Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) – The Brown One

The second of the Four Beautiful Belgian Shepherds. This time in Brown with a shorter coat!

Image: Marry Kolesnik/Shutterstock.com

Quick Overview

Name:                                                                                  Belgian Laekenois, Chien de Berger Belge

Size:                                                                                       Up to 66 cm tall

Weight:                                                                                Up to 30 kg for a healthy adult dog

Grooming:                                                                          Weekly brush and a bath once a while

Training:                                                                               Very intelligent. moderate too easy to train

Exercise:                                                                              Energetic as heck

Origins:                                                                                 Belgium

Lifespan:                                                                              10-12 years

Breed Type:                                                                        Pastoral (herding dog)

A Little Laekenois History

The Belgian Shepherd Dog was renowned throughout the prime-cattle herding territory of Belgium and were used for exactly that purpose. They were so widely used that nobody bothered to categorise them until later in their history, but once they did, four distinct types were defined. The Laekenois is one type of the Belgian Shepherd, It’s a sheepdog that looks a lot like a giant terrier…

This particular breed standard for Belgian Shepherds originated in the castle of Laeken… that’s right. Your potential new pooch could be from formerly royal stock. The breed might have been kept by the Royal family, bred, and given as expensive gifts to trusted people. During the Second World War there are records of this breed carrying messages through the trenches of France. This is one of the native dog breeds discovered in 1891 by the Belgian Shepherd Dog Club, whose investigations showed there were four types of the same dog.

It is rumoured that the dog went from guarding the flocks in the fields to guarding the linens as they dried on the castle washing lines. Although now considered a fairly rare breed type, the Laekenois is a fiercely loyal dog capable of putting in a full day’s work. It seems that the decline in use of working dogs has impacted this breed. You know what that means, don’t you?

If you have a farm or country house with fields and sheep, you have a moral obligation to buy a Laekenois and keep the line going. It’s only right.

Fun Facts About Your Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois)

Here at Five Minutes Spare, we take great pride in our work. Part of that work is digging up the dirt on each breed of dog… finding the dog dirt, if you will. With that in mind, here are the funniest things about your Laekenois puppy… or at least some of the most interesting things:

• They have a woolly coat that makes them look like a GSD and a terrier had a puppy.
• The AKC finally moved this breed from Miscellaneous to Herding and the Laekenois can now compete in events. The UK Kennel Club recognised them many years ago, and you can even join any of the many doggy owner clubs when you buy a pup. The American Belgian Laekenois Association and the Belgian Shepherd Dog Association of Great Britain being but two.
• Another version of the linen-hanging legend is that the linens were being bleached or dyed, not washed, and left in the sun to develop, so the dogs would watch them. They must have been so bored…
• The UK kennel club separated down the breed differences in 1991, back when we were all riding bicycles and playing on swing sets.

They are some of the least appreciated dogs on the planet. This breed came from royalty and have accompanied man down through the ages in all his misadventures – including two World Wars. It’s about time we all started showing them some love…

How Much Grooming Do They Need?

You will need to clip their nails once every three-six months. On top of this, give them a good brush once in a while. They are not hypoallergenic dogs having a woolly coat but do have a slightly shorter cone than the Groenendael. A bath once in a while and fairly regular t00th brushing will help prevent that doggie smell.

How Hard Is It To Train A Laekenois?

They are people pleasers and have high amounts of energy. Obedience training is essential, so they don’t herd the family too much.  If you want a good sheepdog, though, this is the one!

What About Exercise Time?

To coin a phrase, Laekenois were Born To Run! Dont get one unless you love the outdoors!
Image: Marry Kolesnik/Shutterstock.com

Medium-large dog breeds like the Laekenois Belgian Shepherd Dog need as much exercise as you can give them. 2+ hours a day minimum. Two long walks and a good play, or a large garden for them to romp freely in, will do them. This isn’t the kind of dog you buy if you have a small home and an inactive lifestyle, it will end up chewing up your couch and driving you mad wanting to get out.

In fact: if you have this dog already and it is being mischievous on the day-to-day, you probably aren’t exercising it enough. Wear it out some and it will have no energy to chew your cushions. Doggy puzzles are a good investment for this type of troublemaker.

Where Can I Buy A Laekenois?

You should never trust random breeders with knock-down rates. Puppy farmers will breed the mother to death in horrific conditions, don’t take part in this terrible process. Choose your breeder through the kennel club or judge them on whether or not they have parents and paperwork. The kennel club’s information will be reliable, and each breeder will have been vetted. Alternatively, call your local shelter and ask them to watch out for this breed.

Does The Belgian Shepherd Suffer From Health Problems?

The Laekenois Belgian Shepherd Dog breed has associations with hip and elbow dysplasia. This condition means that the joints are not properly formed, and the structure is painful to the dog. An early X-ray will determine if your dog has this or not. This breed is an ancient breed, so watch out for allergies, skin conditions, and that sort of thing. Hypothyroidism is reasonably common with them. Signs of this condition include a thinning of the coat, inexplicable weight gain, and a darkening of the skin.

How To Choose The Best Dog Breed For You?

If the Laekenois, although adorable, isn’t ticking all the right boxes for you in terms of being perfect pet material, then don’t panic. Head over to our Dog Directory and browse till you find the furbaby you have been dreaming of. There’s other stuff on Five Minutes Spare to – but we know you’re really just here for the dogs…