The Belgian Shepherd Dog – The Tervueren The Dog That Played Wolf!

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The Tervueren is one of four types of Belgian Shepherd Dogs and as the name suggests they originated in Tervuren, Flanders. Played Wolf I hear you ask - well you will need to read on to find out about that...

Quick Overview

Name:                                                  The Tervueren Belgian Shepherd Dog

Size:                                                       No more than 26 inches tall

Weight:                                                No more than 75 pounds in weight

Grooming:                                          They are fuzzy, grooming is moderate

Training:                                               Bright, intelligent, ready to do your bidding

Exercise:                                              Daily, around 3 hours

Lifespan:                                              12-14 years

Origins:                                                 The village of Tervueren in Belgium

Breed Type:                                        Pastoral (Herding)

History Behind the Tervueren

The Tervueren (or Tervuren, in American English) is one of four species of Belgian herding dog, as originally split in 1891. Owners of these dogs formed an association and quickly realised that all of their Belgian Shepherds looked different. From that point forward, the categorisation of these dogs began.

The Terueven was bred by a mand named M.F. Corbeel in the small village of the same name, in Belgium. They came into their stride as a breed in their own right under his care and at the start of the 20^th century. Up until then, they had been known only as the Belgian Shepherd… but what separates the breeds now is the way their coats are. The Terueven is long-haired, with the powder-puff finish of a fluff ball. Of all the BSD breeds, this one needs to be bathed and brushed the most.

Corbeel crossed red and black dogs to get this breed so distinctive from its cousins. Generally, they are long-haired and red or black as a result. This is mostly down to the efforts of this one breeder. Teruevens are fairly rare nowadays, but that is all the more reason for you to buy one.

The eradication of widespread farming resulted in less need for a working dog like the Terv. In recent years it has seen a decline in population, although they did manage to cross the sea to America, where the AKC set out a breed standard that pretty much says the same thing that the UK kennel Club’s breed standard says. Nowadays, these loyal, friendly, helpful dogs are used as police dogs, in search and rescue operations, and even as sniffer dogs for drugs at airports. They are versatile enough to guard the flock, yet happy enough to follow you around all day.

This breed is classed as a pastoral or herding dog, but it is a worker. Don’t buy one if you want a dog that will stay at home all day because you will end up with a depressed doggy… and nobody wants one of those.

Fun Facts about this Belgian Shepherd Dog Variant

Here at Five Minutes Spare, we know all dog breeds have the fun factor. We categorised all the best in fun facts about the Tervueren, just for you. Here goes:

• There are multiple options in clubs to join as a Tervueren owner. You can join the Belgian Shepherd Dog Association of GB if you like, or the Northern Belgian Shepherd Dog Club… or countless others.
• In the film “The company of wolves” it is Terueven Belgian Shepherds that play the wolves. They do have a wolf-like appearance, particularly if they haven’t been brushed that day.
• It was 1959 before the Tervueren was finally identified as a separate breed from the other three types of BSD.
• You get exceedingly rare grey coloured Tervs which somehow slipped through the master breeder's net at the start of the 20^{th Century. Ideal for playing the part of a wolf!}

You can imagine the wolf-like howl.
Image: LNbjors/Shutterstock.com

As you can see, there is more to this humble, mid-sized dog breed than meets the eye… could he be your perfect pet?

How Much Exercise Does a Tervueren Need?

Loads. So much that we suggest you don’t get one unless you: a) have lots of land for them to run around on, or b) intend to put them to work or take them to work with you, so that they are active all day long. A Tervueren left at home all day is an unhappy dog and that’s not fair. If you want a dog to leave at home, go for a small dog that doesn’t need all that exercise.

What about Grooming?

They need to be brushed every few days. Their coat is a double coat, using a soft underneath and a hard outer to get rid of dirt and water. The two layers might ball up together if you don’t keep on top of it, but it isn’t prone to matt. Never let a dog’s fur matt as it hurts them to remove it. Brush their teeth once a week and trim their nails, too.

And Training – is it Difficult?

No! This breed has been man’s best friend for hundreds of years. They are particularly adept at guarding things, having been reared to watch sheep. They will do any job you assign them with glee but do get them into obedience training when they are puppies.

Are They a Healthy Breed?

Yes, sort of. They tend to suffer from hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia, where these parts of the legs don’t form properly and cause them damage as they get older. An x-ray when you get your puppy will tell you if this is a problem for your dog or not. You should also be aware that epilepsy can run in the bloodline.

Where Can I Buy a Tervueren Belgian Shepherd?

You should always buy your new puppy from a respectable dealer who can introduce you to at least one of the dog’s parents and provide you with paperwork. IF they can’t do either of these things, you should be suspicious of puppy farming activity. Try local shelters before you spend thousands on a puppy, though. It might be that a dog in need has been handed in that matches the breed you decide to buy.

Need More Doggy Options?

If you are shopping around for your perfect dog breed, then you should definitely have a look at our directory. Five Minutes Spare can guide you through all sorts of doggy delights. If you are determined to have a big dog, have you thought about the Beauceron? If not, have you considered the smaller, sadder looking Basset Hound? You can research all the breeds you need within our pages. Good luck finding your new best friend!