieties but also to ensure that each of the varieties stays uniform to the others and true to type.
Interesting to note that World War I proved a real disaster for the Tervueren as, at war’s end, there were only 27 examples of the breed left! It was only through inter-variety breeding, with the Groenendael and the Malinois that the Tervueren variety was able to recover and become what we have today.
A breed comparison
I am often asked, by non-doggy people: “Is your dog a cross between a German Shepherd and a Rough Collie?” So I thought it might be useful to see the three breeds alongside each other, just to demonstrate the point that they are distinctly different with no common history. The head is not as fine or long as the rough collie, nor is it as heavy or strong as the German shepherd. The Belgian is more moderately angulated, with a lesser degree of angulation front and rear. This results in movement that will never be as extended as a German shepherd. You will also see the Belgian shepherd has a more upright and proud head carriage, and more accentuation at the wither than the Rough Collie or the German shepherd. Also, there is a distinct difference in underline, with the Belgian having more definition.
The Belgian’s angulations in both front and rear are less than in the German shepherd, and you will also notice that the angulation of the neck is significantly steeper and is attached at a more upright angle. This accounts for the high, proud head carriage which is one of the defining features of the breed.
The breed has not, in fact, changed very much over time. Breeders have refined the type over the years but intrinsically the breed has not altered a great deal. It remains, thankfully, an unspoilt breed.
Constant throughout time we see the harmonious outline, parallel lines in the head, the short square body, the typical silhouettes, and the height at the wither
Past Functions
During World War I, many Belgian shepherds were requisitioned by the military, and served in a number of capacities, including Red Cross dogs, searching for, and protecting, injured soldiers on the battlefield. WWI also saw Belgian shepherds used as messenger dogs, trained to ignore the sounds of battle and run through the battlefields to deliver important messages. The first recorded war dog to carry messages for the Allies in World War I was a Malinois named Taki. As a herding dog, farmers required herding ability and protection from attackers such as wolves. You will note in this depiction, which dates back to the early 1900s, the high carriage of the head, which allows the dog to see over the flock of what are quite tall sheep and be aware of any distant dangers. The passage of time has seen the Belgian shepherd perform a variety of functions and adapt to changing climate conditions: heat, cold, snow, rain. The breed is highly valued for its trainability and helpfulness to the farmer.
As police dogs, Belgian shepherds were the first dogs to be used by the Belgian police, when, in 1899, the city of Ghent began its police dog service with three members of the breed.
Present day functions
As well as gracing the show ring and being our devoted pets, you will see what we ask these dogs to do nowadays, you will see today's functions are very similar to those asked of their forbears.
Search and rescue The dogs are used in search and rescue in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Going back to one of their wartime functions and searching for injured or missing people, Belgian shepherds were used in the World Trade Centre rescue efforts and, more recently, in the Californian wild fires. They are also used as Cavour dogs.
Army dogs They still perform a variety of functions for the military. In fact you might be interested to know it was a Belgian shepherd that went in with the US Special Forces/Navy Seals who captured Osama Bin Laden.
Herding Herding is becoming increasingly popular as a competition sport and is often seen in France, Holland, Belgium, USA and Australia; and there are a couple working sheep in the UK. Note the size of the sheep; this is important, as Belgians have what we call “pick up”, this is one of the subtle nuances that make a Belgian shepherd. It has the ability to ‘grow’ when alert. What do I mean by that? Well, when relaxed and at ease, the dog lets itself drop down; however, when alert, it stands on its toes, lifts its head, stretches its neck and appears to grow. So why is the size of the sheep important? Thinking back to the breed’s original function, that of a guard to the flock, the dog needs to be able to pick up to see over the flock, to see any imminent dangers.
Police
The Malinois variety has become widely known as a formidable police dog/military dog, being much lighter and quicker than the German shepherd. This has led to Belgians falling into the wrong hands, and with a lot of undesirable crosses with other breeds.
Malinois are the dog of choice for the French police and you will recall that, not so long ago, in the dreadful terrorist attacks in France, it was a Belgian Shepherd that lost its life going in after the terrorists. There are unfortunate consequences; this notoriety brings with it the undesirable owners, who see the dogs as status symbols, and who are entirely unsuitable owners for Belgian Shepherds. It also brings with it undesirable cross-matings, a result of which is the increasing number of these dogs being taken by rescue centres and needing to be rehomed.
Belgians are now widely used in agility, fly ball and obedience, disciplines in which they complete at the highest levels. I stress that these are just some of the tasks we ask our Belgians to do in the 21st century.
You will see each of these tasks requires a medium-sized and medium-boned dog, with an agile yet muscular frame, an alert enquiring and protective attitude, speed, a light quick action, and importantly trainability and devotion to its owner.
Temperament: Wary, aloof, but neither nervous nor aggressive. The natural protective instincts of the Belgian Shepherd make it a breed that does not immediately make friends with strangers. Therefore a certain aloofness with strangers is considered normal. The Belgian shepherd has qualities of intelligence, courage, alertness and devotion to master. In addition to his inherent ability as a herding dog, he protects his master's person and property without being overtly aggressive. He is watchful, attentive, usually in motion when not under command.
It is not typical for an adult Belgian shepherd to be overly friendly to strangers. Belgians will give you a certain look, they are as a breed naturally wary of strangers. Obviously this is an over generalisation and they are all individuals and some will readily accept strangers others will not. Their alert attitude means they are always looking around. They are an active breed and should not be required to be stacked and remain motionless.
The overall impression
The first impression of the Belgian shepherd is that of a well-balanced, medium-sized dog, elegant in appearance, standing squarely on all fours, with exceedingly proud carriage of head and neck.
Through the harmony of its shape and its high head carriage, the Belgian shepherd should give the impression of that elegant strength.
Strong, agile, alert and full of life.
Good bone and substance, but this is combined with the overall impression of elegance. Never heavy or coarse.
Fine proportions, proud carriage of head, conveying an impression of graceful strength and elegance.
Not only a shepherd but a guard dog.
A Belgian Shepherd silhouette is quite distinctive and the silhouette should be easily identifiable.
The length from the point of the shoulder to point of buttock equal to height at withers.
Top line: upper line of back and loins is straight. I emphasise the word straight not ‘level’ or’ ‘parallel with the ground’, but straight.
Harmonious flowing lines
What do we mean by harmonious flowing lines?
No break in the flow or line from tip of muzzle to tip of tail.
