{"id":8563,"date":"2021-08-09T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-09T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jelenadogshows.com\/eng\/topical\/?p=8563"},"modified":"2021-08-06T16:31:00","modified_gmt":"2021-08-06T14:31:00","slug":"belgian-shepherd-dog-standard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jelenadogshows.com\/eng\/topical\/belgian-shepherd-dog-standard\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgian Shepherd Dog-STANDARD"},"content":{"rendered":"

FCI-Standard N\u00b0 15 <\/span><\/p>\n

BELGIAN SHEPHERD DOG<\/span><\/p>\n

ORIGIN<\/strong>: Belgium.<\/span>
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF OFFICIAL VALID<\/span><\/strong>
STANDARD<\/strong>: 13.03.2001.<\/span>
UTILISATION<\/strong>: Originally a sheep dog, today a working dog<\/span>
(guarding, defence, tracking, etc.) and an all-purpose service dog, as<\/span>
well as a family dog.<\/span>
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.<\/strong>: Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs<\/span>
(except Swiss Cattle dogs).<\/span>
Section 1 Sheepdogs.<\/span>
With working trial.<\/span>
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY<\/strong>: In Belgium, at the end of the<\/span>
1800s, there were a great many herding dogs, whose type was varied<\/span>
and whose coats were extremely dissimilar. In order to rationalise<\/span>
this state of affairs, some enthusiastic dog fanciers formed a group<\/span>
and sought guidance from Prof. A. Reul of the Cureghem Veterinary<\/span>
Medical School, whom one must consider to have been the real<\/span>
pioneer and founder of the breed.<\/span>
The breed was officially born between 1891 and 1897. On<\/span>
September 29th, 1891, the Belgian Shepherd Dog Club (Club du<\/span>
Chien de Berger Belge) was founded in Brussels and in the same<\/span>
year on November 15th in Cureghem, Professor A. Reul organised a<\/span>
gathering of 117 dogs, which allowed him to carry out a return and<\/span>
choose the best specimens. In the following years they began a real<\/span>
programme of selection, carrying out some very close interbreeding<\/span>
involving a few stud dogs.<\/span>
By April 3rd, 1892, a first detailed breed standard had already been<\/span>
drawn up by the Belgian Shepherd Dog Club. One single breed was<\/span>
allowed, with three coat varieties. However, as was said at the time,<\/span>
the Belgian Shepherd only belonged to ordinary people and therefore<\/span>
the breed still lacked status. <\/span>
As a result, it wasn\u2019t until 1901 that the first Belgian Shepherds were<\/span>
registered with the Royal Saint-Hubert Society Stud Book<\/span>
(L.O.S.H.).<\/span>
During the following years, the prime movers among the Belgian<\/span>
Shepherd enthusiasts set to work with great determination to unify<\/span>
the type and correct the faults. It can be said that by 1910 the type<\/span>
and temperament of the Belgian Shepherd had been established.<\/span>
During the history of the Belgian Shepherd, the question of differing<\/span>
but acceptable varieties and colours had led to many heated<\/span>
discussions. On the other hand, anything involving morphology,<\/span>
temperament and suitability for work has never caused any<\/span>
disagreement.<\/span>
GENERAL APPEARANCE:<\/strong> The Belgian Shepherd is a<\/span>
mediolineal dog, harmoniously proportioned, combining elegance<\/span>
and power, of medium size, with dry, strong muscle, fitting into a<\/span>
square, rustic, used to the open air life and built to resist the frequent<\/span>
atmospheric variations of the Belgian climate.<\/span>
Through the harmony of its shape and its high head-carriage, the<\/span>
Belgian Shepherd should give the impression of that elegant strength<\/span>
which has become the heritage of the selected representatives of a<\/span>
working breed. The Belgian Shepherd is to be judged in its natural<\/span>
stance, without physical contact with the handler.<\/span>
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS<\/strong>: The Belgian Shepherd dog can<\/span>
