Post by charmingnancy on Mar 26, 2009 21:48:42 GMT -5
Belgain Shepherd Dog (Groendael)
Group: 7- Herding
Origin: Belgium
Purpose: Sheep Herder
Description:
The Belgian Shepherd Dog has an ancestry which is common to many of the herding dogs used throughout the modern world. His type is a result of the rugged Belgian climate and the requirements of the Belgian Shepherd for a bright, strong, and agile dog. In addition to sheep herding, the Belgian Shepherd Dog has been widely used for police and war work and is noted for his intelligence and alertness in obedience work.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
The first impression of the Belgian Shepherd Dog should be that of a well-balanced square dog, elegant in appearance, with an exceedingly proud carriage of head and neck, He should be a strong, agile, well-muscled animal who is alert and full of life. His whole conformation should give the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness. The dog should be somewhat more impressive and grand than the bitch. The bitch should have a distinctively feminine look.
Coat and Colour: The dog should be completely black or be black with white limited as follows: small to moderate patch on forechest, between the pads of the feet, on tips of hind toes, and frost on the chin and muzzle. White on the tips of the front toes is allowable but is a fault.
Head: Should be clean-cut and strong with size in proportion to the body. Skull should be flattened on top rather than rounded. The width should be approximately the same as, but not wider than the length. The stop should be moderate. Muzzle should be moderately pointed, avoiding any tendency to snippiness, and approximately equal in length to that of the top skull. Nose should be black without spots or discoloured areas. Mouth: the jaw should be strong and powerful. The lips should be tight and black with no pink showing on the outside. There should be a full complement of strong, white, evenly-set teeth. There should be either an even or a scissors bite. An overshot or undershot bite is a serious fault. Eyes should be dark brown, medium sized, slightly almond shaped and should not protrude. Ears should be triangular in shape, stiff, erect, and in proportion in size to the head. The base of the ear should not come below the centre of the eye.
Neck: Should be round and rather outstretched, tapered from head to body and well muscled with tight skin.
Body: Back should be level, straight and firm from withers to hip. The withers should be slightly higher than and slope into the back. The loin section viewed from above should be relatively short, broad, and strong, and should blend smoothly into the back. The abdomen should be moderately developed and should be neither tucked up nor paunchy.
Forequarters: Chest should be deep but not broad. The lowest point should reach the elbow of the front leg and should form a smooth ascending curve to the abdomen. Shoulder should be long and oblique, laid flat against the body and should form a sharp angle (approximately 90 degrees) with the upper arm. Legs should be straight, strong and parallel to each other. The bone should be oval rather than round. The length should be in proportion to the size of the dog. Pasterns should be of medium length and should be strong and very slightly sloped.
Hindquarters: Croup should be medium long with a gradual slope. Thighs should be broad and heavily muscled. The upper and lower thigh bones form a relatively sharp angle at the stifle joint. Hocks: the angle at the hock is relatively sharp although the angulation is not extreme. Metatarsus should be of medium length, strong, and slightly sloped. Dewclaws, if any, should be removed.
Tail: Should be strong at the base and the bone should reach the hock. At rest, it should be held low and in action it should be raised with a slight curl which is strongest toward the tip. It should not curl over the dog's back or form a hook.
Feet: The front feet should be round (cat-footed). The rear feet should be slightly elongated. Toes on both front and back feet should be curved and close together. They should be well padded. Nails should be strong and black except that they may be white to match white toe tips.
Gait: Should be smooth, free and easy, seemingly never tiring and exhibiting facility of movement rather than a hard driving action. He should single track on a fast gait - i.e., the legs, both front and rear, converge toward the centre line of the body. The backline should remain firm and level, parallel to the line of motion, with no crabbing. He should show a marked tendency to move in a circle rather than a straight line.
Faults: Any deviation from these specifications is a fault. In determining whether a fault is minor, serious, or major, these two factors should be used as a guide: The extent to which it deviates from the standard and the extent to which such deviation would actually affect the working ability of the dog.
