CI-Standard No 15/
19.04.2002 /GB
BELGIAN SHEPHERD DOG
(Chien de Berger Belge)
TRANSLATION:
Mrs. Jeans-Brown, revised by Dr. R. Pollet.
ORIGIN:
Belgium.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF ORIGINAL
VALID STANDARD:
22.06.2001.
UTILISATION:
Originally a sheep dog, today a working dog (guarding, defence,
tracking, etc.) and an all-purpose service dog, as well as a family dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.:
Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs
(except Swiss
Cattle dogs).
Section 1 Sheepdogs.
With
working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY:
In Belgium, at the end of the 1800s, there were a great many herding
dogs, whose type was varied and whose coats were extremely dissimilar.
In order to rationalise this state of affairs, some enthusiastic dog
fanciers formed a group and sought guidance from Prof. A. Reul of the
Cureghem Veterinary Medical School, whom one must consider to have been
the real pioneer and founder of the breed.
The breed was
officially born between 1891 and 1897. On September 29th,
1891, the Belgian Shepherd Dog Club (Club du Chien de Berger Belge) was
founded in Brussels and in the same year on November 15th in
Cureghem, Professor A. Reul organised a gathering of 117 dogs, which
allowed him to carry out a return and choose the best specimens. In the
following years they began a real programme of selection, carrying out
some very close interbreeding involving a few stud dogs.
By April 3rd,
1892, a first detailed breed standard had already been drawn up by the
Belgian Shepherd Dog Club. One single breed was allowed, with three coat
varieties. However, as was said at the time, the Belgian Shepherd only
belonged to ordinary people and therefore the breed still lacked status.
As a result, it wasn’t
until 1901 that the first Belgian Shepherds were registered with the
Royal Saint-Hubert Society Stud Book (L.O.S.H.).
During the following
years, the prime movers among the Belgian Shepherd enthusiasts set to
work with great determination to unify the type and correct the faults.
It can be said that by 1910 the type and temperament of the Belgian
Shepherd had been established.
During the history of
the Belgian Shepherd, the question of differing but acceptable varieties
and colours had led to many heated discussions. On the other hand,
anything involving morphology, temperament and suitability for work has
never caused any disagreement.
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
The Belgian Shepherd is a mediolineal dog, harmoniously proportioned,
combining elegance and power, of medium size, with dry, strong muscle,
fitting into a square, rustic, used to the open air life and built to
resist the frequent atmospheric variations of the Belgian climate.
Through the harmony of
its shape and its high head-carriage, the Belgian Shepherd should give
the impression of that elegant strength which has become the heritage of
the selected representatives of a working breed. The Belgian Shepherd is
to be judged in its natural stance, without physical contact with the
handler.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
The Belgian Shepherd dog can be fitted into a square. The chest is let
down to the level of the elbows. The length of the muzzle is equal to or
slightly longer than half the length of the head.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT:
The Belgian Shepherd is a watchful and active dog, bursting with
energy, and always ready to leap into action. As well as its innate
skill at guarding flocks, it also possesses the highly prized qualities
of the best guard dog of property. Without any hesitation it is the
stubborn and keen protector of its owner. It brings together all those
qualities necessary for a shepherd, guard, defence and service dog.
Its lively, alert
temperament and its confident nature, showing no fear or aggressiveness,
should be obvious in its body stance and the proud attentive expression
in its sparkling eyes.
When judging this
breed, one should take into consideration its calm and fearless
temperament.
HEAD:
Carried high, long without exaggeration, rectilinear, well chiselled and
dry. Skull and muzzle are roughly equal in length, with at the most a
very slight bias in favour of the muzzle which puts the finishing touch
to the whole head.
CRANIAL REGION:
Of medium width, in proportion with the length of the head, with a
forehead flat rather than round, frontal groove not very pronounced; in
profile, parallel to imaginary line extending muzzle line; occipital
crest little developed; brow ridges and zygomatic arches not prominent.
Stop:
Moderate.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose:
Black.
Muzzle:
Medium length and well chiselled under the eyes; narrowing gradually
toward the nose, like an elongated wedge; bridge of the nose straight
and parallel to the continuation of the topline of the forehead; mouth
well split, which means that when the mouth is open the commissures of
the lips are pulled right back, the jaws being well apart.
Lips:
Thin, tight and strongly pigmented.
Jaws/teeth:
Strong, white teeth, regularly and strongly set in well-developed jaws.
Scissor bite; pincer bite, which is preferred by sheep and livestock
herders, is tolerated. Complete dentition according to the dental
formula; the absence of two premolars 1 (2 P1) is tolerated and the
molars 3 (M3) are not taken into consideration.
Cheeks:
dry and quite flat, although muscled.
Eyes:
Medium size, neither protruding nor sunken, slightly almond-shaped,
obliquely set, brownish colour, preferably dark; black rimmed eyelids;
direct, lively, intelligent and enquiring look.
Ears:
Rather small, set high, distinctly triangular appearance, well-rounded
outer ear, pointed tips, stiff, carried upright and vertical when dog is
alert.