be fitted into a square. The chest is let down to the level of the<\/span>
elbows. The length of the muzzle is equal to or slightly longer than<\/span>
half the length of the head.<\/span>
BEHAVIOUR \/ TEMPERAMENT<\/strong>: The Belgian Shepherd is a<\/span>
watchful and active dog, bursting with energy, and always ready to<\/span>
leap into action. As well as its innate skill at guarding flocks, it also<\/span>
possesses the highly prized qualities of the best guard dog of<\/span>
property. Without any hesitation it is the stubborn and keen protector<\/span>
of its owner. It brings together all those qualities necessary for a<\/span>
shepherd, guard, defence and service dog. <\/span>
Its lively, alert temperament and its confident nature, showing no<\/span>
fear or aggressiveness, should be obvious in its body stance and the<\/span>
proud attentive expression in its sparkling eyes.<\/span>
When judging this breed, one should take into consideration its calm<\/span>
and fearless temperament.<\/span>
HEAD<\/strong>: Carried high, long without exaggeration, rectilinear, well<\/span>
chiselled and dry. Skull and muzzle are roughly equal in length, with<\/span>
at the most a very slight bias in favour of the muzzle which puts the<\/span>
finishing touch to the whole head.<\/span>
CRANIAL REGION: Of medium width, in proportion with the<\/span>
length of the head, with a forehead flat rather than round, frontal<\/span>
groove not very pronounced; in profile, parallel to imaginary line<\/span>
extending muzzle line; occipital crest little developed; brow ridges<\/span>
and zygomatic arches not prominent.<\/span>
Stop: Moderate.<\/span>
FACIAL REGION:<\/span>
Nose: Black.<\/span>
Muzzle: Medium length and well chiselled under the eyes; narrowing<\/span>
gradually toward the nose, like an elongated wedge; bridge of the<\/span>
nose straight and parallel to the continuation of the topline of the<\/span>
forehead; mouth well split, which means that when the mouth is open<\/span>
the commissures of the lips are pulled right back, the jaws being well<\/span>
apart.<\/span>
Lips: Thin, tight and strongly pigmented.<\/span>
Jaws\/teeth: Strong, white teeth, regularly and strongly set in welldeveloped jaws. Scissor bite; pincer bite, which is preferred by sheep<\/span>
and livestock herders, is tolerated. Complete dentition according to<\/span>
the dental formula; the absence of two premolars 1 (2 P1) is tolerated<\/span>
and the molars 3 (M3) are not taken into consideration.<\/span>
Cheeks: dry and quite flat, although muscled.<\/span>
Eyes: Medium size, neither protruding nor sunken, slightly almondshaped, obliquely set, brownish colour, preferably dark; black<\/span>
rimmed eyelids; direct, lively, intelligent and enquiring look. <\/span>
Ears: Rather small, set high, distinctly triangular appearance, wellrounded outer ear, pointed tips, stiff, carried upright and vertical<\/span>
when dog is alert.<\/span>
NECK<\/strong>: Well standing out, slightly elongated, rather upright, wellmuscled, broadening gradually towards the shoulders, without<\/span>
dewlap, nape slightly arched.<\/span>
BODY<\/strong>: Powerful without being heavy; length from point of shoulder<\/span>
to point of buttock approximately equal to height at withers.<\/span>
Topline: upper line of back and loins is straight.<\/span>
Withers: Pronounced.<\/span>
Back: firm, short and well-muscled.<\/span>
Loins: Solid, short, sufficiently broad, well-muscled.<\/span>
Croup: well-muscled ; only very slightly sloping ; sufficiently broad<\/span>
but not excessively so.<\/span>
Chest: little broad, but well let down; upper part of ribs arched; seen<\/span>
from the front forechest little broad, but without being narrow.<\/span>
Underline: Begins below the chest and rises gently in a harmonious<\/span>
curve towards the belly, which is neither drooping nor tucked up, but<\/span>
slightly raised and moderately developed.<\/span>
TAIL<\/strong>: Well set on, strong at the base, of medium length, reaching at<\/span>
least to hock, but preferably further; at rest carried down, with tip<\/span>
curved backwards at level of hock; more raised when moving,<\/span>