Disqualifications: Viciousness; Excessive shyness; Any colour or colour combination not allowed in the standard; Ears hanging (as on a hound); Tail cropped or stump; Males under 23 inches (58 cm) or over 27 inches (69 cm) in height. Females under 21 inches (53 cm) or over 25 inches (64 cm) in height.
Size:
Males should be 24-26 inches (61-66 cm) in height and females 22-24 inches (61-66 cm) measured at the withers. The length, measured from the front of the forechest to the rear projection of the pelvis, should equal the height. Bitches may be slightly longer. Bone structure should be moderately heavy in proportion to height so that he is well balanced throughout and neither spindly and leggy nor cumbersome and bulky.
Temperament:
The Belgian Shepherd Dog should reflect the qualities of intelligence, courage, alertness, and devotion to his master. To his inherent aptitude as guardian of flocks should be added protectiveness of the person and property of his master. He should be watchful, attentive, and always in motion when not under command. In his relationship with humans, he should be observant and vigilant with strangers but not apprehensive. He should not show fear or shyness. He should not show viciousness by unwarranted or unprovoked attack. With those he knows well, he is most affectionate, friendly, zealous of their attention, and very possessive.
Health:
The Groenendael Belgian Sheepdog is prone to epilepsy, excessive shyness, eye problems, and hip dysplasia.
Average Lifespan:
The expected life is 12-13 years.
History:
Belgians were first introduced to North America by returning servicemen who had seen the breed overseas during World War I. Although several Belgians were imported at that time and even shown in the breed ring, the breed did not become firmly established in North America and had to be, in effect, re-introduced after World War II. Ironically, the two World Wars which were so hard on the Belgian Shepherd Dogs in Belgium and France, were also responsible for introducing North Americas to this special breed. Gradually in the late 40's and 50's, Belgians became more widely known in both Canada and the United States.
Canada, in accordance with the practice in Belgium and other European countries, recognizes only one breed - the Belgian Shepherd Dog. Which includes the four varieties, (Groenendael, Laeken, Malinois and Tervuren).
Sources:
Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of Canada (Breed Standard)
Euro Puppy USA
BSDCC (Breed History)
Pictures:
Photobucket
Group: 7- Herding
Origin: Belgium
Purpose: Sheep Herder
Description:
The Belgian Shepherd Dog has an ancestry which is common to many of the herding dogs used throughout the modern world. His type is a result of the rugged Belgian climate and the requirements of the Belgian Shepherd for a bright, strong, and agile dog. In addition to sheep herding, the Belgian Shepherd Dog has been widely used for police and war work and is noted for his intelligence and alertness in obedience work.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
The first impression of the Belgian Shepherd Dog should be that of a well-balanced square dog, elegant in appearance, with an exceedingly proud carriage of head and neck, He should be a strong, agile, well-muscled animal who is alert and full of life. His whole conformation should give the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness. The dog should be somewhat more impressive and grand than the bitch. The bitch should have a distinctively feminine look.
Coat and Colour: The dog should be completely black or be black with white limited as follows: small to moderate patch on forechest, between the pads of the feet, on tips of hind toes, and frost on the chin and muzzle. White on the tips of the front toes is allowable but is a fault.
Head: Should be clean-cut and strong with size in proportion to the body. Skull should be flattened on top rather than rounded. The width should be approximately the same as, but not wider than the length. The stop should be moderate. Muzzle should be moderately pointed, avoiding any tendency to snippiness, and approximately equal in length to that of the top skull. Nose should be black without spots or discoloured areas. Mouth: the jaw should be strong and powerful. The lips should be tight and black with no pink showing on the outside. There should be a full complement of strong, white, evenly-set teeth. There should be either an even or a scissors bite. An overshot or undershot bite is a serious fault. Eyes should be dark brown, medium sized, slightly almond shaped and should not protrude. Ears should be triangular in shape, stiff, erect, and in proportion in size to the head. The base of the ear should not come below the centre of the eye.
Neck: Should be round and rather outstretched, tapered from head to body and well muscled with tight skin.
