Varieties of Belgian Sheepdog Breeds

Elegant yet hardy, the Belgian sheepdog, also known as the Belgian shepherd, originated as a native herding dog in Belgium. Four varieties of Belgian sheepdogs exist, each with the same body build and temperament but with variations in the color, texture and length of the coat. Early Belgian breeders wanted the dogs classified as one breed with variations based on coat color and the place of origin. Today, all countries categorize Belgian sheepdogs as a single breed except for the United States. The American Kennel Association (AKC) recognizes three of the varieties as separate breeds and does not recognize the fourth.

  1. Groenendael

    • Classified simply as the Belgian sheepdog by the AKC, this dog is known as the Groenendael worldwide. This variety of dog has long, black, straight hair over a dense undercoat, with longer hair on the neck, forearms, hind legs and tail. The Groenedael can be all black or black with white on the chest, between the pads of the feet, on the tips of hind toes and on the chin and muzzle.

    Tervueren

    • Of the four varieties, the Tervueren adapts best to climate extremes. The body coat features long, straight hair over a dense undercoat with abundant hair around the neck, fringes on the legs and a bushy tail. The double-pigmented coat ranges in color from fawn to mahogany with the tip of each hair blackened. Tervuerens have a black mask on the face, black ears and a dark or black tail.

    Malinois

    • Popular as a police or guard dog, the Malinois has short, straight hair with a hard texture. Hair can be longer at the neck, the back of the thighs and the tail but shouldn't hang down. The double-pigmented coat can vary from fawn to sable with each hair black-tipped. The Malinois has a well-pronounced black face mask, black ears and fawn fur under the body, tail and back end. White may be on the chest and tips of the toes.

    Laekenois

    • The AKC has not recognized the Laekenois, the rarest of the four Belgian sheepdog varieties. This Laekenois has a rough, wiry coat with hair that reaches 2 ½ inches in length over the body and forms a beard and mustache on the face. Colors range from fawn to red to gray with a black overlay on the shoulders, back and ribs. The under parts of the body, tail and back legs are cream, gray or light beige and white may be present on the chest, tip of the tail and muzzle.