Dog Breed Guide

Belgian Tervueren

Profile

Size

Medium - Large

Country of origin

Belgium

Origin

19th century

Bred for

Sheep herding, Police dog, Working dog

Height

male 60 - 66cm (24 - 26in), female 56 - 62cm (22 - 24in)

Weight

male 25 - 30kg (55 - 66lb), female 20 - 25kg (44 - 55lb)

Life span

12 - 14 years

The long-haired variety of the four types of Belgian Shepherd Dog, with a reddish fawn coat. The whole coat is overlaid with black-tipped hairs, called charcoal, and the face has a black mask. The rich ruff around the neck looks like a lion's mane.

The Tervuren is smart, sensitive and deeply devoted to its family. It loves doing things with its owner and learns extremely quickly. It can also be nervous, so it is important to expose it to many people and experiences from puppyhood.

It is one of the most energetic of the four types and needs plenty of exercise and mentally challenging work. Brush the long coat regularly to prevent tangles.

Good to know

The breed is named after the village of Tervuren near Brussels. Its origins are traced to a brewer there named Corbeel, who kept a line of fawn long-haired dogs. Because the Belgian Shepherd association of the time did not accept this color, he and his fellow breeders founded a new club in 1898 and won recognition for the fawn long-haired dogs and for wire-coated dogs, the forerunners of today's Laekenois.

Although it shares a long coat with the black long-haired dog, considered the original Belgian Shepherd, it was classed as a separate type because of its color. Both Groenendaels and Tervurens can be born to the same parents.

It was rare in its early days, and the two world wars reduced its numbers even further, but devoted fanciers kept it alive. Today it is often seen excelling in dog sports.