THERE are four distinct types of Belgian shepherds: the Groenendael (also called the Belgian sheep dog), the Tervuren, Laekenois and Malinois.
They all share some core traits like intelligence, loyalty, energy, yet they also exhibit distinct temperament differences.
The Malinois (second from the right in picture) has become very popular all over the world, they have taken the title of the most intelligent dog breed from the border collie.
I have previously written a column on the Malinois, they have become the ultimate sport and military dog. But they are not suitable as just a pet because of their high energy, power and protective character.
The Groenendael is the beautiful solid black dog with a long double coat; second in popularity to the Malinois and often mistaken as a black German shepherd, but they are smaller with a long fine muzzle and a squarer body, and they have a different personality.
Groenendael is a town where the dogs were first bred in 1893 and officially recognised in 1910.
The Groenendael dog became a popular messenger and sentry dog in world-war one.
Sentry referring to a dog working in an enclosed area without supervision, patrolling and focused on alerting to any intrusions as opposed to direct aggression.
They protected airforce hangers and could alert to incoming planes long before they were seen. The breed has sharp territorial and defensive instincts, especially those dogs bred from working lines.
The Groenendael was originally bred as a sheep herding dog.
While they are outgoing in nature, they do need socialisation at an early age to help them gain confidence and overcome any shyness as this dog can be wary of strangers and protective, which can cause problems.
Their life expectancy is around 13-14 years.
They need some basic training and some human and animal interaction if possible.
The double coat will shed twice a year and a good brush a couple of times a week should be enough to reduce malting.
For exercise – at least one to two hours a day, which could include play.
Health problems that may affect this breed include epilepsy, allergies, eye disease, hip and elbow dysplasia.