When viewed as a whole, the Belgian shepherd should present a well-balanced impression.
No part must seem out of balance, nor overwhelm the others. From the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, the parts must fit together into a harmonious flow for true breed type and soundness.
The essential impression of the Belgian shepherd is that of a square dog. The four legs should be squarely under the dog and require proper placement and angulation of both front and rear.
Withers: Pronounced.
The body and head - dry - meaning the skin taut across the body and in particular the head, neither loose nor wrinkled.
Back: Firm, short and well-muscled.
Loins: Solid, short, sufficiently broad, well-muscled.
Croup: Well-muscled; only very slightly sloping. Sufficiently broad but not excessively so.
Chest: Slightly broad, but well let down. The upper part of the ribs are arched. Seen from the front the fore chest is slightly broad, but without being narrow.
Underline: Begins below the chest and rises gently in a harmonious curve towards the belly, which is neither drooping nor too tucked up, but slightly raised and moderately developed.
The withers are slightly higher and slope into the back, which must be, straight, and firm from withers to hip joints. Now we will talk about back line, or top-line, because we ask for the withers to be accentuated the top line cannot be flat, and I think it is important to stress this point as it is a common belief that a straight top-line means a flat top-line, it doesn't. In fact it means not roached or dippy.
The withers are very distinct especially when we see the Belgian Shepherd “pick up”, a Belgian can appear to grow an inch or so when this happens, this happens when its attention is caught by something at a distance, remember back to those tall sheep and the dog requiring the ability to see a distance over the sheep to detect on coming danger.
Forequarters - Shoulder Long, oblique, flat against the body. Shoulder & upper arm meet at a moderate angle. Shoulder & upper arm approximately equal in length, this sets the elbow under the top of the withers
Forequarters – Legs & Feet Legs straight & parallel to each other. Bone oval. Pasterns’ medium in length & very slightly sloping . Feet round (cat feet)
Angulation will differ from breed to breed with dogs such as the Belgian Shepherd having less angulation of the Shoulder and therefore appearing more ‘upright’ than for instance the German Shepherd.
Feet
Toes arched, very close together; soles thick and springy with large dark claws. Forefeet round. Hind feet slightly oval.
Tail:
Well set on and strong at the base. Of medium length, reaching at least to the hock, but preferably further. At rest carried down with the tip curved backwards at the level of the hock, raised more when moving, although without passing the horizontal. The curve towards the tip becomes more accentuated, without ever at any time forming a hook or deviation.
The most common tail faults carried too high, curling at the tip, too high on the move spoiling the top line and deviated.
Neck
Very supple. Slightly elongated, well-muscled and without dewlap, broadening slightly toward shoulders.
Nape very slightly arched.
Neck medium length very well-muscled arched, broadening proud head carriage is important.
Beautiful elegant neck Too short lacks elegance
Round & rather outstretched. Skin tight, no dewlap, slightly arched. Carries the head proudly.
Well standing out, slightly elongated, rather upright, well-muscled, broadening gradually towards the shoulders, without dewlap and the nape slightly arched.
Hind Quarters
Well-muscled and powerful. Good, but not excessive, angulation; hocks well let down. Viewed from behind, legs parallel.
There is a repeat theme here, everything in moderation. When judging look from behind at a distance, to ensure there is no weakness, or cow hocks, or standing too close.
The breed drives off from behind so the hindquarters need to be well muscled and powerful.
Movement
Always in Motion seemingly never tiring. Lively and graceful. Covering the maximum ground with the minimum effort
The most common deviation from this ideal is when the dogs are longer than they are tall. Extra length of body allows for the flashier extended side gait that stands out in the Group ring; however, the desired body type is square, not long.”
On the go, the Belgian moves with ease instead of a hard-driving action. “He single-tracks at a fast gait, the legs both front and rear converging toward the centre-line of gravity of the dog.”
Side gait “exhibits full extension of both fore and hindquarters,” but it is not extreme; one of the breed’s defining characteristics – its squareness – as expressed on the move.
With its square proportions, a correctly balanced Belgian with proper angulation front and rear will move with purpose, not pizzazz, and should not be expected to have the same reach as a German Shepherd.
Quite often you will find that a dog which is long in back will move with more extension and a more extravagant action, please don’t be fooled by this, it is not correct movement for a Belgian shepherd
When built correctly the Belgian Shepherd will drop down, push off from behind and appear to float over the ground hardly skimming the surface, importantly they should hold their top line on the move.
Single tracking, the legs, both front and rear, converging toward the centre-line of gravity of the dog. The back-line should remain firm and level, parallel to the line of motion, Notice the position of the feet, the front feet are at the tip of the nose and the rear foot has the same amount of extension, usually to the tip of the tail.
You will note that the front legs dog not extend beyond the end of the nose and likewise the back extension is not beyond the end of the tails.
The Belgian Shepherd has a free and easy gait exhibiting facility of movement rather than a hard driving action. Their gait is also less expansive, less extravagant. Remember always the habitat in which the breed evolved, the muddy fields of Flanders where a quick and very light action skimming over the surface of the ground is preferable to a heavy action which would mean they would sink into the mud.
On the go, the Belgian moves with ease instead of a hard-driving action. “He single-tracks at a fast gait, the legs both front and rear converging toward the centre-line of gravity of the dog.”
Side gait “exhibits full extension of both fore and hindquarters,” but it is not extreme; one of the breed’s defining characteristics – its squareness – as expressed on the move.
With its square proportions, a correctly balanced Belgian with proper angulation front and rear will move with purpose, not pizzazz, and should not be expected to have the same reach as a German Shepherd.
The Belgian Shepherd has a free and easy gait exhibiting facility of movement rather than a hard driving action. Their gait is also less expansive, less extravagant
Head
The head is very important in distinguishing a good Belgian Shepherd dog. Head type is a combination of correctly set ears, eye colour, shape and positioning, correct parallels and the correct skull to muzzle proportions. When looking at the head, a judge should be able to tell the breed and the sex.
In a Belgian Shepherd we are looking for a Clean-cut & dry head .Top skull flattened rather than rounded, Stop moderate. Skull - width approximately the same, but not wider than the length. Muzzle proportions length slightly longer than the Skull. Good volume through the muzzle. The head should be in proportion to the rest of the body, with clean, well-defined lines and no looseness of skin anywhere on the face or lips. You will often hear a head being described as “dry” and this is relevant to the tight skin over the head, and indeed the body of a Belgian Shepherd, there is no loose skin.
