Belgium Tervuren Shepherd

Description:
The Belgium Tervuren Shepherd has a square body and a noble, agile, intelligent and strong look to it. This dog is well proportionate and very elegant. The male's height is around sixty two to sixty-four centimeters and females are around fifty-eight to sixty centimeters. This dog has a strong looking head that is proportionate with the body. It has medium sized, almond shaped eyes that should not stick or bulge out. The ears should be triangular and straight, not fallen. The neck is rounded and should be long enough to give the dog a proud look when it walks. The wichers is slightly higher and descends towards the back; the superior line should be leveled and straight. The chest should look long but not wide. The abdomen should not retract nor should it look like it is hanging down. The hindquarters have a medium length and descend. The front legs are strong and should be parallel; the hind legs should also be parallel, have good substance, and the bones should have an oval shape rather than round. The feet normally have a rounded shape to them as well. The tail on this dog should look strong, not too short, and should not be docked. The coat should be abundant and straight; it should not feel silky or wiry, or wavy or curly, it should have a somewhat rough texture to it. The ears should have an abundant amount of hair on them and there should be a collar of hair around the dog's neck; it should have fringes of hair on the back pat of the hind legs and an abundant amount of hair on the thighs and tail. Females have less hair then the males do though. The undercoat is very thick and varies depending on the climate. The color of this dog varies from dark golden brown to dark mahogany with a black shading on the top. Totally black colored ones are not admitted as show dogs though.

Ideal owner:
The loyal fans of the Belgium Tervuren Shepherd are totally convinced that this is the most versatile of all the Belgium shepherds and that it is just as talented as the German shepherd. This dog requires of a lot of stimulus, but it is not necessary to repeat things over and over as it is a quick learner and has a good memory. It gives itself completely during training sessions and stands out in obedience, since its biggest desire is to please its owners. This dog is very active and needs to be outside in the fresh air. It is not recommended to have one if you live in an apartment or small flat. This dog is excellent with children and is a great guard dog.

Growth:
At around the age of eight weeks the Belgium Tervuren Shepherd should weigh around four to six and a half kilograms. They grow in a uniform and constant way although there are some that go through rapid growing spurts, making their legs look longer than their bodies. Breeders have calculated that they reach their physical maturity over three years of age, although sometimes they mature before that especially in the case of the females. If you are interested in getting one of these dogs make sure to select one very carefully making sure the puppies have been properly socialized during the first eight weeks of their lives. A puppy Belgium Tervuren Shepherd should be adaptable and trustful and should be of course, affectionate. The ears should stick up once the dog is around four months of age, but they might fall down during teething. A young Belgium Tervuren Shepherd might turn into a picky eater and it is necessary to feed it a high quality diet. As an adult this dog usually eats really well though. The coat of this dog becomes redder and darker each time it sheds.

General health:
Hip dysphasia is not common in this breed, however it can occur and it is necessary to have tests done to make sure it does not have any problems with it. Epilepsy has also been seen in this breed in which case an EEG is necessary at a young age. Secretion of the thyroids and pancreatic problems has also been reported and it will be necessary to ask the breeder and veterinarian about the risk of these. Some breeders suggest giving this dog a low fat diet to avoid pancreatic problems. Hypothyroidism that manifests itself as convulsions has also been diagnosed in this breed. Make sure to ask your veterinarian about possible sensitivity to vaccines and anesthesia. During shedding season this dog might shed a lot of hair and it will be necessary to brush its coat every day. It needs a good amount of exercise and training. The life span of this dog is anywhere from twelve to sixteen years.