FCI-Standard
No 15/ 19.04.2002 /GB
BELLGIAN 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:
-
Temperament:
aggressive or timid specimens.
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).
