Pastoral group · Belgium
Belgian Sheepdog
Also called Groenendael, Belgian Groenendael, Chien de Berger Belge.
What makes them remarkable
The long black coat identifies the Groenendael, one of the four Belgian shepherd varieties.
- Intelligent
- Alert
- Devoted
- Sensitive
- Watchful
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 20 to 34 kg45 to 75 lb
- Lives
- 12 to 14 years
- Energy
- High
- Trains
- Very High
- Barks
- High
Training
Training a Belgian Sheepdog
Pastoral breeds. Give the brain a job or it will find one. Chasing, nipping and fixating are the breed doing its work.
Sensitive Souls
Start here
Extremely sensitive: harsh handling backfires, so reward generously and keep any correction to a calm word.
Mental Challenges
Highly intelligent breed needs complex training tasks and puzzle-solving activities.
Bond Before Training
Deeply loyal breed trains best after establishing strong relationship with handler.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Belgian Sheepdog and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to herd and guard livestock. Watchful, responsive, and wired to control movement.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsModerate
- StrangersLow
- CatsModerate
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 1.5-2 hours daily. Active exercise plus mental stimulation through training and games.
- Grooming
- Moderate to heavy shedding. Daily brushing for long coat.
- Drool
- Low
- Coat
- Long, Double coat, Dense undercoatSolid Black
- In a flat
- Needs more space than a flat gives.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Genetic joint condition affecting mobility
Epilepsy
Moderate
Seizure disorder more common in this breed
Thyroid Problems
Mild
Hypothyroidism can affect coat and energy
Where they come from
History
Named after the village of Groenendael where breeder Nicolas Rose developed the black variety in the 1890s. One of four Belgian shepherd varieties, distinguished by its long black coat.
Similar breeds
All breeds
Belgian Laekenois
One of its early guarding jobs was watching over linen left drying in Belgian fields.
Large · Pastoral
Belgian Tervuren
This Belgian shepherd takes its name from the village of Tervuren, where its development took shape.
Large · Pastoral
Rough Collie
Queen Victoria helped popularise the Rough Collie long before Lassie made its face famous on screen.
Large · Pastoral
Smooth Collie
The short coat can disguise a close connection: it shares its origins with the long-coated Rough Collie.
Large · Pastoral