Belgian Sheepdog
Main statistics
Name:
Belgian Sheepdog
Breed group:
Herding Dogs
Size:
Large breed
Height:
Males are 24 to 26 inches and females 22 to 24 inches at the shoulder
Weight:
Males are 65 to 75 pounds and females are 60 to 70 pounds
Life Span:
10 to 12 years
Adaptability
80 %
Adapts well to apartment living
Dog’s ability to be relatively quiet, not high energy and fairly calm indoors, and polite with the other residents.
60 %
Good for first-time owners
Dog’s ability to be fairly easygoing, resilient enough to bounce back from owner’s mistakes or inconsistencies.
60 %
Sensitivity level
Dog’s ability to handle a noisy, chaotic household, a louder or more assertive owner, and an inconsistent or variable routine.
100 %
Tolerance of being alone
Dog’s predisposition to be worry or even panic when left alone by their owner. An anxious dog can be very destructive, barking, whining, chewing, and otherwise causing mayhem.
60 %
Tolerability to cold weather
Dog’s ability to tolerate cold weather
80 %
Tolerability to hot weather
Dog’s ability to tolerate hot weather
60 %
Friendliness
100 %
Family affection
Dog’s ability to build close bonds with the owner or owner’s family
80 %
Kid friendliness
Dog’s ability to be gentle with children, to handle their hugs, and to have right attitude toward children’s running and screaming
100 %
Friendliness towards other dogs
Dog’s ability to have good canine social skills
100 %
Friendliness toward strangers
Dog’s ability to be stranger-friendly
80 %
Grooming
60 %
Shedding potential
Intensity of dog’s shedding
100 %
Drooling potential
Dog’s predisposition to drop saliva uncontrollably from the mouth
20 %
Grooming complexity
Level of grooming complexity
60 %
Health
60 %
General health
Dog’s predisposition to be prone to certain genetic health problems
60 %
Potential for weight gain
Dog’s predisposition for weight gaining
40 %
Trainability
80 %
Training potential
Dog’s ability to respond to training
100 %
Intelligence
Dog’s ability for jobs that require decision making, intelligence, and concentration, such as herding livestock, taking care of blind person, etc.
100 %
Potential for mouthiness
Dog’s tendency to nip, chew, and play-bite during puppyhood.
40 %
Prey drive
Level of inborn desire to chase and sometimes kill other animals.
100 %
Tendency to bark or howl
Level of dog’s desire for barking or howling.
20 %
Wanderlust potential
Dog’s ability to take off after anything that catches their interest, even if it means leaving the owner behind.
80 %
Exercise Requirements
100 %
Energy level
Amount of time and energy, which dog spends for jumping, playing, and investigating any new sights and smells.
100 %
Intensity
Dog’s vigorousity potential.
60 %
Exercise needs
Level of exercises needed to keep dog in-shape
100 %
Potential for playfulness
Level of dog’s demands for endless games
100 %
General info
The Belgian Sheepdog (known as the Groenendael in Europe) is the solid-colored variety of the four Belgian shepherd dogs. Elegant and graceful, he has a long black coat and an imposing appearance. He's athletic as well as beautiful and maintains the working ability for which he was originally known, making him an excellent choice for agility, herding, and obedience competitions. The Belgian Sheepdog combines the versatility of a working dog with the gentleness of a family companion. He makes a wonderful family companion as long as he receives the exercise he needs.