Medium sized and square in outline, the Belgian Groenendael long, smooth coat that is black in colour, occasionally with small white markings on the chest and toes. The Groenendael is often mistaken for a solid black long coat German Shepherd, but they are lighter in build and far more elegant and refined.
As with many breeds, all varieties of the Belgian can suffer from:
- Hip dysplasia
- Hereditary cataracts which is a condition where the lens in the eye becomes cloudy and this can result in blindness.
- Progressive retinal atrophy which is an inherited disorder where part of the eye degenerates and wastes away which can result in blindness.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- Hip dysplasia screening scheme
- Eye screening scheme
Clever and attentive, although somewhat wary of strangers, the Groenendael is to this day, all a herding and guarding breed should be. Very trainable, with a huge capacity for learning but willing to make their own decisions should instruction not be forthcoming, they are in need of a dedicated owner with plenty of time to work with them and train them to a high standard. Friendly, and devoted affectionate to close family and friends, they do take time to warm to strangers and will not tolerate rough handling or over-familiarity from those they do not know.
| Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 5/5 |
| Easy to train: | 5/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 3/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 5/5 |
| Energy level: | 5/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
| Shedding: | 5/5 |
There are four varieties of Belgian Shepherd and these were originally just variations in coat type, as they were primarily bred for their ability to herd and guard so they were considered one breed. Now the four types, the Laekenois, Groenendael, Tervuren and Malinois are classified separately as breeds in their own right - although this took some time, with the Belgian Kennel Club only recognising three types initially (the Groenendael, Tervuren and Malinois) in 1897.
The Groenendael is possibly the most striking of the four, with their luxurious black coat and pricked ears and was created by Nicholas Rose, owner of Chateau de Groenendael, south of Brussels in 1885. He owned what would become the foundation bitch, a long-haired black dog named Petite, and spent a year searching for a male that would match her. He found a dog called Piccard D’Uccle, and together these two founded the breed. The Groenendael first reached the US in 1907, but didn’t reach England until 1931.
Fit, active and energetic, the Groenendael owner enjoys long walks, lots of dog training and possibly some dog sports or competition too. They’ll have a large secure garden and live at least semi-rurally.
This is an active working dog who needs two hours, ideally more, per day of physical exercise – and this should be a mixture of walking and free running. On top of that, they also need time dedicated to training, playing, puzzle solving and working. This is a dog for those who are dedicated to training and working dogs, either as a job or a hobby. Very much a dog you tailor your lifestyle around!
Although easy to house indoors, the Groenendael will want to spend a good portion of the day training so sufficient indoor and secure outdoor space will be required. The hustle and bustle of a city or large town will be over-stimulating and ideally this is a dog for the medium to large rural home, with a large secure garden and plenty of access to interesting walks.
Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food.
Easy to groom, brush through every few days to check over the body for cuts, scrapes and parasites. Pay attention to paw pads that may pick up grass seeds or grit, and inside the ears too.
Very clever, quick and intense – the Groenendael will absorb training like a sharp-eyed black sponge. Failure to provide training will result in a bored dog who learns habits you will almost certainly not like. Work hard on socialisation, habituation, building a strong recall and steadiness around livestock, pets and children. They will enjoy and excel in a variety of competitive dog sports such as agility, obedience, working trials, Cani-x and much, much more.
This is a dog for the dedicated training enthusiast, and if well trained and kept busy, is likely to be good with their own children but not with visitors and so is better suited to the adult only home or those with older children and teenagers who will enjoy training the dog and walking for several hours a day. Not ideal as a pet for the average owner, this is a fairly intense dog who wants to be working most of the time.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
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