Groenendael: breed description and content

The Groenendael is one of the varieties of the Belgian Shepherd Dog breed. She is known not only in her homeland, but also earned recognition all over the world. Such dogs are especially popular in Europe, and this is not surprising, because they have excellent qualities and characteristics. Such dogs have an attractive appearance, good-natured disposition, are very attached to the owner and need him. We will tell you more about the features of the breed in our article.

This breed was originally considered a shepherd and dates back to the middle of the 17th century. Even at that time, the Grunendals were different from their fellows. Owners commented on their pets' dedication, fearlessness and amazing endurance. In addition, dogs are very intelligent and independent.

Several varieties of Belgian Shepherd Dogs were exhibited in the 19th century. A little more than 30 individuals were selected from them - those who, in the opinion of the jury, had ideal appearance. Sheepdogs were divided into 4 main types.

The founder of this breed is Nicholas Rose. He owned restaurants and named a pet after one of them. According to the assurances of his compatriots, Rose was very fond of the Groenendael. It was he who kept their first representative - a wonderful dog, who later participated in breeding.

In subsequent years, people tried to bring the breed to perfection, improve its appearance and performance. This aspiration gave good results, and today its representatives are appreciated all over the world.

There are 4 main types of Belgians. They are very similar in character and characteristics. The main difference is in the length of the coat and its color. Almost all over the world, with the exception of the United States, as well as the American Kennel Club, they are classified as one breed. The subspecies are Groenendael, Malinois, Laquenois and Tervuren. Let's take a closer look at their description.

The Groenendael has a long, shiny and soft coat. Its color is exclusively black. Tervuren is also a long-haired dog, however, in its colors, black, on the contrary, is absent.

Laquenois are wire-haired dogs. They are fawn in color. There are small areas of black hair on the face and tail. Sometimes white tones appear on the chest and legs. Malinois, on the other hand, are distinguished by short fur, yellow shades prevail in the color. There is a black mask on the head.

After the Grunendals were considered a separate breed, they were used for a wide variety of purposes. Its representatives can often be found at the service of the police, the Ministry of Emergency Situations or customs. However, over time, people have come to appreciate the invaluable qualities of such dogs as loyal friends and excellent companions. Nevertheless, the American Kennel Club considered the Groenendael to be working group dogs.

Breeders selected representatives based on how hardy they were and what kind of working qualities they possessed. Appearance was practically not taken into account. This is due to the fact that, first of all, the Groenendael is considered a service dog, so there is no need to pay special attention to its exterior.

In terms of standards, Belgians are of medium size and boxy. They are stacked very proportionally. Dogs are distinguished by a direct and attentive gaze, they are able to focus on one point for a long time. They are very active, understand the instructions given to them well and execute them quickly.

The head of the dogs has a slightly elongated shape with a neat transition from the forehead to the muzzle. Visually, the occipital protuberance is not conspicuous. According to the standard, the nose should be exclusively black.

Almond-shaped eyes have a rather dark brown shade. Erect triangular ears set high on the head, covered with soft hair from the inside.

As for the legs, they are straight and in proportion to the size of the body. They are crowned with black claws. The thighs are broad and powerful. The tail is saber-shaped and not too long, tapering towards the end.

Deviations from breed standards can be critical for the Groenendael. Such representatives are discarded, not allowed to breed. Also, they cannot take part in exhibitions and shows.

With regard to height, very slight deviations are allowed.... On the smaller side, they cannot be more than 3 centimeters, and on the larger side - more than 4. On average, males should be 60 to 66 centimeters tall. Their weight ranges from 25 to 30 kilograms. Bitches are slightly smaller in size, from 52 to 60 centimeters and from 20 to 26 kilograms, respectively.

On the head there is a shorter coat than on other parts of the body. Representatives of the breed are distinguished by a collar. It is formed from a particularly thick and long coat that is found around the neck and in the lower chest. As mentioned above, Grunendals have only a uniform black color without blotches of other shades.

These dogs are simply amazing, they have found connoisseurs all over the world. They are directly related to hunters, this is evidenced by their appearance and appearance. In addition, they are able to perfectly perform guard functions.Such dogs will become great friends and companions for humans.

Experts recommend carefully consider this breed if the future owner needs a dog for the family. Grunendals have an independent character, they may show a tendency to dominate, but aggression is absolutely not characteristic. They are excellent defenders, defend their interests, and are also quite wary of strangers.

They are very friendly towards kids, hardy and able to endure and take part in games, never show aggression in response to any action. At the same time, dogs are able to protect small owners and stand up for their protection if necessary.

It is impossible not to note the emotional stability of such dogs. They are very stress-resistant, but they are attached to the owner. If a person is absent for a long time, they will miss and yearn for him. Grunendals have great intuition. This is expressed in the ability to understand the owner even without words, focusing exclusively on emotions.

These dogs have excellent hearing and very light sleep, due to which they are considered excellent guards. They will anxiously guard the territory and things entrusted to them. As a herding breed, it can be used to control domestic animals and, if necessary, collect them in flocks. Possesses resentment, hard going through long punishments. In most cases, he will try to please the person and show his feelings, since he is completely dependent on him emotionally.

