Of the four types of Belgian Shepherd Dogs, the Tervuren variety is a pastoral working dog from Belgium named after the village of the same name. As a strong and robust breed, Tervurens make a great puppy choice for anyone living an active and healthy lifestyle in preferably rural areas with lots of open space. Tervuren puppies are intelligent and can be trained to be obedient and prudent guard dogs and loving companions. Few breeds are as popular in the armed forces and police units as the Belgian Shepherd Dog, and the Tervuren has proven itself in the line of duty time and time again due to its superb characteristics.
Some highlights of Belgian Shepherd Dogs:
Intelligence: the Belgian Shepherd Dogs is an intelligent breed and can perform many duties with ease.
Watchdogs: Belgian Shepherd Dogs are naturally excellent watchdogs and can make superb guard dogs as well.
Trainable: this breed can learn an impressive number of commands and can be taught easily.
Active: Tervurens love to play many canine sports and can keep owners and family members active and healthy as well.
Family-friendly: this breed tends to get along quite well with owners and their families and they will act as natural protectors in the event of danger.
Some downsides to the Belgian Shepherd Dog:
Exercise: Tervurens require plenty of exercise every day in order to remain stimulated and healthy.
Apartment-friendly: this large breed doesn’t tolerate confined spaces and small apartments. Owners should have plenty of space to accommodate them.
Aggression: Tervurens have a strong prey drive and they may chase, chew, or nip at heels, especially if bored.
First-time owners: this breed sometimes shows signs of stubbornness and as such may not be the most ideal puppy choice for first-time owners.
As a pastoral breed, Belgian Shepherd Dogs have long served on farms and pastures performing shepherding duties as well as working duties of all sorts on farms. The Tervuren variety of Belgian Shepherd Dog is recognised in Belgium and elsewhere, including by the Kennel Club of Great Britain, as being one of four separate varieties of the same breed. The origins of this breed can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Belgium, where many breeds of working, pastoral dogs were a common sight in the rural landscape. During the late 19th century, a large selection of these dogs were categorised and analysed by Belgian veterinary school Professor Adolphe Reul. The Tervuren was one of the four varieties of Belgian Shepherd Dogs identified and differs from the others by its coat, a long red, fawn, or grey coat of fur.
There are four recognised varieties of the Belgian Shepherd Dog breed. Belgian Shepherd Dogs can be identified by their attentive, alert, and well-proportioned physique. They exude strength and have muscular bodies and hindlegs and may look as though they are always on guard. The Tervuren variety of Belgian Shepherd Dog is distinguished from the other three, the Groenendael, Laekenois, and Malinois, by its long double coat of straight and harsh fur coloured in red, fawn, or grey and often boasting a black mask or overlay.
Belgian Shepherd Dogs are medium-sized dogs. Males grow on average to 60-66 cm in height, whilst females can grow up to 56–62 cm high.
Fully-grown adult male Belgian Shepherd Dogs weigh between 25-30 kg on average. Females weigh between 20-25 kg on average.
The Tervuren variety of this breed has the following commonly-accepted coat colours:
Red;
Fawn;
Grey.
A fawn, mahogany colour is preferred for a Tervuren. Black masks or overlays are common and white patches on the chest and on the toes are permissible as well.
Belgian Shepherd Dogs of all varieties share the same temperament and differ only in their appearance. Thus, the Tervuren is known for its alert and natural watchdog ability. He is an intelligent and sensitive breed that gets along well with other families, but can easily follow its prey drive and chase other pets and may also nip or chew. Therefore, proper training as a puppy is essential. Luckily, training Tervurens is not difficult due to their high intelligence and their ability to learn commands quickly. This is one of the reasons why armed forces and police units worldwide employ these brave and fearless dogs. Bear in mind that this breed requires plenty of exercise and is best adapted for large, open areas rather than small homes or apartments.
Do Belgian Shepherd Dogs make good guard dogs?