although without passing the horizontal, the curve towards the tip<\/span>
becoming more accentuated, without ever at any time forming a<\/span>
hook or deviation.<\/span>
LIMBS<\/span><\/strong>
FOREQUARTERS:<\/span>
General view: Bone solid but not heavy; muscle dry and strong; front<\/span>
legs upright from all sides and perfectly parallel when seen from the<\/span>
front. <\/span>
Shoulder: Shoulder blade long and oblique, well attached, forming a<\/span>
sufficient angle with the humerus, ideally measuring 110-115<\/span>
degrees.<\/span>
Upper arm: Long and sufficiently oblique.<\/span>
Elbow: Firm, neither turning out nor tied in.<\/span>
Forearm: Long and straight.<\/span>
Wrist (carpus): very firm and clean.<\/span>
Front pastern (metacarpus): Strong and short, as perpendicular to the<\/span>
ground as possible or only very slightly sloping forward.<\/span>
Feet: Round, cat feet; toes arched and well closed; pads thick and<\/span>
springy; nails dark and strong.<\/span>
HINDQUARTERS:<\/span>
General view: Powerful, but not heavy; in profile hindlegs are<\/span>
upright and seen from behind perfectly parallel.<\/span>
Upper thigh: Medium length, broad and strongly muscled.<\/span>
Stifle: approximately on the plumb line from the hip; normal stifle<\/span>
angulation.<\/span>
Lower thigh: Medium length, broad and muscled.<\/span>
Hock: Close to the ground, broad and muscled, moderate angulation.<\/span>
Back pastern (metatarsus): Solid and short; dewclaws not desirable.<\/span>
Feet: may be light oval; toes arched and well closed; pads thick and<\/span>
springy; nails dark and strong.<\/span>
GAIT \/ MOVEMENT<\/strong>: Lively and free movement at all gaits; the<\/span>
Belgian Shepherd is a good galloper but its normal gaits are the walk<\/span>
and especially the trot; limbs move parallel to the median plane of<\/span>
the body. At high speed the feet come nearer to the median plane; at<\/span>
the trot the reach is<\/span>
medium, the movement even and easy, with good rear drive, and the<\/span>
topline remains tight while the front legs are not lifted too high.<\/span>
Always on the move, the Belgian Shepherd seems tireless; its gait is<\/span>
fast, springy and lively. It is capable of suddenly changing direction<\/span>
at full speed. Due to its exuberant character and its desire to guard<\/span>
and protect, it has a definite tendency to move in circles.<\/span>
SKIN<\/strong>: Elastic but taut over all the body; edges of lips and eyelids<\/span>
strongly pigmented. <\/span>
COATS AND VARIETIES<\/strong>: Since the coat varies in length,<\/span>
direction, appearance and colour among Belgian Shepherds, this<\/span>
particular point has been adopted as the criterion for distinguishing<\/span>
between the four varieties of the breed: the Groenendael, the<\/span>
Tervueren, the Malinois and the Laekenois.<\/span>
These four varieties are judged separately and can each be awarded a<\/span>
CAC, a CACIB or a reserve title.<\/span>
HAIR: In all the varieties the hair must always be dense, close-fitting<\/span>
and of good texture, with the woolly undercoat forming an excellent<\/span>
protective covering.<\/span>
A. LONG HAIR: The hair is short on the head, the outer side of<\/span>
the ears and the lower part of the legs, except on the rear side<\/span>
of the forearm which is covered from elbow to wrist by long<\/span>
hairs called fringes. The hair is long and smooth on the rest<\/span>
of the body and longer and more abundant around the neck<\/span>
and on the forechest, where it forms a collarette or ruff and a<\/span>
jabot or apron. The opening of the ear is protected by thick<\/span>
tufts of hair. From the base of the ear the hair is upright and<\/span>
frames the head. The back of the thighs is covered with very<\/span>
long abundant hair forming the culottes or breeches. The tail<\/span>
is furnished with long, abundant hair forming a plume.<\/span>
The Groenendael and the Tervueren are the long-haired.<\/span>
B. SHORT HAIR: The hair is very short on the head, the outer<\/span>
sides of the ears and the lower part of the legs. It is short<\/span>
over the rest of the body and fuller at the tail and around the<\/span>