Balanced whole, skull of medium width in proportion to length of head. Forehead flat, centre line not very pronounced. In profile, forehead parallel with imaginary line extending muzzle line. Finely chiselled, long but not excessively so; skull and muzzle roughly equal length, slight bias to muzzle.
Muzzle of medium length tapering gradually to nose. Nose black with well-flared nostrils. Moderate stop. Arches above eyes not prominent.
The muzzle inclining downward from the skull to the tip of the nose. The muzzle should not be hooked or pinched but tapering gradually towards the nose, joins it in a continuous line.
Muzzle finely chiselled under eyes.
Cheeks spare, dry, quite flat but well-muscled.
Head Points to remember
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. Please note the pull back. Also of note is the fact we do not want to see a weak underjaw.
You will often see described Good pull back of the lips, well split mouth, this is what this refers to. The mucus membrane being tight.
Scissor bite; i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Pincer, level bite accepted
Parallel lines
Balanced whole, skull of medium width in proportion to length of head. Forehead flat, centre line not very pronounced. In profile, forehead parallel with imaginary line extending muzzle line. Balanced whole, skull of medium width in proportion to length of head. Forehead flat, centre line not very pronounced. In profile, forehead parallel with imaginary line extending muzzle line.
You should be able to draw an invisible parallel line from the top of the scull to the end of the nose
In profile, an imaginary line extending from the skull runs parallel to that of the muzzle which implicitly requires the existence of a stop. There are three important faults of the skull: the skull slopes forwards and downwards towards the muzzle; the skull slopes backwards, the skull is domed - all of which completely spoil the parallel head planes.
The muzzle which should not be hooked or pinched tapers gradually towards the nose and joins it in a continuous line. The upper line of the nose is virtually flat and the nostrils are well flared.
Chiselling
Chiselling what are we referring to:- One must imagine the head being hewn out of a piece of marble. Look at the marks the chisel leaves on the piece of marble and this is what ideally would expect to see on the head of the Belgian Shepherd, these marks are most prominent under the eye.
Eye and Expression
Eyes:
Emphasis in the standard is placed on the alertness, intelligence and readiness of the breed.
Medium size, neither protruding nor sunken, slightly almond shaped, obliquely set, brownish colour, preferably dark, black-rimmed eyelids, the underline of the eye is generally straight with a direct, lively, intelligent and enquiring look, sparkling eyes.
No Belgian that has a dull or lazy attitude or appearance can ever be typical of the breed. It is here that I will remind you that a Belgian Shepherd with a typical temperament will not stand like a statue, they are always on the look out always alert.
Again another reminder this alert attitude can be misinterpreted as ring side attraction. They will always be looking around them, sometime for danger, but other times the owner might not be close and they try to find them.
What we do not want to do is change our breeds’ natural instincts to make them fit into a common perception of what makes a good show dog.
Incorrect eye shape, colour and position wide set on the head giving a harsh untypical expression
Ears
High set, neat triangular ears, neither too thick and fleshy, nor too thin and see-through. Rather small, set high, distinctly triangular appearance, imagine an equilateral triangle, well-rounded outer ear, pointed tips, stiff, carried upright and vertical when the dog is alert.
Ear set, should be high with roughly the width of the ear in-between the two ears. The ear is well set when the widest point of attachment and the outer angle of the eye are on the same line.
Mask
Mask is apparent in the Tervueren, Malinois, and also to a slightly lesser degree to the laekenois. A set mask is ideal. As if a pencil line has been drawn but I stress this is the ideal.
Mask: For Tervueren and Malinois the mask must be pronounced and tend to encompass the top and bottom lip, the corners of the lips and the eyelids in one single black zone.
Mask: A strict minimum of six points of skin pigmentation is called for: the two ears, the two upper eyelids and the two lips, upper and lower, which must be black.
The mask must be pronounced and should incorporate the upper and lower lips, the corners of the lips and the eyelids in a single black area.
A strict minimum of six points of pigmentation is specified: the two ears, the two upper eyelids and the upper and lower lips should be black.
Coat
There are three distinct coat types: Long coat, short coat and rough coat. What distinguishes the Belgian Shepherd is weather proof coat which carries a thick undercoat which will enable the top coat to be wet whilst the undercoat and skin remain dry. When judging don’t be distracted by the amount of coat, proper texture is more important.
Also please be aware that being in good coat is not a substitute for being of good type - You can grow coat but you can’t change type.
The Belgian Shepherd dog is particularly adaptable to extremes of temperature and climate. Obviously we do not want excessive coat that would interfere with the working ability or masks the elegant outline. Coat thick, close of good firm texture with cotton wool-like undercoat.
The weather proof qualities of the Belgian shepherd coat mean, the outer coat will become wet however the undercoat and skin will remain dry.
Groenendael & Tervueren
The guard hairs of the coat must be long, well fitting, straight and abundant. Texture of medium harshness, not silky or wiry. The coat generally stands off the body. Undercoat extremely dense, commensurate however, with climatic conditions, summer coat not as dense as winter. 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.
Ornamentation – Especially long and abundant hair, like a collarets around the neck; fringe of long hair down the back of the forearms; especially long and abundant hair trimming the hindquarters, the breeches; long, heavy and abundant hair on the tail.
Malinois
Hair very short on head, exterior of ears and lower parts of legs. The coat should be thick, dense, and close of a firm texture giving good weather protection.
The undercoat is very dense and woolly corresponding with climatic conditions.
Short on rest of body, thicker on tail and around neck where it resembles a ridge or collarette, beginning at base of ear and extending to throat. The hindquarters should be fringed, with longer hair. The coat should conform to the body without standing out or hanging down. Hindquarters fringed with longer hair. Tail thick and bushy, but does not form a plume
Laekenois
Our laekenois need a little further explanation, as they are rare even in the country of origin, and have somewhat of a more divergent type. Problems arose for this variety around the 1940s when Dutch breeders introduced the Bouvier which resulted in a square jawed, short muzzled, overly furnished type, which evolved to look very different from the other three varieties which was totally undesirable. Now breeders are using the malinios to reintroduce the correct breed type making them more uniform with the other three varieties however this does introduce a wide range of coat type which one should allow for when judging.
Therefore we must take care when judging Laeken that we are not overly harsh, as the variety is very rare and needs encouragement, breeders are working hard to bring a more uniform correct type.
