The Groenendael is a variety of dog
that is included in the Belgian Shepherd breed, but sometimes treated as a
distinct breed. The Groenendael is recognized, either as a breed or a variety
of the larger breed, by all major kennel clubs, such as the Kennel Club of the
UK. In the American Kennel Club, it is called the Belgian Sheepdog, a term
otherwise synonymous with Belgian Shepherd Dog more broadly.
Description
Like
all Belgian Shepherds, the Groenendael is a medium-sized, hard-working,
square-proportioned dog, in the sheepdog family. The Groenendael is recognized
by its distinctive black coat.
Appearance
The
Groenendael should be athletic, strong, imposing, rustic, and balanced in
appearance. It should look natural, never as though it has been prepared just
for the show ring. Its coat should be profuse, but never look as though it
would inhibit the dog's working ability in any way. The colour is always black,
with sometimes small white markings being allowed on the chest,chin and feet.
Floppy ears are considered a fault when showing. When being shown, its handler
should never have to force it into position; ideally the handler should not
have to touch the dog at all.
Size
The
Groenendael should be 60–66 centimetres (24–26 in) at the withers for males,
and 56–62 centimetres (22–24 in) for females. The weight should be
approximately 25–30 kilograms (55–66 lb) for males, and 20–25 kilograms (44–55
lb) for females.
Coat
The
Groenendael has a thick, double coat. The texture should be hard and dense,
never woolly, silky, frizzy, fine, or wiry. The undercoat should be thick and
profuse. In conformation shows, dogs without an undercoat are heavily
penalized.
Temperament
A
Groenendael at 4 months
The
Groenendael is intelligent, active, loyal and quietly affectionate.
Groenendaels are not a breed for the faint of heart. However, for those who
have plenty of time, energy, confidence and love, they are wonderful friends.
Training and socializing is essential. They are wary of strangers and
protective. They love children as long as they are introduced to them at an
early age. The Groenendael bonds deeply to its people and cannot live outdoors
or in a kennel. It needs to spend time with its family every day and may
experience separation anxiety if left alone for long periods of time.
Care
The
Groenendael needs a large amount of exercise as a rule. Expect to spend about
two hours a day working with it. Exercise should include not only a walk, but
also a training session to keep the dog mentally stimulated. These dogs have
great "work ethic" and need a job to do, such as obedience, flyball,
schutzhund training, dog agility or livestock work in order to be happy. They
are a sensitive breed and cannot be trained using harsh training methods. They
do not need much grooming, however when shedding (which happens once or twice a
year) they lose massive amounts of coat and need grooming every day.
Activities
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