Thanks Jules! I'm still remember here hehe
I do have both Tervuren and Gronendael. They are my heart breed, I would not own any other breed. They are one of the most versatile dogs out there. They were originally bred to drive the flock and guard them. They are a true guardian breed - which is good at bad for some people. They don't usually suit a home that isn't going to stimulate them as they always need a job and to be exercised physically and mentally.
In their breed standard for CKC - they are supposed to always be in motion unless under command.
You will see belgians compete in just about every venue out there; carting, herding, agility, obedience, conformation, SAR, Schutzhund, tracking, dock diving, Rally Obedience, Canine Good Neighbours, Temperment Tests etc etc. the list goes on and on. There isn't a job that they can't fulfill.
I have my Tervuren in just about anything I could possibly take him to. He has participated in Sledding (he is one of the lead dogs in our sled team of huskies in the winter time here), herding, obedience (working on his CDX), herding (excelled at it), Rally Obedience (finished all his CKC levels.. working on CARO now), Agility(numberous titles and working on more), Conformation (has his Can CH), Search and Rescue(loved it, but my work got in the way), he has his CGN, TT(excelled at it).
I can take him to the Canada Day fireworks and he will sit quietly and watch them with me.
My Gronendael girl, is still young and just working on her Cnd CH. at the moment. She will absolutely excell in obedience and agility. I can trust her with anyone and any dog. She is just wonderful.
My male is awesome with most dogs, can get showy when he is around a dominant intact male, but he is never aggresive. He loves people as well. He'll gladly go up to strangers at his dog shows and wiggle his way into them for pets, hugs etc.
I've never had any issues with either dog ever. The girls shed more then the boys. The girls blow their entire under coat out twice a year around their heat cycles, the males blow their entire coat out once a year. They should be line groomed about once a month and brushed out weekly to keep stray hairs away and to keep them mat free. Riot, my Tervuren, has such an amazing coat. He is brushed out minimally and always looks conformation show ready.
Nyxi, my Gronendael needs a little more coat maintenance due to having a bit of a wave to her coat that I would personally like to see a bit straighter. Other then that, they shed minimally. I have no complaints about their coats.
As far as temperment goes, you really have to know what your looking for and speak with the breeder and ask them exactly type of dogs they breed, why they do and what type of lines they have.
Genetic tests that need to be done on a Belgian before breeding according to the OFA is eyes to be CERF'd, OFA hips/elbows, and a tyroid profile done. There is elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia(lesser though) in the breed. There is also eye issues to watch for and epilepsy is another to watch for in Belgian lines.
Honestly, if i didn't know Riot, my Tervuren and he was standing in the window at my house - I wouldn't enter.. lol
He has detered an intruder once before as well, hes protected my mom(he was there as I was house sitting at another place that had DA dogs) the neighbours were broken into, the man started coming into my parents house and Riot jumped inbetween them and kept him from coming into the house.
I would not want a dog solely on its looks or ability to "deter criminals".
If you have any questions about the breed, feel free to PM me
I hope I answered a few questions for you.
a few pics of my Belgians
Nyx, my young one. She is under 1yr old
Riot.. on his birthday this year
Riot again
Riot next to the horse field
This is why belgians need jobs too.. they will find their own. Nyxi stripping the bark from our horse fence posts