NECK:
Well standing out, slightly elongated, rather upright, well-muscled,
broadening gradually towards the shoulders, without dewlap, nape
slightly arched.
BODY:
Powerful without being heavy; length from point of shoulder to point of
buttock approximately equal to height at withers.
Topline:
upper line of back and loins is straight.
Withers:
Pronounced.
Back:
firm, short and well-muscled.
Loins:
Solid, short, sufficiently broad, well-muscled.
Croup:
well-muscled ; only very slightly sloping ; sufficiently broad but not
excessively so.
Chest:
little broad, but well let down; upper part of ribs arched; seen from
the front forechest little broad, but without being narrow.
Underline:
Begins below the chest and rises gently in a harmonious curve towards
the belly, which is neither drooping nor tucked up, but slightly raised
and moderately developed.
TAIL:
Well set on, strong at the base, of medium length, reaching at least to
hock, but preferably further; at rest carried down, with tip curved
backwards at level of hock; more raised when moving, although without
passing the horizontal, the curve towards the tip becoming more
accentuated, without ever at any time forming a hook or deviation.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
General view:
Bone solid but not heavy; muscle dry and strong; front legs upright from
all sides and perfectly parallel when seen from the front.
Shoulder:
Shoulder blade long and oblique, well attached, forming a sufficient
angle with the humerus, ideally measuring 110-115 degrees.
Upper arm:
Long and sufficiently oblique.
Elbow:
Firm, neither turning out nor tied in.
Forearm:
Long and straight.
Wrist (carpus):
very firm and clean.
Front pastern (metacarpus):
Strong and short, as perpendicular to the ground as possible or only
very slightly sloping forward.
Feet:
Round, cat feet; toes arched and well closed; pads thick and springy;
nails dark and strong.
HINDQUARTERS:
General view:
Powerful, but not heavy; in profile hindlegs are upright and seen from
behind perfectly parallel.
Upper thigh:
Medium length, broad and strongly muscled.
Stifle:
approximately on the plumb line from the hip; normal stifle angulation.
Lower thigh:
Medium length, broad and muscled.
Hock:
Close to the ground, broad and muscled, moderate angulation.
Back pastern (metatarsus):
Solid and short; dewclaws not desirable.
Feet:
may be light oval; toes arched and well closed; pads thick and springy;
nails dark and strong.
GAIT / MOVEMENT:
Lively and free movement at all gaits; the Belgian Shepherd is a good
galloper but its normal gaits are the walk and especially the trot;
limbs move parallel to the median plane of the body. At high speed the
feet come nearer to the median plane; at the trot the reach is
medium, the movement
even and easy, with good rear drive, and the topline remains tight while
the front legs are not lifted too high. Always on the move, the Belgian
Shepherd seems tireless; its gait is fast, springy and lively. It is
capable of suddenly changing direction at full speed. Due to its
exuberant character and its desire to guard and protect, it has a
definite tendency to move in circles.
SKIN:
Elastic but taut over all the body; edges of lips and eyelids strongly
pigmented.
COATS AND VARIETIES:
Since the coat varies in length, direction, appearance and colour among
Belgian Shepherds, this particular point has been adopted as the
criterion for distinguishing between the four varieties of the breed:
the Groenendael, the Tervueren, the Malinois and the Laekenois.
These four varieties
are judged separately and can each be awarded a C.A.C., a C.A.C.A.B. or
a reserve title.
HAIR:
In all the varieties the hair must always be dense, close-fitting and of
good texture, with the woolly undercoat forming an excellent protective
covering.
-
LONG HAIR: The hair is short on the head, the
outer side of the ears and the lower part of the legs, except on the
rear side of the forearm which is covered from elbow to wrist by
long hairs called fringes. The hair is long and smooth on the rest
of the body and longer and more abundant around the neck and on the
forechest, where it forms a collarette or ruff and a jabot or apron.
The opening of the air is protected by thick tufts of hair. From the
base of the ear the hair is upright and frames the head. The back of
the thighs is covered with very long abundant hair forming the
culottes or breeches. The tail is furnished with long, abundant hair
forming a plume.
The Groenendael and the Tervueren are the
long-haired.
-
SHORT HAIR: The hair is very short on the head,
the outer sides of the ears and the lower part of the legs. It is
short over the rest of the body and fuller at the tail and around
the neck where it forms a collarette or ruff which begins at the
base of the ear, stretching as far as the throat. As well, the back
of the thighs is fringed with longer hair. The tail is ear of corn
shaped, but does not form a plume.
The Malinois is the short-haired.
-
ROUGH HAIR: What especially characterises the
rough hair variety is the roughness and dryness of the hair, which,
moreover, is rasping and tousled. About 6 cm long over the whole
body, the hair is shorter on the top of the muzzle, the forehead and
the legs. The hair around the eyes and those furnishing the muzzle
should not be so long as to disguise the shape of the head. However,
it is essential to have furnishings on the muzzle. The tail should
not form a plume.
The Laekenois is the rough-haired.
