El Belgian Shepherd It is a type of race that can be divided into four different races. It is undoubtedly a great breed of dogs that have been used for work and herding, and that show great qualities and intelligence. If you want to have a Belgian Shepherd puppy, you will enjoy a very smart and active animal that learns really fast.
Let's see the characteristics and care to be given to the Belgian Shepherd puppy, taking into account that there are four different races. It must be said that these four varieties are originally from Belgium and come from the same dogs, hence they have many characteristics in common.
History of the Belgian Shepherd
At the end of the XNUMXth century Belgium already had a large number of dogs leading the herds. These dogs had different characteristics and coats, although they fulfilled the same function. At present, the same breed has been recognized but with several varieties of coat. There are those who think that they are different races but their origin is the same and that is why the Belgian Shepherd is considered as a race even if they have a different coat. There are four varieties of this sheepdog: the Malinois, Laekenois, Groenendael and Tervuerense.
Distinguish the varieties
To know what is the care of a Belgian Shepherd puppy we have to know how to distinguish between the four varieties. They differ mainly by the coat, which has different cares depending on its thickness and length.
Belgian shepherd malinois
This is one of the most popular pastors, especially since it has been used as a rescue dog or police dog. The coat of this dog is short and hard, very easy to care for, as it will only need a brushing from time to time. These shepherds are very friendly, work oriented, active and really smart animals. They are perfect for tasks and therefore are often used in all types of jobs.
Belgian Shepherd Groenendael
This dog has great beauty and it is distinguished by having a long coat all over the body except in the area of the face, where it is short. It is black in color and only white spots are allowed on the chest and legs. This type of coat will need more care, having to use the brush more frequently so that it does not tangle.
Belgian Shepherd Laekenois
This shepherd is the oldest but also the rarest and least known of all the varieties. Has the hair of medium length and somewhat curly, Lasted. It should be combed although not as often.
Belgian Tervurean Shepherd
This is another dog with long fur, very similar to the Groenendael, but with a shade of brown fur, with a black mask on the face. They are very active dogs and also stand out doing work or being guard dogs and of course herding.
Shepherd puppy care
Depending on the coat that our dog is going to have, it will need some care or others. Those with long coats require to be hairstyles more often, with a brush that is specific for long hair. Although their coat is not usually that long as puppies, the truth is that we must take care of it equally.
All puppies require similar care. These dogs must have an adequate diet for their age, providing them with puppy food in the first months. East I think it is smaller and full of nutrients so that the dog can grow up healthy, with a beautiful coat and without health problems.
All the visits to the vet They are very necessary, since in the first months is when the dogs receive the main vaccines. A yearly booster shot is usually added afterward. Our veterinarian will give us a vaccination schedule and a card to keep everything up to date. It is important not to go outside with the dog before it is vaccinated to prevent it from catching any disease transmitted by other animals.
Shepherd puppies they are going to have a great activity. This is one of the main characteristics of the breed, so as owners we will have to take this into account before acquiring the breed. If we want a quiet breed we will have to find another, because these dogs are very used to daily activity and will need to exercise daily. While they are small we can enjoy a few walks with them without having to walk so much, so it is easier to exercise them. But we should not be surprised if they seem not to tire.
With these dogs are ideal games to keep them entertained. Intelligence toys are perfect for these dogs, as they are also the smartest. Kong type toys, in which we hide prizes are a great idea to keep them entertained on a daily basis and are also perfect for when we are not around. With these types of toys you can keep the dog entertained and learn some things at the same time. Being so intelligent, they are dogs that can be easily trained, although it will require a certain amount of patience. It is always better that we take them for a walk and then start the training positively, giving them rewards when they do things well. Learning the basic commands begins already when they are puppies so that they can assimilate the simplest commands.
Shepherd dog diseases
Although puppies do not usually develop diseases at such an early age, the truth is that there may be some problems that seem to be related to the breed. In these dogs there appears to be a higher incidence of seizures and epilepsy than in other breeds, in which the percentage of dogs that suffer from this problem is really low. In the Belgian Shepherd the percentage reaches 9% while in the rest of the breeds it does not exceed 1%.
On the other hand, there may be some diseases that are recurrent, although they usually occur in adults, such as cancer or joint problems. In addition, the shepherds of these breeds are quite long-lived, with an average lifespan of more than twelve years.