What especially characterises the rough hair variety is the roughness and dryness of the hair, which is rasping and tousled, giving a dishevelled look.
Harsh, wiry, dry and not curly. Length of coat about 6 cms (2.5 ins) on all parts of body.
Hair around eyes, but not to obscure them. The hair around the eyes and those furnishing the muzzle should not be so long as to disguise the shape of the head. However it is essential to have furnishings on the muzzle. Muzzle hair not so long as to make head appear square or heavy. If the coat is obscuring the head eye and expression, no chiselling is visible and it would be difficult to see parallel lines. Tail not plume. Reddish fawn with black shading, principally in muzzle and tail.
Too much curl and excessive furnishings is incorrect and makes the dog look more like a Bouvier. Not enough and the dog is more like a Malinois. However both types of coats should not be discounted when breeding the Laekenois variety.
When looking at the Laekenois, you should be able to identify that the dogs has correct head type and expression without searching through masses of furnishings.
Colour
Colour should be considered a finishing point, not to take precedence over type, structure, movement or temperament. The coat also may change with the time of year, for instance a black coat may have a red tinge in the summer months due to sun damage or when shedding dead coat becomes a slightly different colour. Black dogs have a common problem; they may have a tendency to get sunburned in the heat of summer. This condition is seasonal and should not be confused with poor pigmentation in an otherwise proper coat
Groenendael
Black or black with limited white as follows: small to moderate patch or strip on chest, between pads of feet and on tips toes. Frosting (white or grey) on the muzzle.
Laekenois - Reddish fawn with black shading, principally in muzzle and tail.
Groenendael will usually have a greyish undercoat. One must also expect frosting around the muzzle, usually more pronounced in mature dogs. The coat also may change with the time of year, for instance a black coat may have a red tinge in the summer months due to sun damage or when shedding dead coat becomes a slightly different colour. Black dogs have a common problem; they may have a tendency to get sunburned in the heat of summer. This condition is seasonal and should not be confused with poor pigmentation in an otherwise proper coat.
Tervueren/Malinois
All shades of red, fawn, grey with black overlay.
Coat characteristically double pigmented, wherein tip of the 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, and generally a black band around the tail at mid-length. Small to moderate white patch or strip permitted on chest, between pads of feet and on tips of toes. Frosting (white or grey) on the muzzle.
Very important to note that the overlay in Tervueren and Malinois comes with age, and you will probably not see a finished colour until the dog reaches full maturity around the 4/5 years. Tervueren and Malinois a cream, white undercoat. One must also expect frosting around the muzzle, usually more pronounced in mature dogs. Also permitted while areas are toes, collarette. Tervueren, Malinois, Laekenois will generally have a black tip to the tail and a black band around middle of tail. The colours and shading of the Tervueren and Malinois can vary quite dramatically, running the full gamut of shades of red, fawn, and grey. The grey colour is a very natural colour.
Laekenois
All shades of red or fawn to greyish tones are acceptable with traces of black appearing principally on the muzzle and tail. The degree of blackening varies considerably from dog to dog with all variations being equally acceptable. A small to moderate white patch is permitted on the chest and the tips of the toes may be white. White or grey frosting on the chin and muzzle is normal and acceptable.
Overlay
Do not expect to see overlay in a young dog. This develops over time and if you find a young dog with overlay it is. Very likely to become too dark when adult.
The black overlay comes with age and deepen s with each moult until complete around about the 4/5 year age. Don’t expect puppies or younger dogs to have overlay. Usually if they do it will mean they will be too dark as adults. The overlay or charbonny is likened to a light dusting of charcoal. Also the overlay is something which changes with the seasons and as the dog coat changes, so for instance if a dog is out of coat the overlay may look more pronounced as there is little of the lighter cream undercoat showing through.
Males v Females
Please remember there can be a great deal of visual difference between our dogs and bitches particularly in both of the long coated varieties. Adult males characteristically will carry a more profuse coat. The collarette adorning the neck gives a more glamorous appearance is particularly attractive when it frames the face and ears and gives an added arch to the neckline. This means the male is usually more impressive than his female counterpart. This is more obvious in the two long coated varieties.
Bitches seldom carry the same coat as males. Bitches should always be given equal consideration when judging. They are allowed to be longer in loin than the male and therefore may not fit into the perfect square shape.
Females generally go through a shedding cycle between each heat, and do not carry the coat length of the male, particularly the long collarette. They should never be penalized for not having the impressive coat of a male, rather, it should be expected. The bitch's coat should be given equal consideration as the male.
Males should be distinctly masculine. Females should be distinctly feminine. You should be able to tell the sex easily by looking.
Also please be aware that being in good coat is not a substitute for being of good type. You can grow coat but you can’t change type.
I am a firm believer that we must not accept that we need to change breed type in order for the breed to perform its working functions, nor should we attempt to change our breeds characteristics for the show ring. There is a huge danger in this area as the breed is seen as a dog performing hugely demanding diverse roles that we do not allow type or character to change.
Our varieties
Groenendael – the long-coated black, and first recognised from Groenendael just outside Brussels, championed in 1890. The first recognised breeder was a gentleman named Nicolas Rose. He owned a famous hotel called Chateau de Groenendael.
Officially, the first of the Belgians to arrive in the UK in 1959, although there are records of some arriving in the 1930s. Black, or black with limited white as follows: small to moderate patch or strip on chest, between pads of feet and on tips of the toes. Frosting (white or grey) on muzzle.
Tervueren - Long coated red, fawn, grey; from the small town of Tervuren just outside Brussels
Malinois – the shorted coated red, fawn or grey from the town of Mechelen (also known as Malines). Very popular on the continent, where it is much prized for its working attributes. Arrived in the UK in 1972.
Laekenois – the wire or rough-coated fawn or red, from the town of Laeken - the rarest of our varieties. Arrived in the UK in 1977.
The origins
The breed, as its name suggests, was developed in Belgium around the late 1800s. The first noted variety being the Groenendael. Each of the four varieties was named after the Belgian town in which it originated and where it was championed by breeders of that area.
The breed has been based, and relied throughout its history, on intervariety breeding, which has enabled us to not only increase the gene pool in the individual varieties but also to ensure that each of the varieties stays uniform to the others and true to type.
