CKC Breed Standard - Belgian Shepherd Dog
Origin & Purpose:
The Belgian Sheepdog has an ancestry which is common for many of the herding dogs used throughout the modern world. His type is a result of the rugged Belgian climate and the requirements of the Belgian Shepherd for a bright, strong and agile dog. In addition to sheep herding, the Belgian Sheepdog has been widely used for police and war work and is noted for his intelligence and alertness in obedience work.
General Appearance:
The first impression of the Belgian Sheepdog should be that of a well balanced, square dog, elegant in appearance, with an exceedingly proud carriage of head and neck. He should be a strong, agile, well muscled animal who is alert and full of life. His whole conformation should give the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness. The dog should be somewhat more impressive and grand than the bitch. The bitch should have a distinctly feminine look.
Like many European breeds, different coat colors, textures and lengths were preferred by the original fanciers. Today, however, only four distinctive coat types are recognized and have become the distinguishing characteristics of the four varieties of the Belgian Sheepdog. The long haired Groenendael and Tervuren, the short haired Malinois and the rough haired Lakenois variety differ in coat color, length and texture, but are unmistakably the same breed.
Temperament:
The Belgian Sheepdog should reflect the qualities of intelligence, courage, alertness and devotion to master. To his inherent aptitude as a guardian of flocks should be added protectiveness of person and property of his master. He should be watchful, attentive and always should be observant and vigilant with strangers, but not apprehensive. He should not show fear or shyness, He should not show viciousness by unwarranted or unprovoked attack. With those he knows well, he is most affectionate, friendly, zealous of their attention and very possessive.
Size:
Males should be 60.96 - 66.04 cm in height and females 55.88 - 60.96 cm, measured at the withers. The length, measured from front of the forechest to the rear projection of the pelvis, should equal the height. Bitches may be slightly longer. Bone structure should be moderately heavy in proportion to height so that he is well balanced throughout and neither spindly and leggy, nor cumbersome and bulky.
Coat & Color:
Coat length, color and texture is the one distinguishing feature between the different varieties of the Belgian Sheepdog.
A) Long haired - The guard hairs of the coat must be long, well fitting, straight and abundant. The texture should be a medium harshness. The undercoat should be extremely dense, commensurate, however, with climatic conditions. The hair is shorter on the head, outside of the ears, and lower part of the legs. The opening of the ear is protected by tufts of hair. There should be long and abundant hair forming a collarette around the neck, forming a fringe along the back of the forearm, forming the breeches in the hind quarters and forming a nicely plumed tail. Two color types are found in the long haired variety:
1. The dog should be completely black or be black with white limited as follows: Small to moderate patch on the forechest, between the pads of the feet, on the tips of the toes, on frost on the chin and muzzle. White tips on the front toes is allowable but is a fault. The black long haired variety is known as the Groenendael.
2. The dog should be a rich fawn to russet mahogany with a black overlay. The coat is characteristically double pigmented, where in the tip of each fawn hair is blackened. On mature males, this blackening is especially pronounced on the shoulders, back and rib section. The chest color is a mixture of black and grey. The face has a black mask and the ears are mostly black. The under parts of the dog, tail and breeches are light beige. A small white patch is permitted on the chest but should not extend into the neck or breast. Frost on the chin or muzzle is normal. Too light a color or too black a color is a serious fault. This variety is known as the Tervuren.
B) Short haired - The coat should be comparatively short and straight with a dense undercoat. It is very short on the head, the ears and lower legs. The hair is somewhat longer around the neck where it forms a collarette and on the tail and back of the thighs. The color should be from a rich fawn to mahogany with a black overlay. There should be a black mask and black ears. The underparts of the body, tail and breeches are a lighter fawn. A small white patch on the chest is permissible as is white on the tips of the toes. A washed out color is undesirable. This variety is known as the Malinois.
C) Rough haired - The coat should be reasonably short and have a texture which is rough and dry. It should always appear to be ruffled. The length of the hair should be about the same on all parts of the body. Whiskers are a necessity. The tail should not form a plume. The coat should basically be fawn or grey in color with traces of black appearing principally on the muzzle and tail. The degree of blackening varies considerably from dog to dog. This variety is known as the Laekenois.
Head:
Should be clean cut and strong with size in proportion to the body.
A) Skull - should be flattened on top rather than rounded. The width should be approximately the same as, but not wider than the length. The stop should be moderate.
B) Muzzle - should be moderately pointed, avoiding any tendency to snipiness, and approximately equal in length to that of the top skull.
C) Nose - should be black without spots or discolored areas.
D) Mouth - the jaw should be strong and powerful. The lips should be tight and black with no pink showing on the outside. There should be a full complement of strong, white, evenly set teeth. There should be either an even or a scissors bite. An overshot or undershot bite is a serious fault.
E) Eyes - should be dark brown, medium sized, slightly almond shaped and should not protrude.
F) Ears - should be triangular in shape, erect and in proportion in size to the head. The base of the ear should not come below the center of the eye.
Neck:
Should be round and rather outstretched, tapered from head to body and well muscled with tight skin.
Body:
A) Forequarters:
1) Chest - should be deep but not braod. The lowest point should reach the elbow of the front leg and should form a smooth ascending curve to the abdomen.
2) shoulder - should be long and oblique, laid flat against the body and form a sharp angle (approximately 90 degrees) with the upper arm.
3) Legs - should be straight, strong and parallel to each other. The bone should be oval rather than round. The length should be in proportion to the size of the dog.
4) Pasterns - should be of medium length and should be strong and very slightly sloped.
B) Back: should be level, straight and firm from withers to hip. The withers should be slightly higher than and slope into the back.
C) Loin: the loin section viewed from above should be relatively short, broad and strong and should blend smoothly into the back. The abdomen should be moderately developed and should neither be tucked up nor paunchy.
D) Hindquarters:
1) Croup - should be medium long with a gradual slope.
2) Thighs - should be broad and heavily muscled. The upper and lower thigh ones form a relatively sharp angle at the stifle joint.
3) Hocks - the angle at the hock is relatively sharp although the angulation is not extreme.
4) Metatarsus - should be of medium length, strong and slightly sloped. Dew claws, if any, should be removed.
E) Tail: should be strong at the base and the bone should reach the hock. At rest, it should be held low, and in action, it should be raised with a slight curl which is strongest toward the tip. It should not curl over the dog's back or form a hook.
F) Feet: the front feet should be round (cat footed). The rear feet should be slightly elongated. Toes on both front and back feet should be curved and close together. They should be well padded. Nails should be strong and black except that they may be white to match white tipped toes.
Gait:
Should be smooth, free and easy, seemingly never tiring and exhibiting facility of movement rather then a hard driving action. He should single track on a fast gait (i.e., the legs, both front and rear, converge toward the center line of the body), The back line should remain firm and level, parallel to the line of motion with no crabbing. He should show a marked tendency to move in a circle rather than a straight line.
Faults:
Any deviation from these specifications is a fault. In determining whether a fault is minor, serious or major, these two factors should be used as a guide:
1) The extent to which it deviates from the standard.
2) The extent to which such a deviation would actually affect the working ability of the dog.
Disqualifications:
1) Viciousness.
2) Excessive shyness.
3) Any color or color combination not allowed in the standard.
4) Ears - hanging (as in hound).
5) Tail - cropped or stump.
6) Males under 58.42 cm or over 68.58 cm in height. Females under 53.34 cm or over 63.50 cm in height.
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