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| Belgian Sheepdog |
| Belgian Sheepdog - Belgian Sheepdog -- The Belgian Sheepdog is an intelligent and loyal companion who requires time, training and socialization and an outlet for his boundless energy. Due to his size, intelligence, vibrant per- sonality and elegant beauty, owning a Belgian Sheepdog is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. When you invest time in training and socialization, your dog will develop into a well- adjusted adult that you will be proud to be seen with in public. To help you provide the best care for your Belgian Sheepdog, we encourage you to participate in the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America, regional special interest clubs, Internet chat lists, and a course in basic obedience. >>>> Origins >>>> As stated in the Belgian Sheepdog standard, the Belgian Sheepdog is known as the Groenendael, or Chien de Berger Belge, in most parts of the world. Its origin can be traced to the late 1800s when it was listed among the many other shepherds as a Chien de Berger de Races Continentales, which also included German Shepherds, Hollander Herders, Beaucerons, Bouvier des Flandres and Briards. In Belgium, efforts were made to determine if there was a true shepherd dog representative only of Belgium. In November of 1891, under the direction of veterinarian professor Adolphe Reul, a gathering was held on the outskirts of Brussels to exam- ine the shepherd dogs of that area. From this gathering it was concluded that for this Brabant Provence there was a consistent type of sheepdog that differed only in color, hair texture, and hair length. These dogs were then called Belgian Shepherd Dogs. The coat textures, coat lengths and the coat colors deter- mined the variety designations. The long-coated red or gray with black mask was designated the Tervuren. The short-coated red or gray with dark mask was designated the Malinois. The long- coated black Groenendael was designated as the Belgian Sheepdog and the wire-coated red or gray was designated the Laekenois. In 1959 the American Kennel Club determined the different varieties to be separate breeds. Throughout their history, Belgian Sheepdogs have earned their reputation as truly well-rounded dogs, and to this day they >>>>> Health Concerns >>>>> Belgian Sheepdogs are generally a healthy breed but, like all living things, can be susceptible to disease and affected by hereditary issues. Every breed has health concerns that owners (both new and experienced) need to be aware of in order to make the best decisions about ownership. In this breed, some problems that are seen are cancer, epilepsy, hip and elbow dysplaysia, PRA and cataracts. Hypothyroidism and retained testicles issues are seen as well. Each of these health issues are commonly found across all pedigree lines. A breeder that subscribes to the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America Code of Ethics will try to reduce the likelihood that these health issues will occur in the dogs that they produce by completing health clearances on their breeding dogs. But most of these health issues are polygenetic and come from more than one gene pair. These traits are more complex than the typical dominant or recessive genetic trait and therefore, much more difficult to identify in breeding stock unless the dog is symptomatically affected. Another point to consider is that the health concerns high- lighted here are very rarely unmanageable—or result in the death of a pet. Many times, the health concerns referenced are much more of an inconvenience to the owners than they are to the dogs—which learn to compensate quickly. |
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| تعداد نمایش : 2006 |
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