Interesting to note that World War I proved a real disaster for the Tervueren as, at war’s end, there were only 27 examples of the breed left! It was only through inter-variety breeding, with the Groenendael and the Malinois that the Tervueren variety was able to recover and become what we have today.
A breed comparison
I am often asked, by non-doggy people: “Is your dog a cross between a German Shepherd and a Rough Collie?” So I thought it might be useful to see the three breeds alongside each other, just to demonstrate the point that they are distinctly different with no common history. The head is not as fine or long as the rough collie, nor is it as heavy or strong as the German shepherd. The Belgian is more moderately angulated, with a lesser degree of angulation front and rear. This results in movement that will never be as extended as a German shepherd. You will also see the Belgian shepherd has a more upright and proud head carriage, and more accentuation at the wither than the Rough Collie or the German shepherd. Also, there is a distinct difference in underline, with the Belgian having more definition.
The Belgian’s angulations in both front and rear are less than in the German shepherd, and you will also notice that the angulation of the neck is significantly steeper and is attached at a more upright angle. This accounts for the high, proud head carriage which is one of the defining features of the breed.
The breed has not, in fact, changed very much over time. Breeders have refined the type over the years but intrinsically the breed has not altered a great deal. It remains, thankfully, an unspoilt breed.
Constant throughout time we see the harmonious outline, parallel lines in the head, the short square body, the typical silhouettes, and the height at the wither
Past Functions
During World War I, many Belgian shepherds were requisitioned by the military, and served in a number of capacities, including Red Cross dogs, searching for, and protecting, injured soldiers on the battlefield. WWI also saw Belgian shepherds used as messenger dogs, trained to ignore the sounds of battle and run through the battlefields to deliver important messages. The first recorded war dog to carry messages for the Allies in World War I was a Malinois named Taki. As a herding dog, farmers required herding ability and protection from attackers such as wolves. You will note in this depiction, which dates back to the early 1900s, the high carriage of the head, which allows the dog to see over the flock of what are quite tall sheep and be aware of any distant dangers. The passage of time has seen the Belgian shepherd perform a variety of functions and adapt to changing climate conditions: heat, cold, snow, rain. The breed is highly valued for its trainability and helpfulness to the farmer.
As police dogs, Belgian shepherds were the first dogs to be used by the Belgian police, when, in 1899, the city of Ghent began its police dog service with three members of the breed.
Present day functions
As well as gracing the show ring and being our devoted pets, you will see what we ask these dogs to do nowadays, you will see today's functions are very similar to those asked of their forbears.
Search and rescue The dogs are used in search and rescue in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Going back to one of their wartime functions and searching for injured or missing people, Belgian shepherds were used in the World Trade Centre rescue efforts and, more recently, in the Californian wild fires. They are also used as Cavour dogs.
Army dogs They still perform a variety of functions for the military. In fact you might be interested to know it was a Belgian shepherd that went in with the US Special Forces/Navy Seals who captured Osama Bin Laden.
Herding Herding is becoming increasingly popular as a competition sport and is often seen in France, Holland, Belgium, USA and Australia; and there are a couple working sheep in the UK. Note the size of the sheep; this is important, as Belgians have what we call “pick up”, this is one of the subtle nuances that make a Belgian shepherd. It has the ability to ‘grow’ when alert. What do I mean by that? Well, when relaxed and at ease, the dog lets itself drop down; however, when alert, it stands on its toes, lifts its head, stretches its neck and appears to grow. So why is the size of the sheep important? Thinking back to the breed’s original function, that of a guard to the flock, the dog needs to be able to pick up to see over the flock, to see any imminent dangers.
Police
The Malinois variety has become widely known as a formidable police dog/military dog, being much lighter and quicker than the German shepherd. This has led to Belgians falling into the wrong hands, and with a lot of undesirable crosses with other breeds.
Malinois are the dog of choice for the French police and you will recall that, not so long ago, in the dreadful terrorist attacks in France, it was a Belgian Shepherd that lost its life going in after the terrorists. There are unfortunate consequences; this notoriety brings with it the undesirable owners, who see the dogs as status symbols, and who are entirely unsuitable owners for Belgian Shepherds. It also brings with it undesirable cross-matings, a result of which is the increasing number of these dogs being taken by rescue centres and needing to be rehomed.
Belgians are now widely used in agility, fly ball and obedience, disciplines in which they complete at the highest levels. I stress that these are just some of the tasks we ask our Belgians to do in the 21st century.
You will see each of these tasks requires a medium-sized and medium-boned dog, with an agile yet muscular frame, an alert enquiring and protective attitude, speed, a light quick action, and importantly trainability and devotion to its owner.
Temperament: Wary, aloof, but neither nervous nor aggressive. The natural protective instincts of the Belgian Shepherd make it a breed that does not immediately make friends with strangers. Therefore a certain aloofness with strangers is considered normal. The Belgian shepherd has qualities of intelligence, courage, alertness and devotion to master. In addition to his inherent ability as a herding dog, he protects his master's person and property without being overtly aggressive. He is watchful, attentive, usually in motion when not under command.
It is not typical for an adult Belgian shepherd to be overly friendly to strangers. Belgians will give you a certain look, they are as a breed naturally wary of strangers. Obviously this is an over generalisation and they are all individuals and some will readily accept strangers others will not. Their alert attitude means they are always looking around. They are an active breed and should not be required to be stacked and remain motionless.
The overall impression
The first impression of the Belgian shepherd is that of a well-balanced, medium-sized dog, elegant in appearance, standing squarely on all fours, with exceedingly proud carriage of head and neck.
Through the harmony of its shape and its high head carriage, the Belgian shepherd should give the impression of that elegant strength.
Strong, agile, alert and full of life.
Good bone and substance, but this is combined with the overall impression of elegance. Never heavy or coarse.
Fine proportions, proud carriage of head, conveying an impression of graceful strength and elegance.
Not only a shepherd but a guard dog.
A Belgian Shepherd silhouette is quite distinctive and the silhouette should be easily identifiable.
The length from the point of the shoulder to point of buttock equal to height at withers.
Top line: upper line of back and loins is straight. I emphasise the word straight not ‘level’ or’ ‘parallel with the ground’, but straight.
Harmonious flowing lines
What do we mean by harmonious flowing lines?
No break in the flow or line from tip of muzzle to tip of tail.
When viewed as a whole, the Belgian shepherd should present a well-balanced impression.
No part must seem out of balance, nor overwhelm the others. From the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, the parts must fit together into a harmonious flow for true breed type and soundness.