For lovers of this breed, the choice of a future pet is not particularly difficult. It is easy to find a puppy that meets the basic characteristics, the main thing is to decide on the place of purchase and trust the previous owner. You should also consider the purpose for which the dog is purchased.

If you plan to represent it at exhibitions or engage in breeding, it would be advisable to apply for a purchase in specialized nurseries. Yes, it is possible that the price in them will be slightly higher than when buying from hands, but at the same time certain guarantees are provided. In such institutions, they honestly report on the pedigree and health status of the baby. On average, the cost of a Groenendael puppy ranges from 35 to 50 thousand rubles. Representatives of the show class will cost more, their price starts from 50 thousand rubles.

When it comes to buying from ads, this is considered risky. Naturally, the price will be lower, and possibly significantly. However, there is no guarantee that a purebred representative of the breed will be acquired. There is also a risk of buying a pet with health problems and congenital pathologies. It may not meet certain standards.

Be that as it may, in any case, the first thing to do is carefully check the necessary documents, look at the passports of the puppy's parents. It is also very important to get to know the mother and her cubs. If possible, you can show the baby to a veterinarian who will assess his health and other indicators.

In order for the dog to be educated and intelligent, they need to be dealt with from a tender age. This also applies to training, its absence threatens the emergence of problems in the future.

If the breeder is not very conscientious, he can ignore the moment, relying solely on a good pedigree. This threatens that the teenage puppy will be ill-mannered and even a little wild, which will require lengthy rehabilitation.

However, even working with a competent dog handler will not help to eliminate some problems. That's why it is very important to get a future pet in a safe place with a good reputation. Such kennels, as a rule, do not leave their dog owners alone with questions that arise and are ready to give professional advice in the future.

Since the Grunendals are, in fact, a herding breed, they were not spoiled from the beginning by the gentle conditions of detention and careful care. However, we must not forget that they belong to long-haired dogs, which imposes certain obligations. The appearance mainly depends on how competently the dog's diet is, we will talk about this in more detail.

As for leaving, combing out is one of its most important aspects. This point cannot be ignored. Dogs of this breed have rather long hair, which, without timely combing, will acquire a completely unmarketable appearance, roll down and be decorated with mats. This is dangerous because dirt will accumulate in the hairs, which, in turn, can lead to serious skin problems.

These dogs thrive best in a private home. As for the content in the apartment, it is also quite realistic, provided that the active animal has enough free space. It is necessary to purchase and periodically change dog toys, otherwise such things as a TV remote control, slippers and much more will act as them. In this case, the dog should not be blamed, since this is entirely the result of a lack of attention.

Sofa content in this case is unacceptable, therefore it is recommended to have dogs of this breed for people who move a lot and do not sit in one place. Such dogs are different excellent health, with proper care, they are practically not susceptible to diseases of various kinds. However, this does not change the mandatory vaccination. In addition, you will need to carry out some hygiene procedures on time, for example, trimming nails, cleaning the ears and eyes, and also monitor the condition of the pet's teeth and gums.

In order for the coat to be healthy and look great, you need to take care of the correct and varied pet nutrition. In the absence of a well-designed diet, no hygiene and cosmetic procedures will help. The main thing is that the food contains fresh products. Nutritional supplements that can provide the body with the required amount of minerals and vitamins will also be useful.

In natural nutrition, it is necessary to monitor the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, vegetable and animal fats. The dog's diet should be meat products, sea fish, eggs and greens, vegetables, cereals and dairy products... Also, the dog should always have access to fresh and clean water.

These dogs should not be given chicken bones. They are perfectly replaced by store bones from veins. Pickles and sweets, smoked and spicy foods are also not recommended. You should also refrain from things that provoke an allergic reaction. Dogs need vitamins sold at the pharmacy.

As for the puppies, they need to be given food 5 times a day. At first, it will consist of porridge, which is boiled in water.

Dry food is not recommended for this breed. However, if the decision was made in his favor, you should make sure of its quality.It should be borne in mind that good food has a fairly high price, so you can mix such food with natural food. However, a competent approach is important here. In this case, one feeding is carried out using dry food, the second - with natural products. You cannot give everything at the same time, this will lead to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Dogs of this breed are very energetic and curious. They are quite quick-witted, training usually does not cause problems. They tolerate physical activity well, do an excellent job of searching for objects, and are very fond of complex tasks.

Groenendael is very fond of walking off a leash. In general, these dogs love to spend time outdoors. You can easily take them with you for jogging, hunting, fishing and hiking. They are happy to travel by car.

You can start raising puppies when they reach 2 months of age. After vaccination, they should be taken out to crowded and noisy places, this will help them socialize faster. It is better to let the dogs run on soft surfaces, concrete and asphalt are not the most suitable options for this.

Learning begins gradually, as babies get tired very quickly. At the very beginning, it should not take more than 15 minutes to work out one team. Dogs need praise and treats for doing it successfully.... You will also need fun, active games.

The intellectual abilities of such dogs are beyond question. However, the owner must take into account that the Groenendael should not be frightened, beaten and scolded too much. The most important thing is to establish trusting contact... In addition, the Grunendals are very sensitive and adore praise, so they always try to please the owner. If necessary, you should use severity and perseverance, but not aggression and physical strength. In this case, the pet will be well-mannered and affectionate towards its owner.

For the Belgian Shepherd Groenendael, see below.