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Medium sized and square in outline, the Belgian Laekenois has a harsh and wiry rough coat that is reddish fawn in colour with black shading on the muzzle and tail. Giving the overall impression of an athletic and elegant dog, the Laekenois variety of Belgian Shepherd are a loyal companion that loves to protect their family.
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
Intelligent and attentive, although wary of strangers or suspicious behaviour, the Laekenois is everything a herding and guarding dog should be. Willing to take direction from a handler but also able to make decisions for themselves, the Laekenois requires a dedicated owner with whom to form a solid partnership. Affectionate and loyal to close family, the Laekenois takes time to warm to strangers and is not particularly tolerant or forgiving of heavy or rough handling. They frequently seem to be the ‘softest’or the least intense of the four Belgian Shepherd breeds - but then everything is relative!
| Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 4/5 |
| Easy to train: | 3/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 2/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 4/5 |
| Energy level: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
| Shedding: | 3/5 |
There are four varieties of Belgian Shepherd and these were originally just variations in coat type, being bred for their ability to herd and guard, 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 the Malinois) in 1897. The Laekenois wasn’t recognised until much later.
The Laekenois owes its existence and recognition as a separate type of Belgian Shepherd in the main to breed supporters in the Netherlands and France rather than in Belgium, although being the favourite breed of Queen Henrietta of Belgium did help!
If you’re fit and active, enjoy long walks, experienced in dog training and dog sports, the Laekenois may make an excellent companion. You’ll need a large secure garden for games and training, and live semi-rurally to access various country walks.
Two hours or more of dog exercise, including walking, some free running in a secure location and plenty of extra time of training, games and puzzle solving each day will keep the Laekenois busy and happy. Failure to meet their needs will result in a loud, destructive and unhappy dog. This is a dog who loves training and working with their owner and has almost a limitless capacity and need to learn - with a positive skilled trainer who can keep up with them!
Although easy to house indoors, the Laekenois 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 a large town will be over-stimulating and stressful for this dog so the ideal is a medium to large rural home, with a large secure garden and plenty of access to interesting walks.
The Laekenois needs to have a balanced dog diet including all the main nutrient groups and a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their 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.
Quick to learn and very intuitive, whilst the Laekenois is in many respects a dog easy to train due to their eagerness to learn and work with you, they will also very easily teach themselves behaviours you may not like. The herding and guarding instincts are strong in this breed, owners will need to actively enjoy training as a hobby in its own right as well as take part in a variety of suitable canine sports or at least, activities the dog can join in with, such as running, Cani-x, working trials or agility. Socialise well with other animals, particularly livestock, household pets and children.
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.