Body: Back should be level, straight and firm from withers to hip. The withers should be slightly higher than and slope into the back. The loin section viewed from above should be relatively short, broad, and strong, and should blend smoothly into the back. The abdomen should be moderately developed and should be neither tucked up nor paunchy.
Forequarters: Chest should be deep but not broad. The lowest point should reach the elbow of the front leg and should form a smooth ascending curve to the abdomen. Shoulder should be long and oblique, laid flat against the body and should form a sharp angle (approximately 90 degrees) with the upper arm. Legs should be straight, strong and parallel to each other. The bone should be oval rather than round. The length should be in proportion to the size of the dog. Pasterns should be of medium length and should be strong and very slightly sloped.
Hindquarters: Croup should be medium long with a gradual slope. Thighs should be broad and heavily muscled. The upper and lower thigh bones form a relatively sharp angle at the stifle joint. Hocks: the angle at the hock is relatively sharp although the angulation is not extreme. Metatarsus should be of medium length, strong, and slightly sloped. Dewclaws, if any, should be removed.
Tail: Should be strong at the base and the bone should reach the hock. At rest, it should be held low and in action it should be raised with a slight curl which is strongest toward the tip. It should not curl over the dog's back or form a hook.
Feet: The front feet should be round (cat-footed). The rear feet should be slightly elongated. Toes on both front and back feet should be curved and close together. They should be well padded. Nails should be strong and black except that they may be white to match white toe tips.
Gait: Should be smooth, free and easy, seemingly never tiring and exhibiting facility of movement rather than a hard driving action. He should single track on a fast gait - i.e., the legs, both front and rear, converge toward the centre line of the body. The backline should remain firm and level, parallel to the line of motion, with no crabbing. He should show a marked tendency to move in a circle rather than a straight line.
Faults: Any deviation from these specifications is a fault. In determining whether a fault is minor, serious, or major, these two factors should be used as a guide: The extent to which it deviates from the standard and the extent to which such deviation would actually affect the working ability of the dog.
Disqualifications: Viciousness; Excessive shyness; Any colour or colour combination not allowed in the standard; Ears hanging (as on a hound); Tail cropped or stump; Males under 23 inches (58 cm) or over 27 inches (69 cm) in height. Females under 21 inches (53 cm) or over 25 inches (64 cm) in height.
Size:
Males should be 24-26 inches (61-66 cm) in height and females 22-24 inches (61-66 cm) measured at the withers. The length, measured from the front of the forechest to the rear projection of the pelvis, should equal the height. Bitches may be slightly longer. Bone structure should be moderately heavy in proportion to height so that he is well balanced throughout and neither spindly and leggy nor cumbersome and bulky.
Temperament:
The Belgian Shepherd Dog should reflect the qualities of intelligence, courage, alertness, and devotion to his master. To his inherent aptitude as guardian of flocks should be added protectiveness of the person and property of his master. He should be watchful, attentive, and always in motion when not under command. In his relationship with humans, he should be observant and vigilant with strangers but not apprehensive. He should not show fear or shyness. He should not show viciousness by unwarranted or unprovoked attack. With those he knows well, he is most affectionate, friendly, zealous of their attention, and very possessive.
Health:
The Groenendael Belgian Sheepdog is prone to epilepsy, excessive shyness, eye problems, and hip dysplasia.
Average Lifespan:
The expected life is 12-13 years.
History:
Belgians were first introduced to North America by returning servicemen who had seen the breed overseas during World War I. Although several Belgians were imported at that time and even shown in the breed ring, the breed did not become firmly established in North America and had to be, in effect, re-introduced after World War II. Ironically, the two World Wars which were so hard on the Belgian Shepherd Dogs in Belgium and France, were also responsible for introducing North Americas to this special breed. Gradually in the late 40's and 50's, Belgians became more widely known in both Canada and the United States.
Canada, in accordance with the practice in Belgium and other European countries, recognizes only one breed - the Belgian Shepherd Dog. Which includes the four varieties, (Groenendael, Laeken, Malinois and Tervuren).
Sources:
Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of Canada (Breed Standard)
Euro Puppy USA
BSDCC (Breed History)
Pictures:
Photobucket