The 4 Types of Belgian Shepherd - Characteristics and Photos

The Belgian Shepherd is a dog breed with 4 varieties today. In the past, up to 8 could be classified, but from 1890, when the breed was recognized, only the ones that survive today were identified.

It's a breed bred for herding, though throughout history it's also been used as a police dog, messenger, watchdog, and rescue dog. Today it also takes on the role of companion dog. Let's look at the characteristics of each Belgian Shepherd type.

Belgian Shepherd Groenendael

It's the Belgian Shepherd in the strictest sense, often identified without the name that sets it apart from the others. From the 20th century onward, this variety began taking on tasks beyond herding, playing a crucial role during World War II as a messenger and ambulance dog.

This dog has a muscular, agile, graceful body, with a playful, cheerful expression that stands out. Its shape is somewhat square, without losing its elegance. The tail is long and the legs are powerful.

As for the head, it stands out for its elongated muzzle, along with pointed, upright ears. The eyes are almond-shaped with a brown iris.

Among the Belgian Shepherd types, this variety's coat is long, straight, dense, and coarse to the touch. The coat is double-layered and sheds during summer. As for color, the Groenendael's coat only comes in solid black or with a few white patches on the toes and chin.

It's an intelligent, brave dog, loyal to its human family. It's also an excellent guard dog, ideal for people looking for a protective, family-oriented pet. It's a good idea to socialize it from puppyhood, since it tends to develop possessive behavior.

Belgian Shepherd Laekenois

Originally, the Laekenois variety was a working farm dog and, like its Groenendael relative, it served as a messenger during both World Wars. During this period, Laekenois numbers dropped so much that the variety nearly disappeared, but the efforts of a group of breeders helped it survive.

Among the different Belgian Shepherd types, the Laekenois is the rarest. It has a square body, but lean and not very muscular. The ears are pointed and the muzzle elongated. The eyes are almond-shaped and can be black or brown.

This variety's coat is long, wiry, and unkempt, fuller around the neck and chest. The coat includes a range of reddish, sand, and gray tones, varying from dog to dog.

The Belgian Laekenois is also intelligent, protective, and devoted. It's affectionate with its owners and people it knows, but becomes reserved around strangers. It enjoys physical activity, and with good engagement, responds to commands quickly.

Belgian Shepherd Malinois

The Belgian Malinois is native to Mechelen (Malines), a region in northwestern Belgium. It's a herding dog that nearly disappeared after 1960, but today is bred as a police or guard dog.

The Malinois resembles the Groenendael, but its muscles are less pronounced. The body shape is square, the legs long, and the tail slightly raised.

This variety's eyes are almond-shaped with black-rimmed eyelids. The iris comes in shades of brown and black.

Compared to the other varieties, the Malinois's coat is double-layered, short, harsh, and straight, perfect for withstanding harsh weather. The coat has a "carbon" pattern, meaning each strand shows a sepia or brown tone at the base, shifting to darker shades toward the tip.

The Malinois's personality is confident and protective, without needing to be aggressive. It's a dog that responds well to commands and needs early training; otherwise, it could develop a habit of chasing cars as an adult.

• Characteristics of the Belgian Shepherd Malinois Breed

Belgian Shepherd Tervueren

The last of the Belgian Shepherd types is the Tervueren, named after the town where it began to be bred in the early 20th century. Back then, it was used as a herding and farm guard dog.

This variety is similar in weight and shape to the Groenendael. The body is also square, with pointed ears and an elongated muzzle. As for the eyes, they're almond-shaped, mostly dark brown, though some dogs have yellow eyes.

The Tervueren's coat is long, straight, dense, and coarse. As for color, it's black with reddish areas, along with a black mask around the eyes. As the dog ages, the coat tends to darken.

This Belgian Shepherd is affectionate with people, seeks its owners' attention, and is friendly, though wary of strangers. It learns best with play-based training and enjoys daily exercise.