Of the four varieties of Belgian Shepherd, only the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren and the Belgian Groenendael have long hair. For this reason, they are the two varieties that have become most popular as pets throughout history. However, despite its beauty and elegance, the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren is above all a working dog Its square, muscular and light body gives it agility and the strength necessary to succeed in almost any job that is entrusted to him. Like the other Belgian shepherds, the Tervueren is an agile and very active dog, and is also very good at protection and vigilance.
In this breed file on our site we tell you everything you need to know about the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren to adopt one.
Origin of the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren
The Belgian Shepherd Tervueren is named after the Belgian town of Tervueren. This beautiful dog was not always very popular. After two eras in which the population of this variety almost disappeared, the Tervueren gained popularity in 1945.
Although each variety of Belgian shepherd has a particular history, the history of the Tervueren is part of the history of the entire breed, being the variety resulting from the cross between the Belgian shepherd Groenendael and the long-haired collie.
Physical Characteristics of the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren
The height at the withers for males ranges between 60 and 66 centimeters. For females, the height range at the withers is between 56 and 62 centimeters. The weight of the males should be between 25 and 30 kilograms. That of the females must be between 20 and 25 kilograms.
The triangular, pointed ears are small and set high on a long, straight, thin head. The dark, almond-shaped eyes give the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren a expression somewhere between haughty and melancholy The Tervueren's powerful teeth scissor-close and are arranged in a snout which is wider at its base than at its end. The snout is never pointed. The forelimbs are straight and parallel to each other. The hind limbs are powerful but without giving the appearance of being heavy. They have normal angulation.
This Belgian Shepherd's hair is short on the head, the outer part of the ears and the lower part of the legs (except for the back side of the forearm which is fringed). The rest of the body is covered in long hair, although not as long as in other herding breeds such as the bobtail. The straight and long hair is most abundant on the neck and chest, where it forms a beautiful necklace that gives the tervueren an air of roy alty. The hair is also very abundant on the tail where it forms a tuft. The accepted colors for the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren are carbonado red and carbonado grey, always with a black mask. Carbonado is the color resulting from hairs that have a black tip, so the base color darkens a bit. The tail of medium length and with abundant hair, must reach at least to the hock.
Belgian Shepherd Tervueren character
Watchful, active and full of vitality, the Tervueren is an excellent watchdog and protector of his own. As it has highly developed protection and territorial instincts, it is necessary to socialize it from a puppy. The Tervueren has as much energy as any other Belgian Shepherd, so he needs some daily occupation to keep himself distracted and burn off any excess energy. Lack of physical and mental exercise can cause behavioral problems.
Care for the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren
Although the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren can adapt to living in an apartment, he needs a lot of exercise Therefore, it is better if you have a garden or patio. Whether he lives in an apartment or in a house, daily walks are a must for this dog. They must be long walks. In addition to exercise, this dog needs constant company. He is not a dog to be left in the garden or on the patio most of the day
The Belgian Shepherd Tervueren Shedding regularly throughout the year. In addition, males shed more hair once a year. Females shed profusely twice a year. Regular brushing is necessary to keep the Tervueren's coat in good condition. A visit to the canine hairdresser can be useful if the owner has no knowledge on the subject.
Education of the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren
This dog is Easy to train if the proper methods are used. Harsh methods can destroy the tervueren's character, or lead to confrontation. It is preferable to use dog training methods that are based on cooperation and not on dominance.
The Belgian Shepherd Tervueren needs an owner who knows dogs. Given the right conditions, this dog can make an excellent guard dog, a great herding dog, or a wonderful pet. Everything depends on the correct upbringing and education.
He alth of the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren
Like the other varieties of Belgian Shepherd, the Tervueren is a resistant dog that seldom presents he alth problems. However, proper veterinary care and administration of vaccinations are always necessary, so a veterinarian with sound knowledge and experience should be chosen.
It is not very common for this breed to be affected by the disease of hip dysplasia but even so, we have to watch out just in case. What is known in this breed are cases of epilepsy, thyroid secretion and pancreatic problems.
