Description

The Groenendael is sometimes considered to be part of the Belgian Shepherd breed, but others treat it as a separate breed. Whatever the case may be, the Groenendael has similar appearance and proportions to the Belgian Shepherd. The breed has a square build that is both athletic and strong. The ears are upright, the eyes almond-shaped, and the tail is long with a strong base. The breed has a very natural appearance, and never appears “showy”.

Origin: America

Look

The Groenendael has a beautiful black coat with a thick, dense texture. The dog is double coated, with a resistant top layer and a woolly undercoat. There is a thick fuzzy ruff on the neck as well as feathering on the legs and underside of the body. Although these dogs are typically black, they may have a few small white markings on the chin, chest, and feet. These dogs shed heavily and need regular brushing to remove loose fur.

Health

While the Groenendael is generally a healthy dog, they are prone to a few health conditions:

• Hip dysplasia
• Epilepsy
• Gastric problems
• Cancer
• Retained testicular disease
• Eye problems
• Skin problems
• Hypothyroidism

At Newdoggy.com, we recommend that you buy your puppy from reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines.

Learning

The Groenendael is a very intelligent dog breed that can excel at many different activities: anything from fly-ball to obedience. Good training and early socialisation are vital for your Groenendael to become a solid canine citizen, as without these they can be aggressive or fearful. They are quite strong-willed dogs, so you will need to be firm and calm during training.

Temperament

This breed is clever, loyal, and affectionate. The Groenendael can be sensitive, and needs to be socialised properly with people and other animals from an early age. They do have a strong urge to protect, which can lead to aggression (or fear) unless nipped in the bud.

Living with

Known for their good work-ethic, these dogs love to work, and do best when engaged in an activity. Fortunately they excel at many activities: everything from canine agility to schutzhund. Regular activities and daily exercise are essential for the Groenendael, because without this physical and mental stimulation they can become bored and destructive. This dog is ideal for a very active person or family that can devote time to all the training and physical activity that the Groenendael needs.

The Groenendael can be aggressive towards other animals and even children, but if introduced to them from a young age this should not be a problem for your dog.