Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Belgians What is a Belgian Sheepdog?
Belgian Sheepdog, (also known as the Belgian Shepherd Dog or Chien de Berger Belge or Groenendael) can refer to any of four breeds of dog: the Groenendael, the Laekenois, the Tervueren, or the Malinois. In some countries, these are considered four different varieties of a single breed; in other countries, they are considered a single breed. All four breeds are hard-working, intelligent dogs of the same general size and temperament. They are so closely related that, when breeding any two dogs of the same “breed”, it is possible for puppies of different “breeds” to be in the same litter. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes only the long coated solid black Groenendael under the name “Belgian Sheepdog”, but also recognizes the Tervueren, long coated and any shade from grey through red to deep mahogany with a black mask and with black tips to the hairs termed overlay, (with the alternative spelling “Tervuren”) and the Malinois, similar colors to the Tervueren but short coated, as indi
