Belgian Shepherd (Laekenois)

Overview of Belgian Shepherd (Laekenois)s

The Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) is a breed of dog, sometimes classified as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog rather than as a separate breed. The Laekenois is not fully recognized in the United States. However, they can be shown in Britain, along with all three of the closely related breeds which share a heritage with the Laekenois: the Tervuren, the Malinois, and the Groenendael, the last being shown in the U.S. as the Belgian Sheepdog.

Appearance

Like all Belgian Shepherds, the Laekenois is a medium-sized, hard-working, square-proportioned dog in the sheepdog family with sharply triangular ears. The Laekenois is recognized by its woolly brown and white coat, intermixed so as to give a tweedy appearance. Most kennel clubs' standards allow for black shading, principally in muzzle and tail, indicating the presence of the melanistic mask gene.

History

The Belgian Laekenois originated as a sheep herding dog at the Royal Castle of Laeken. It is considered both the oldest and the most rare of the Belgian Shepherd Dogs. Until the advent of dog shows in the early 1900's, the four varieties were freely intermixed, in fact, there are only three genes (short/long coat, smooth/wire coat, fawn/black coat) that separate the varieties genetically. Purebred Laekenois occasionally give birth to smooth-coated puppies, which, depending on the pure-bred registry, can be registered as Malinois.

Health

See Health section of Belgian Shepherd for more information.

External links

• Belgian Shepherd Dog Association of Great Britain
• The Northern Belgian Shepherd Dog Club
• Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of Canada Breed club for all four Belgian Shepherd breeds.
• Belgian Shepherd Dog Association of Finland
• American Belgian Laekenois Association

See also

• Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael)
• Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)
• Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervueren)

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