The essential impression of the Belgian shepherd is that of a square dog. The four legs should be squarely under the dog and require proper placement and angulation of both front and rear.
Withers: Pronounced.
The body and head - dry - meaning the skin taut across the body and in particular the head, neither loose nor wrinkled.
Back: Firm, short and well-muscled.
Loins: Solid, short, sufficiently broad, well-muscled.
Croup: Well-muscled; only very slightly sloping. Sufficiently broad but not excessively so.
Chest: Slightly broad, but well let down. The upper part of the ribs are arched. Seen from the front the fore chest is slightly broad, but without being narrow.
Underline: Begins below the chest and rises gently in a harmonious curve towards the belly, which is neither drooping nor too tucked up, but slightly raised and moderately developed.
The withers are slightly higher and slope into the back, which must be, straight, and firm from withers to hip joints. Now we will talk about back line, or top-line, because we ask for the withers to be accentuated the top line cannot be flat, and I think it is important to stress this point as it is a common belief that a straight top-line means a flat top-line, it doesn't. In fact it means not roached or dippy.
The withers are very distinct especially when we see the Belgian Shepherd “pick up”, a Belgian can appear to grow an inch or so when this happens, this happens when its attention is caught by something at a distance, remember back to those tall sheep and the dog requiring the ability to see a distance over the sheep to detect on coming danger.
Forequarters - Shoulder Long, oblique, flat against the body. Shoulder & upper arm meet at a moderate angle. Shoulder & upper arm approximately equal in length, this sets the elbow under the top of the withers
Forequarters – Legs & Feet Legs straight & parallel to each other. Bone oval. Pasterns’ medium in length & very slightly sloping . Feet round (cat feet)
Angulation will differ from breed to breed with dogs such as the Belgian Shepherd having less angulation of the Shoulder and therefore appearing more ‘upright’ than for instance the German Shepherd.
Feet
Toes arched, very close together; soles thick and springy with large dark claws. Forefeet round. Hind feet slightly oval.
Tail:
Well set on and strong at the base. Of medium length, reaching at least to the hock, but preferably further. At rest carried down with the tip curved backwards at the level of the hock, raised more when moving, although without passing the horizontal. The curve towards the tip becomes more accentuated, without ever at any time forming a hook or deviation.
The most common tail faults carried too high, curling at the tip, too high on the move spoiling the top line and deviated.
Neck
Very supple. Slightly elongated, well-muscled and without dewlap, broadening slightly toward shoulders.
Nape very slightly arched.
Neck medium length very well-muscled arched, broadening proud head carriage is important.
Beautiful elegant neck Too short lacks elegance
Round & rather outstretched. Skin tight, no dewlap, slightly arched. Carries the head proudly.
Well standing out, slightly elongated, rather upright, well-muscled, broadening gradually towards the shoulders, without dewlap and the nape slightly arched.
Hind Quarters
Well-muscled and powerful. Good, but not excessive, angulation; hocks well let down. Viewed from behind, legs parallel.
There is a repeat theme here, everything in moderation. When judging look from behind at a distance, to ensure there is no weakness, or cow hocks, or standing too close.
The breed drives off from behind so the hindquarters need to be well muscled and powerful.
Movement
Always in Motion seemingly never tiring. Lively and graceful. Covering the maximum ground with the minimum effort
The most common deviation from this ideal is when the dogs are longer than they are tall. Extra length of body allows for the flashier extended side gait that stands out in the Group ring; however, the desired body type is square, not long.”
On the go, the Belgian moves with ease instead of a hard-driving action. “He single-tracks at a fast gait, the legs both front and rear converging toward the centre-line of gravity of the dog.”
Side gait “exhibits full extension of both fore and hindquarters,” but it is not extreme; one of the breed’s defining characteristics – its squareness – as expressed on the move.
With its square proportions, a correctly balanced Belgian with proper angulation front and rear will move with purpose, not pizzazz, and should not be expected to have the same reach as a German Shepherd.
Quite often you will find that a dog which is long in back will move with more extension and a more extravagant action, please don’t be fooled by this, it is not correct movement for a Belgian shepherd
When built correctly the Belgian Shepherd will drop down, push off from behind and appear to float over the ground hardly skimming the surface, importantly they should hold their top line on the move.
Single tracking, the legs, both front and rear, converging toward the centre-line of gravity of the dog. The back-line should remain firm and level, parallel to the line of motion, Notice the position of the feet, the front feet are at the tip of the nose and the rear foot has the same amount of extension, usually to the tip of the tail.
You will note that the front legs dog not extend beyond the end of the nose and likewise the back extension is not beyond the end of the tails.
The Belgian Shepherd has a free and easy gait exhibiting facility of movement rather than a hard driving action. Their gait is also less expansive, less extravagant. Remember always the habitat in which the breed evolved, the muddy fields of Flanders where a quick and very light action skimming over the surface of the ground is preferable to a heavy action which would mean they would sink into the mud.
On the go, the Belgian moves with ease instead of a hard-driving action. “He single-tracks at a fast gait, the legs both front and rear converging toward the centre-line of gravity of the dog.”
Side gait “exhibits full extension of both fore and hindquarters,” but it is not extreme; one of the breed’s defining characteristics – its squareness – as expressed on the move.
With its square proportions, a correctly balanced Belgian with proper angulation front and rear will move with purpose, not pizzazz, and should not be expected to have the same reach as a German Shepherd.
The Belgian Shepherd has a free and easy gait exhibiting facility of movement rather than a hard driving action. Their gait is also less expansive, less extravagant
Head
The head is very important in distinguishing a good Belgian Shepherd dog. Head type is a combination of correctly set ears, eye colour, shape and positioning, correct parallels and the correct skull to muzzle proportions. When looking at the head, a judge should be able to tell the breed and the sex.
In a Belgian Shepherd we are looking for a Clean-cut & dry head .Top skull flattened rather than rounded, Stop moderate. Skull - width approximately the same, but not wider than the length. Muzzle proportions length slightly longer than the Skull. Good volume through the muzzle. The head should be in proportion to the rest of the body, with clean, well-defined lines and no looseness of skin anywhere on the face or lips. You will often hear a head being described as “dry” and this is relevant to the tight skin over the head, and indeed the body of a Belgian Shepherd, there is no loose skin.