neck where it forms a collarette or ruff which begins at the<\/span>
base of the ear, stretching as far as the throat. As well, the<\/span>
back of the thighs is fringed with longer hair. The tail is ear<\/span>
of corn shaped, but does not form a plume.<\/span>
The Malinois is the short-haired. <\/span>
C. ROUGH HAIR: What especially characterises the rough hair<\/span>
variety is the roughness and dryness of the hair, which,<\/span>
moreover, is rasping and tousled. About 6 cm long over the<\/span>
whole body, the hair is shorter on the top of the muzzle, the<\/span>
forehead and the legs. The hair around the eyes and those<\/span>
furnishing the muzzle should not be so long as to disguise<\/span>
the shape of the head. However, it is essential to have<\/span>
furnishings on the muzzle. The tail should not form a plume.<\/span>
The Laekenois is the rough-haired.<\/span>
COLOUR:<\/span>
Mask: For Tervueren and Malinois the mask must be very<\/span>
pronounced and tend to encompass the top and bottom lip, the<\/span>
corners of the lips and the eyelids in one single black zone. A strict<\/span>
minimum of six points of skin pigmentation is called for: the two<\/span>
ears, the two upper eyelids and the two lips, upper and lower, which<\/span>
must be black.<\/span>
Black overlay: In Tervueren and Malinois, the black overlay means<\/span>
that the hairs have a black tip which shades the base colour. This<\/span>
blackening is in any case \u201cflamed\u201d and must not be present in great<\/span>
patches nor in real stripes (brindled). In the Laekenois the black<\/span>
shading is more discreetly expressed.<\/span>
Groenendael: Only uniform black.<\/span>
Tervueren: Only fawn with black overlay or grey with black overlay,<\/span>
with black mask; however, the fawn with black overlay is still<\/span>
preferred. The fawn must be rich, neither light nor washed-out. Any<\/span>
dog whose coat colour is anything but fawn with black overlay or<\/span>
does not match the desired intensity of colour cannot be considered<\/span>
an elite specimen.<\/span>
Malinois: Only fawn with black overlay and with black mask.<\/span>
Laekenois: Only fawn with traces of black overlay, mainly on the<\/span>
muzzle and the tail. <\/span>
For all varieties: a small amount of white is tolerated on forechest<\/span>
and toes.<\/span>
SIZE, WEIGHT AND MEASUREMENTS<\/strong>:<\/span>
Height at withers:<\/span>
The ideal height at withers is on average – 62 cm for males<\/span>
– 58 cm for females.<\/span>
Limits: 2 cm less, 4 cm more.<\/span>
Weight:<\/span>
Males about 25-30 kg.<\/span>
Females about 20-25 kg.<\/span>
Measurements: Average normal measures for an adult male Belgian<\/span>
Shepherd of 62 cm at the withers:<\/span>
\u2022 Length of body (from point of shoulder to point of buttock):<\/span>
62 cm.<\/span>
\u2022 Length of head: 25 cm.<\/span>
\u2022 Length of muzzle: 12,5 \u2013 13 cm.<\/span>
FAULTS<\/strong>: Any departure from the foregoing points should be<\/span>
considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be<\/span>
regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect<\/span>
upon the health and welfare of the dog.<\/span>
\u2022 General appearance: Cloddy, lacking elegance; too light or<\/span>
too slender; longer than high; fitting into a rectangle.<\/span>
\u2022 Head: heavy, too strong, lacking parallelism, not sufficiently<\/span>
chiselled or dry; forehead too rounded; stop too accentuated<\/span>
or too flat; muzzle too short or pinched; Roman nose; brow<\/span>
ridges or zygomatic arches too prominent.<\/span>
\u2022 Nose, lips and eyelids: traces of depigmentation.<\/span>
\u2022 Dentition: badly aligned incisors. Serious fault: lack of one<\/span>
incisor (1 I), one premolar 2 (1 P2), one premolar 3 (1 P3) or<\/span>
three premolars 1 (3 P1).<\/span>
\u2022 Eyes: light, round.<\/span>
\u2022 Ears: large, long, too broad at the base, set low, carried<\/span>
outward or inward. <\/span>
\u2022 Neck: slender; short or deep set.<\/span>
\u2022 Body: too long; thoracic cage too broad (cylindrical).<\/span>
\u2022 Withers: flat, low.<\/span>
