Belgian Sheepdog Facts & Information

The Belgian Sheepdog (also known as the Belgian Shepherd Dog or the Malinois) is bold, beautiful, and always ready for action. Give this pup plenty of exercise and mental stimulation each day and you’ll have a smart and affectionate companion on your hands—ready to explore the world with you. With a colourful history as a ‘war dog’ during World War One and Two, this breed has a fascinating past and enough endearing quirks to make them a wonderful addition to high-energy households.

Is a Belgian Shepherd Dog the right kind of dog for you? There are a lot of things to consider when adding a dog to your life, so we’ve covered just about everything you’ll need to know in this in-depth breed profile.

Breed Characteristics

Belgian Sheepdog Appearance

The Belgian Sheepdog is a breed that truly stands out, with a thick (double-coated) mane which comes in four varieties, according to Kennel Club standards. They are:

• Groenendael: this variety has a black and long coat, with a ‘collarette’ around the neck and extra-lush hair on the back of the legs and tail.
• Tervueren: has a long coat that’s red, fawn or grey in colour, often with a black mask and overlay.
• Malinois: sports a dense, short coat with the same colourings as the Tervueren variety.
• Laekenois: this variety has a wiry coat with some black shadings but red or fawn in colour.

With their large yet graceful frame and long snout, they do have similarities to their other shepherd dog cousins, but also an appeal that’s all their own.

Athletic and agile, Belgian Sheepdogs can weigh up to 34 kg and can grow up to 66 cm tall.

Belgian Sheepdog Personality

The most important thing to understand about the Belgian Sheepdog is their need for exercise. Yes, they can be affectionate, sweet, and lovely family pets—but if they aren’t exercised sufficiently every day, then they aren’t going to be at their best. Not only do they physically need to get their energy out daily (and for a couple of hours), but they also need mental stimulation to keep them happy. They also tend to get bored easily since they’re working dogs, which can lead to destructive behaviour, so it’s essential to engage their minds with puzzles, games, and training.

As long as you’re not looking for a couch potato pooch, these dogs really are wonderful additions to your home. They are very devoted to their loved ones, which can also include children (who they’ll begin to consider ‘their children’), though you should still always supervise your dog and kids when they’re playing together.

Belgian Shepherd Dogs can sometimes be a bit stubborn and strong-willed, so they aren’t always the best fit for first-time dog owners. But someone devoted to spending time with them and training them will soon find themselves with a new best friend.

Ideal Environment for a Belgian Sheepdog

Since the herding and chasing instincts are strong in this breed, a house with a large back garden is often the best fit. Also, they require A LOT of exercise daily, so it’s nice to have an area to throw a ball around that is just steps from your front door.

They are able to live with some cats, but since they do like chasing smaller animals, it’s best to either have them grow up with a kitty (so they’re very used to them), or have a fearless cat that is unbothered by them.

Ideal Human for a Belgian Sheepdog

The best human for a Belgian Shepherd Dog is basically someone who has the time for them. This is not a breed that you can just leave at home while you’re working long hours, or spending entire days away from home. They need you to properly exercise them, and then they need to spend time with you—because beneath those thick, flowing locks is a pup that just wants to hang out with their loved ones.

They would also be a wonderful fit for someone who has experience with working breeds, or someone who is interested in agility training, camping, or exploring the world of dog sports. Essentially they need a high-energy person to match their own high-energy persona.

Belgian Sheepdog Training

You could definitely say this breed is easy to train since they’re bright, determined, and love having a job to do—but that doesn’t necessarily make them an easy dog.

Belgian Shepherd Dogs have a strong chase drive, so a recall is essential to teach from the very beginning. They can also be suspicious of new people, so training them not to guard at an early age is also a must.

One of the most important things with this breed? Early socialisation. Though this is generally a kind breed, it’s still important to counter any possible fear or aggression in these pups by socialising them early on and introducing them to a variety of situations, people, animals, and locations. By showing them the world around them, and making them feel comfortable and safe with you as they explore it, they’ll gain the confidence to be the well-adjusted, well-behaved pup you know that they can be. Above all this breed really just wants to please their loved ones, and their smarts and charm mean that any effort you put into training them will be well worth it.

Belgian Sheepdog Grooming

Grooming is essential to this breed, which shouldn’t come as a surprise when you consider that long, flowing coif. This is definitely a dog that will lose fur all over your house—with a particularly heavy shedding season once a year. But, you can help cut down on the hair flying by brushing them for about 15 to 20 minutes weekly and giving them a quick brush every day. Regular grooming will help remove dead hair and prevent mats and tangles (which are typical in their kind of fur). You’ll want to invest in a pin brush for the longer hair, and a wire slicker for short hair, combs for tangles, and a grooming rake for removing shedding hair. We told you this breed took some dedication!

Make sure to keep their nails trimmed up, and their teeth in tip-top shape by brushing them weekly.

Belgian Sheepdog Health

Belgian Shepherd Dogs are a fairly healthy breed, but they do have a few possible health issues that you should keep an eye out for, including a variety of eye disorders, hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, and hypothyroidism.

Despite sometimes encountering these health issues, using a reputable breeder (if you’re using a breeder) can help cut down the possibility of your dog having these problems. The Kennel Club recommends health screening schemes for hip and eye issues among breeding dogs. Belgian Shepherd Dogs generally live for 10+ years, and with the proper exercise, food, and regular trips to the vet, your pup will have a good chance at a long and happy life.

Belgian Sheepdog Breed History

This breed originated in Belgium in the late 1800’s. They were originally developed by Nicholas Rose and were immediately popular because of their versatility—acting as police dogs in Paris and New York, and working with customs officers in Belgium.

They were also war dogs, and during World War One they were used to pull ambulances and machine gun carts, and pass along messages. They also served in World War Two, and have continued to grow in popularity ever since then.

Getting a Belgian Sheepdog

Belgian Sheepdog breeders

It’s always a good idea to meet the parents of your puppy, and to see how the litter interacts with each other. Also, a good, trustworthy breeder should have records of the parents’ lineage and should be able to tell you more about the specific mix of the litter. 

Make sure you wise up on puppy mills and internet scams—following some simple steps can help avoid further funding of this terrible practice, and help you end up with a pet whose breeding and early-life experience will more reliably result in a well-adjusted dog. Looking for a breeder with a five-star licence from the local authority and/or one registered on the Kennel Club’s assured breeders scheme is a good place to start.

Adopting a Belgian Sheepdog

As with many breeds, Belgian Shepherd Dogs often find their way to rescue centres for a variety of reasons, including dogs saved from puppy farms. But often it’s the simple fact that their previous owners simply felt unable to care for them any longer, perhaps due to a change in lifestyle or health, or because they didn’t fully understand the amount of exercise and training a breed like the Belgian Shepherd Dog requires.

A Belgian Shepherd Dog can make for a wonderful friend and they’re sure to be a source of joy, with plenty of laughs and perhaps a little bit of mischief along the way. Surrendered dogs are often already well-trained and simply in need of a new, loving home, so rescuing is always a wonderful option.

Whether you’re planning on adopting or finding a breeder to find a puppy, prepare yourself, your home and your heart to welcome a dog with plenty of personality and energy.

More on Belgian Sheepdog

If you’re simply in love with Belgian Shepherd Dogs, then you’ll be craving what we’ve got for you next. From adorable Belgian Shepherd friendships, to the best crates for big pups:

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• The Best Crates For Big Dogs