Balanced whole, skull of medium width in proportion to length of head. Forehead flat, centre line not very pronounced. In profile, forehead parallel with imaginary line extending muzzle line. Finely chiselled, long but not excessively so; skull and muzzle roughly equal length, slight bias to muzzle.
Muzzle of medium length tapering gradually to nose. Nose black with well-flared nostrils. Moderate stop. Arches above eyes not prominent.
The muzzle inclining downward from the skull to the tip of the nose. The muzzle should not be hooked or pinched but tapering gradually towards the nose, joins it in a continuous line.
Muzzle finely chiselled under eyes.
Cheeks spare, dry, quite flat but well-muscled.
Head Points to remember
- The structure of the head viewed from the front and in profile has the form of an elongated wedge.
- Rather long, clean, well-chiseled head, Moderate stop, neither deep nor indistinct
- Skull and muzzle equal lengths
- Width of skull approx. same (but not more than) skull length
- Parallel head planes with level (flat) skull and top-line of muzzle
- Jaws strong, moderately pointed, nit square, neither heavy nor snippy
- Nose and lips black, Lips tight. Skin across the whole is dry or taught
- The upper line of the nose is virtually flat and the nostrils are well flared.
- Well-chiselled, skin taut, long without exaggeration.
- Expression intelligent and questioning, indicating alertness, attention and readiness for action.
- Eyes dark brown, medium-size, slightly almond shape, not protruding. Light, yellow or round eyes are a fault.
- Ears triangular in shape, equilateral preferred or Isosceles triangle if slightly taller ear, well-cupped, stiff, erect; height equal to width at base. Set high, the base of the ear does not come below the center of the eye. Hanging ears, as on a hound, are a disqualification.
- Skull and muzzle measuring from the stop are of equal length. Overall size is in proportion to the body, top of skull flattened rather than rounded, width approximately the same as, but not wider than the length.
- Stop moderate.
- Parallel head planes with level (flat) skull and top-line of muzzle, the top-line of the muzzle is parallel to the top-line of the skull when viewed from the side.
- The muzzle inclining downwards from the skull to the tip of the nose Muzzle moderately pointed, avoiding any tendency toward snippiness or cheekiness,
- Jaws strong and powerful, moderately pointed,
- Muzzle moderately pointed, good volume through the muzzle, cheeks flat, avoiding any tendency toward snippiness or cheekiness,
- Nose black without spots or discolored areas. Nostrils well defined.
- Lips tight and black, pink not showing on the outside when mouth is closed.
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. Please note the pull back. Also of note is the fact we do not want to see a weak underjaw.
You will often see described Good pull back of the lips, well split mouth, this is what this refers to. The mucus membrane being tight.
Scissor bite; i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Pincer, level bite accepted
Parallel lines
Balanced whole, skull of medium width in proportion to length of head. Forehead flat, centre line not very pronounced. In profile, forehead parallel with imaginary line extending muzzle line. Balanced whole, skull of medium width in proportion to length of head. Forehead flat, centre line not very pronounced. In profile, forehead parallel with imaginary line extending muzzle line.
You should be able to draw an invisible parallel line from the top of the scull to the end of the nose
In profile, an imaginary line extending from the skull runs parallel to that of the muzzle which implicitly requires the existence of a stop. There are three important faults of the skull: the skull slopes forwards and downwards towards the muzzle; the skull slopes backwards, the skull is domed - all of which completely spoil the parallel head planes.
The muzzle which should not be hooked or pinched tapers gradually towards the nose and joins it in a continuous line. The upper line of the nose is virtually flat and the nostrils are well flared.
Chiselling
Chiselling what are we referring to:- One must imagine the head being hewn out of a piece of marble. Look at the marks the chisel leaves on the piece of marble and this is what ideally would expect to see on the head of the Belgian Shepherd, these marks are most prominent under the eye.
Eye and Expression
Eyes:
Emphasis in the standard is placed on the alertness, intelligence and readiness of the breed.
Medium size, neither protruding nor sunken, slightly almond shaped, obliquely set, brownish colour, preferably dark, black-rimmed eyelids, the underline of the eye is generally straight with a direct, lively, intelligent and enquiring look, sparkling eyes.
No Belgian that has a dull or lazy attitude or appearance can ever be typical of the breed. It is here that I will remind you that a Belgian Shepherd with a typical temperament will not stand like a statue, they are always on the look out always alert.
Again another reminder this alert attitude can be misinterpreted as ring side attraction. They will always be looking around them, sometime for danger, but other times the owner might not be close and they try to find them.
What we do not want to do is change our breeds’ natural instincts to make them fit into a common perception of what makes a good show dog.
Incorrect eye shape, colour and position wide set on the head giving a harsh untypical expression
Ears
High set, neat triangular ears, neither too thick and fleshy, nor too thin and see-through. Rather small, set high, distinctly triangular appearance, imagine an equilateral triangle, well-rounded outer ear, pointed tips, stiff, carried upright and vertical when the dog is alert.
Ear set, should be high with roughly the width of the ear in-between the two ears. The ear is well set when the widest point of attachment and the outer angle of the eye are on the same line.
Mask
Mask is apparent in the Tervueren, Malinois, and also to a slightly lesser degree to the laekenois. A set mask is ideal. As if a pencil line has been drawn but I stress this is the ideal.
Mask: For Tervueren and Malinois the mask must be pronounced and tend to encompass the top and bottom lip, the corners of the lips and the eyelids in one single black zone.
Mask: A strict minimum of six points of skin pigmentation is called for: the two ears, the two upper eyelids and the two lips, upper and lower, which must be black.
The mask must be pronounced and should incorporate the upper and lower lips, the corners of the lips and the eyelids in a single black area.
A strict minimum of six points of pigmentation is specified: the two ears, the two upper eyelids and the upper and lower lips should be black.
Coat
There are three distinct coat types: Long coat, short coat and rough coat. What distinguishes the Belgian Shepherd is weather proof coat which carries a thick undercoat which will enable the top coat to be wet whilst the undercoat and skin remain dry. When judging don’t be distracted by the amount of coat, proper texture is more important.
Also please be aware that being in good coat is not a substitute for being of good type - You can grow coat but you can’t change type.
The Belgian Shepherd dog is particularly adaptable to extremes of temperature and climate. Obviously we do not want excessive coat that would interfere with the working ability or masks the elegant outline. Coat thick, close of good firm texture with cotton wool-like undercoat.