Few breeds make as excellent a watchdog as the Belgian Shepherd Dog. They do not need to be taught to watch since this is innate in their temperament. They can be trained to act as guard dogs and can perform this task well.
As a natural watchdog, Belgian Shepherd Dogs will bark to alert owners of suspicious activity. They may also bark around strangers or other pets. Compulsive barking is not common and can be avoided by providing proper training from puppyhood.
Belgian Shepherd Dogs are exceptionally easy to train. They can learn obedience and to perform many commands with little repetition required.
This breed is playful, especially as puppies. They enjoy outdoor activities and canine games where they can run and roam freely.
Belgian Shepherd Dogs are generally good with children, but they should be supervised whilst playing since they have a tendency to nip at the feet.
Although they are not aggressive, Belgian Shepherd Dogs can chase other pets and engage in boisterous play that may harm other pets. Puppies should always be introduced to other dogs gradually and should not be permitted to become dominant or aggressive with them. Smaller pets are not ideal to have around the home since Belgian Shepherd Dogs have a high prey drive.
This breed can tolerate moderate amounts of isolation, but they should never be neglected. Belgian Shepherd Dogs can become bored quickly and may also chew carpets or furniture if left alone for too long. Avoid this by having a family member around the home at all times.
This breed tends to enjoy swimming and may jump in the water without hesitation. All puppies should be introduced to water on their own, however, since some are frightened of the water and may become traumatised if they haven’t become comfortable in water.
Generally, Belgian Shepherd Dogs are expected to live anywhere from 10-14 years.
This breed has very high exercise requirements. At a minimum, two hours per day are recommended to keep your Belgian Shepherd Dog mentally and physically stimulated. Take him out for a brisk morning walk and spend an hour in the evening playing ball or other canine sports with him.
Belgian Shepherd Dogs tend to be a relatively healthy breed, but they are nevertheless susceptible to a few common health issues such as:
Hip dysplasia;
Epilepsy;
Bloat;
Eye infections;
Dermatitis.
Large, open spaces are ideal for a Belgian Shepherd Dog. This breed will not tolerate living in small, confined homes or apartments. A large, fenced garden is also necessary to satisfy their high exercise requirements.
A fully-grown Belgian Shepherd Dogs should be fed 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dog food every day. Puppies should eat a little less than this amount. Adjust as necessary to promote good health and to prevent overfeeding.
Belgian Shepherd Dogs of all varieties require a moderate amount of grooming. Although their hair doesn’t need to be trimmed very often, their thick undercoats will need to be brushed at least once per week to promote healthy growth and to remove any knots, tangles, or debris caught in their fur.
This breed sheds a moderate amount, which can become excessive during Spring and Autumn. Brush them at least once per week to remove dead hair.
As a rough guide in pricing: Cost to buy: roughly £500-650 for a well-bred Tervuren puppy Other costs (Vet, Food etc): £70-110 per month
You can read our general buying guide here, with the most important thing being going to view your Tervuren puppy, seeing it with its mother, and checking the quality of the breeder. More specifically, here is some Tervuren puppy buying advice:
Tervurens are distinguished from other Belgian Shepherd Dogs by their black mask or overlay. If the puppy has no black mask, it’s considered a serious flaw and the puppy is undesirable. Black overlay is also desirable, but particularly for male puppies where it is considered a serious flaw if lacking.
Belgian Shepherd Dogs are best suited for families living in large, open areas where the breed’s high exercise requirements and tendency to keep watch can be best put to use. If you’re unwilling to put in the effort required, consider purchasing a different puppy breed with less maintenance requirements.
A big thank you to the following sources who helped to shape this article:
Belgian Shepherd Dog Association of Great Britain: https://www.bsdaofgb.co.uk/belgian-shepherd-rescue
Kennel Club of Great Britain: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/pastoral/belgian-shepherd-dog-tervueren/
UK Dog Trust: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/
Blue Cross: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/rehome-pet
Federation Cynologique Internationale: http://www.fci.be/