\u2022 Topline: back and\/or loins long, weak, sagging or arched.<\/span>
\u2022 Croup: too sloping, overbuilt.<\/span>
\u2022 Underline: too much or too little let down; too much belly.<\/span>
\u2022 Tail: set too low; carried too high, forming a hook, deviated.<\/span>
\u2022 Limbs: bone too light or too heavy; bad upright stance in<\/span>
profile (e.g. front pasterns too sloping or weak wrists), from<\/span>
the front (feet turning in or out, out at elbow, etc.), or from<\/span>
behind (hindlegs too close, too wide apart or barrel shaped,<\/span>
hocks close or open, etc.); too little or exaggeratedly<\/span>
angulated.<\/span>
\u2022 Feet: spreading.<\/span>
\u2022 Gait: moving close, too short a stride, too little drive, poor<\/span>
back transmission, high stepping action.<\/span>
\u2022 Coat: all four varieties: insufficient undercoat.<\/span>
Groenendael and Tervueren: woolly, wavy, curly hair; hair<\/span>
not long enough.<\/span>
Malinois: hair half-long where it should be short; smoothhaired; harsh hairs scattered in the short coat; wavy coat.<\/span>
Laekenois: hair too long, silky, wavy, crisp-haired or short;<\/span>
filled with fine hairs scattered in tufts in the rough hair; hairs<\/span>
too long around the eye or the lower end of the head (the<\/span>
chin); bushy tail.<\/span>
\u2022 Colour: for all four varieties: white marking on chest<\/span>
forming tie; white on the feet going beyond toes.<\/span>
Groenendael: reddish tinges in the coat; grey breeches.<\/span>
Tervueren: grey.<\/span>
Tervuren and Malinois: brindle; tints not warm enough; not<\/span>
enough or too much black overlay or set in patches over the<\/span>
body; not enough mask.<\/span>
Tervueren, Malinois and Laekenois: too light a fawn; a base<\/span>
colour which is very diluted, named washed-out, is<\/span>
considered a serious fault.<\/span>
\u2022 Temperament: specimens lacking in self-confidence or<\/span>
overly nervous. <\/span>
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:<\/span><\/strong>
\u2022 Temperament: aggressive or timid specimens.<\/span>
\u2022 Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural<\/span>
abnormalities shall be disqualified.<\/span>
\u2022 General appearance: lack of breed type.<\/span>
\u2022 Dentition: overshot; undershot, even if contact is not lost<\/span>
(reverse scissor bite); crossbite; absence of one canine (1 C),<\/span>
one upper carnassial (1 P4) or lower carnassial (1 M1), one<\/span>
molar (1 M1 -upper jaw- or 1 M2; M3 are not taken into<\/span>
account), one premolar 3 (1 P3) plus one other tooth or a<\/span>
total of three teeth (excluding the premolars 1) or more.<\/span>
\u2022 Nose, lips, eyelids: strong depigmentation.<\/span>
\u2022 Ears: drooping or artificially kept erect.<\/span>
\u2022 Tail: missing or shortened, at birth or by docking; carried too<\/span>
high and ringed or curled.<\/span>
\u2022 Coat: lack of undercoat.<\/span>
\u2022 Colour: any colours which do not correspond with those of<\/span>
the described varieties; too widespread white markings on<\/span>
forechest, especially if they reach as far as the neck; white on<\/span>
feet going more than halfway up the front or the back<\/span>
pasterns and forming socks; white markings anywhere other<\/span>
than forechest and toes; lack of mask, including a muzzle of<\/span>
lighter colour than the rest of the coat in Tervueren and<\/span>
Malinois.<\/span>
\u2022 Size: outside the limits laid down.<\/span>
N.B.:<\/span><\/strong>
\u2022 Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles<\/span>
fully descended into the scrotum.<\/span>
\u2022 Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed<\/span>
typical conformation, should be used for breeding.<\/span>
CROSSBREEDING \u2013 MATINGS BETWEEN VARIETIES:<\/span><\/strong>
Any matings between varieties are forbidden, except in exceptional<\/span>
circumstances, when this ban can be lifted by the appropriate and<\/span>
official breed councils (Text 1974, drawn up in Paris).<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:\u00a0www.fci.be\/en\/<\/span><\/p>\n

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