The weather proof qualities of the Belgian shepherd coat mean, the outer coat will become wet however the undercoat and skin will remain dry.
Groenendael & Tervueren
The guard hairs of the coat must be long, well fitting, straight and abundant. Texture of medium harshness, not silky or wiry. The coat generally stands off the body. Undercoat extremely dense, commensurate however, with climatic conditions, summer coat not as dense as winter. 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.
Ornamentation – Especially long and abundant hair, like a collarets around the neck; fringe of long hair down the back of the forearms; especially long and abundant hair trimming the hindquarters, the breeches; long, heavy and abundant hair on the tail.
Malinois
Hair very short on head, exterior of ears and lower parts of legs. The coat should be thick, dense, and close of a firm texture giving good weather protection.
The undercoat is very dense and woolly corresponding with climatic conditions.
Short on rest of body, thicker on tail and around neck where it resembles a ridge or collarette, beginning at base of ear and extending to throat. The hindquarters should be fringed, with longer hair. The coat should conform to the body without standing out or hanging down. Hindquarters fringed with longer hair. Tail thick and bushy, but does not form a plume
Laekenois
Our laekenois need a little further explanation, as they are rare even in the country of origin, and have somewhat of a more divergent type. Problems arose for this variety around the 1940s when Dutch breeders introduced the Bouvier which resulted in a square jawed, short muzzled, overly furnished type, which evolved to look very different from the other three varieties which was totally undesirable. Now breeders are using the malinios to reintroduce the correct breed type making them more uniform with the other three varieties however this does introduce a wide range of coat type which one should allow for when judging.
Therefore we must take care when judging Laeken that we are not overly harsh, as the variety is very rare and needs encouragement, breeders are working hard to bring a more uniform correct type.
What especially characterises the rough hair variety is the roughness and dryness of the hair, which is rasping and tousled, giving a dishevelled look.
Harsh, wiry, dry and not curly. Length of coat about 6 cms (2.5 ins) on all parts of body.
Hair around eyes, but not to obscure them. The hair around the eyes and those furnishing the muzzle should not be so long as to disguise the shape of the head. However it is essential to have furnishings on the muzzle. Muzzle hair not so long as to make head appear square or heavy. If the coat is obscuring the head eye and expression, no chiselling is visible and it would be difficult to see parallel lines. Tail not plume. Reddish fawn with black shading, principally in muzzle and tail.
Too much curl and excessive furnishings is incorrect and makes the dog look more like a Bouvier. Not enough and the dog is more like a Malinois. However both types of coats should not be discounted when breeding the Laekenois variety.
When looking at the Laekenois, you should be able to identify that the dogs has correct head type and expression without searching through masses of furnishings.
Colour
Colour should be considered a finishing point, not to take precedence over type, structure, movement or temperament. The coat also may change with the time of year, for instance a black coat may have a red tinge in the summer months due to sun damage or when shedding dead coat becomes a slightly different colour. Black dogs have a common problem; they may have a tendency to get sunburned in the heat of summer. This condition is seasonal and should not be confused with poor pigmentation in an otherwise proper coat
Groenendael
Black or black with limited white as follows: small to moderate patch or strip on chest, between pads of feet and on tips toes. Frosting (white or grey) on the muzzle.
Laekenois - Reddish fawn with black shading, principally in muzzle and tail.
Groenendael will usually have a greyish undercoat. One must also expect frosting around the muzzle, usually more pronounced in mature dogs. The coat also may change with the time of year, for instance a black coat may have a red tinge in the summer months due to sun damage or when shedding dead coat becomes a slightly different colour. Black dogs have a common problem; they may have a tendency to get sunburned in the heat of summer. This condition is seasonal and should not be confused with poor pigmentation in an otherwise proper coat.
Tervueren/Malinois
All shades of red, fawn, grey with black overlay.
Coat characteristically double pigmented, wherein tip of the 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, and generally a black band around the tail at mid-length. Small to moderate white patch or strip permitted on chest, between pads of feet and on tips of toes. Frosting (white or grey) on the muzzle.
Very important to note that the overlay in Tervueren and Malinois comes with age, and you will probably not see a finished colour until the dog reaches full maturity around the 4/5 years. Tervueren and Malinois a cream, white undercoat. One must also expect frosting around the muzzle, usually more pronounced in mature dogs. Also permitted while areas are toes, collarette. Tervueren, Malinois, Laekenois will generally have a black tip to the tail and a black band around middle of tail. The colours and shading of the Tervueren and Malinois can vary quite dramatically, running the full gamut of shades of red, fawn, and grey. The grey colour is a very natural colour.
Laekenois
All shades of red or fawn to greyish tones are acceptable with traces of black appearing principally on the muzzle and tail. The degree of blackening varies considerably from dog to dog with all variations being equally acceptable. A small to moderate white patch is permitted on the chest and the tips of the toes may be white. White or grey frosting on the chin and muzzle is normal and acceptable.
Overlay
Do not expect to see overlay in a young dog. This develops over time and if you find a young dog with overlay it is. Very likely to become too dark when adult.
The black overlay comes with age and deepen s with each moult until complete around about the 4/5 year age. Don’t expect puppies or younger dogs to have overlay. Usually if they do it will mean they will be too dark as adults. The overlay or charbonny is likened to a light dusting of charcoal. Also the overlay is something which changes with the seasons and as the dog coat changes, so for instance if a dog is out of coat the overlay may look more pronounced as there is little of the lighter cream undercoat showing through.
Males v Females
Please remember there can be a great deal of visual difference between our dogs and bitches particularly in both of the long coated varieties. Adult males characteristically will carry a more profuse coat. The collarette adorning the neck gives a more glamorous appearance is particularly attractive when it frames the face and ears and gives an added arch to the neckline. This means the male is usually more impressive than his female counterpart. This is more obvious in the two long coated varieties.
Bitches seldom carry the same coat as males. Bitches should always be given equal consideration when judging. They are allowed to be longer in loin than the male and therefore may not fit into the perfect square shape.
Females generally go through a shedding cycle between each heat, and do not carry the coat length of the male, particularly the long collarette. They should never be penalized for not having the impressive coat of a male, rather, it should be expected. The bitch's coat should be given equal consideration as the male.
Males should be distinctly masculine. Females should be distinctly feminine. You should be able to tell the sex easily by looking.
Also please be aware that being in good coat is not a substitute for being of good type. You can grow coat but you can’t change type.