COLOUR:
Mask:
For Tervueren and Malinois the mask must be very pronounced and tend to
encompass the top and bottom lip, the corners of the lips and the
eyelids in one single black zone. A strict minimum of six points of skin
pigmentation is called for: the two ears, the two upper eyelids and the
two lips, upper and lower, which must be black.
Black overlay:
In Tervueren and Malinois, the black overlay means that the hairs have a
black tip which shades the base colour. This blackening is in any case
“flamed” and must not be present in great patches nor in real stripes
(brindled). In the Laekenois the black shading is more discreetly
expressed.
Groenendael:
Only uniform black.
Tervueren:
Only fawn with black overlay or grey with black overlay, with black
mask; however, the fawn with black overlay is still preferred. The fawn
must be rich, neither light nor washed-out. Any dog whose coat colour is
anything but fawn with black overlay or does not match the desired
intensity of colour cannot be considered an elite specimen.
Malinois:
Only fawn with black overlay and with black mask.
Laekenois:
Only fawn with traces of black overlay, mainly on the muzzle and the
tail.
For all varieties: a
small amount of white is tolerated on forechest and toes.
SIZE, WEIGHT AND MEASUREMENTS:
Height at withers:
The ideal weight at
withers is on average - 62 cm for males
- 58
cm for females.
Limits: 2 cm less, 4
cm more.
Weight:
Males about 25-30
kg.
Females about 20-25
kg.
Measurements:
Average normal measures for an adult male Belgian Shepherd of 62 cm at
the withers:
FAULTS:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and
the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in
exact proportion to its degree.
-
General appearance:
Cloddy, lacking elegance; too light or too slender; longer than
high; fitting into a rectangle.
-
Head:
heavy, too strong, lacking parallelism, not sufficiently chiselled
or dry; forehead too rounded; stop too accentuated or too flat;
muzzle too short or pinched; Roman nose; brow ridges or zygomatic
arches too prominent.
-
Nose, lips and eyelids:
traces of depigmentation.
-
Dentition:
badly aligned incisors. Serious fault: lack of one incisor (1 I),
one premolar 2 (1 P2), one premolar 3 (1 P3) or three premolars 1 (3
P1).
-
Eyes:
light, round.
-
Ears:
large, long, too broad at the base, set low, carried outward or
inward.
-
Neck:
slender; short or deep set.
-
Body:
too long; thoracic cage too broad (cylindrical).
-
Withers:
flat, low.
-
Topline:
back and/or loins long, weak, sagging or arched.
-
Croup:
too sloping, overbuilt.
-
Underline:
too much or too little let down; too much belly.
-
Tail:
set too low; carried too high, forming a hook, deviated.
-
Limbs:
bone too light or too heavy; bad upright stance in profile (e.g.
front pasterns too sloping or weak wrists), from the front (feet
turning in or out, out at elbow, etc.), or from behind (hindlegs too
close, too wide apart or barrel shaped, hocks close or open, etc.);
too little or exaggeratedly angulated.
-
Feet:
spreading.
-
Gait:
moving close, too short a stride, too little drive, poor back
transmission, high stepping action.
-
Coat:
all four varieties: insufficient undercoat.
Groenendael and Tervueren:
woolly, wavy, curly hair; hair not long enough.
Malinois:
hair half-long where it should be short; smooth-haired; harsh hairs
scattered in the short coat; wavy coat.
Laekenois:
hair too long, silky, wavy, crisp-haired or short; filled with fine
hairs scattered in tufts in the rough hair; hairs too long around the
eye or the lower end of the head (the chin); bushy tail.
Groenendael:
reddish tinges in the coat; grey breeches.
Tervueren: grey.
Tervuren and Malinois:
brindle; tints not warm enough; not enough or too much black overlay or
set in patches over the body; not enough mask.
Tervueren, Malinois and Laekenois:
too light a fawn; a base
colour which is very
diluted, named washed-out, is considered a serious fault.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
-
General appearance:
lack of breed type.
-
Dentition:
overshot; undershot, even if contact is not lost (reverse scissor
bite); crossbite; absence of one canine (1 C), one upper carnassial
(1 P4) or lower carnassial (1 M1), one molar (1 M1 -upper jaw- or 1
M2; M3 are not taken into account), one premolar 3 (1 P3) plus one
other tooth or a total of three teeth (excluding the premolars 1) or
more.
-
Nose, lips, eyelids:
strong depigmentation.
-
Ears:
drooping or artificially kept erect.
-
Tail:
missing or shortened, at birth or by docking; carried too high and
ringed or curled.
-
Coat:
lack of undercoat.
-
Colour:
any colours which do not correspond with those of the described
varieties; too widespread white markings on forechest, especially if
they reach as far as the neck; white on feet going more than halfway
up the front or the back pasterns and forming socks; white markings
anywhere other than forechest and toes; lack of mask, including a
muzzle of lighter colour than the rest of the coat in Tervueren and
Malinois.
-
Size:
outside the limits laid down.
N.B.:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
into the scrotum.
CROSSBREEDING – MATINGS BETWEEN
VARIETIES:
Any matings between
varieties are forbidden, except in exceptional circumstances, when this
ban can be lifted by the appropriate and official breed councils (Text
1974, drawn up in Paris).
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