Belgian Shepherd Laekenois: description and characteristics of the breed, photo

Type	Service Companions
Size	large (26-50kg)
Main features	Very devoted Living away from home High intelligence Suitable for security
Included in	The most beautiful dog names more
Intelligence	55%

Breed standard

The first thing that catches your eye when you see a Laekenois is its hard, disheveled coat. Despite the carelessness of the coat, the dog is distinguished by its regular, strong build, straight posture and long legs. Overall it looks harmonious.

The Belgian Laekenois is medium in size. Males range from 62 to 66 cm and are in the weight category from 26 to 31 kilograms. The female's parameters are 58-60 cm and weighs 20-26 kilograms. Minor deviations are acceptable. The photo shows a typical representative of this breed.

Laekenois head:

oval shape, extended forward:
wedge-shaped muzzle with a outlined contour;
lips are dense and thin;
eyes slanted, dark brown;
the jaw is strong and developed;
the bridge of the nose is smooth, tapers towards the frontal line, the nose itself is moderately wide, and has a black color;
The ears are erect, triangular, the lobes are black and their size is slightly smaller than average.

Dog body:

Character

The nature of the Laekenois differs from the behavior of other subspecies of Belgian Shepherds. Representatives of this breed are loyal to only one owner, although they are friendly to all family members. A calm and strong-willed person is chosen as the object of adoration and leader.

The pet requires constant attention and training. Once you purchase a puppy, you need to immediately begin training and socialization. Daily classes are necessary to explain to the newcomer who is the boss and to outline the limits of what is permitted. Aggression or physical punishment towards the dog is strictly prohibited.

The Belgian Shepherd Laekenois loves space and still has the qualities of a shepherd. Therefore, it is best to keep your pet in a private house with a large surrounding area. If this is not possible, then it is necessary to take long walks so that the dog can have plenty of fun. It is important for an active and energetic animal to run around and throw out accumulated energy. Since the breed was bred to work in the fields, the animal calmly tolerates any adverse weather conditions.

Reviews about the breed from the owners

Vladimir, Bratsk. When we got Laekenois, many of our friends did not appreciate our choice. The dog seemed unprepossessing to them, very different from their graceful poodles and Spitz. But we deliberately chose this particular type of Belgian Shepherd, since we had already repeatedly had the opportunity to evaluate the devotion and intellectual data of the Laekenois. We live in our own house, so the pet has enough entertainment in the yard. We eat almost everything. There were no health problems for all 4 years. The only nuance in the content is the constant need to personally go out to meet guests. Until I tell Brown that the visitor can be let in, he will remain on guard and glance angrily at the guest. Otherwise, there are only positive aspects - devotion, love and obedience.

We invite you to watch an interesting video about the Laekenois (Belgian Shepherd) dog breed.

Maria, Orel. Laekenois came to us at the age of 6 years. The dog was almost inherited. At first, it was difficult to accustom the pet to the new environment, and most importantly, to the new owners. But all the difficulties are behind us. Now our favorite has settled down and become more trusting. At first it was difficult to adapt to her lifestyle, which included long walks 3 times a day. But then this responsibility was taken on by her son, with whom Sarah happily runs around the stadium. A huge plus of this breed is that there is no wool in the apartment. The only downside is frequent digestive problems. Therefore, we have to go on diets, and we cannot tolerate ready-made food at all.

Application

Initially, the Belgian Shepherd Laekenois was bred to work in the pasture and was considered the main assistant in herding livestock. Now this occupation is a thing of the past, but the dog has retained the qualities of its predecessors and can be an excellent guard.

Breeders use Laekenois for breeding and further selling puppies. Purebred shepherds with a pedigree participate in exhibitions, competitions or television talk shows.

This breed is often adopted to make a new friend. Laekenois are loyal and obedient. Suitable for people who lead an active lifestyle and have enough free time to raise a dog.

Socialization

Laekenois are sociable and easily make contact with their owners and other people. However, this quality is not an advantage of the breed, but the result of ongoing socialization. It is necessary to teach your pet how to interact with children or animals from an early age. To do this, they go to the parks with the puppy and make new acquaintances with dog lovers.

Despite the fact that a child does not cause aggression in shepherds, they will not tolerate bullying and will not obey younger family members. Therefore, it is necessary to explain to the child that dragging and torturing an animal is prohibited. It is believed that if there are children in the house, it is better to get a bitch; they are more patient and forgiving.

It is important for the owner to help the dog integrate into society and teach it how to interact with others. The detachment of an adult dog from people can provoke not only a depressed state, but also aggressiveness, rejection of strangers and other animals. The Laekenois will not be able to make friends with birds or rodents due to its developed hunting instinct.

How to choose a puppy

You can purchase a Laekenois puppy in specialized nurseries or through individual breeders. They are usually sold at the age of three months, when the dog has already become more independent and capable of learning and training.

If you buy a pet from someone else, you need to read reviews about the seller and ask about their breeding experience. There is no need to prioritize offers with a lower cost, otherwise you may end up with a weak, sick animal with physical or mental defects.

Initially, the puppy's appearance is assessed. The physique and coat are checked for compliance with breed standards. Behavior also matters. The animal should be active and playful, but without aggression.

Since many diseases in Laekenois are hereditary, you should pay attention to the health of the parents and learn about possible genetic pathologies.

The breeder must provide documentation for the dog and review the veterinary passport. It contains information about the pet's health status and vaccinations.

To get a faithful and devoted friend, when choosing a puppy, find out the baby’s character and habits. It is important to immediately try to build contact between the animal and the future owner.

Education and training

Laekenois are quite good at training, due to their mental abilities. If you apply a good trainer to these dogs, then all commands will be carried out by the dogs correctly and quickly. A rude attitude will not bring any fruit when raising and training a dog; on the contrary, it will only frighten the dog and slow down its development and damage its psyche.

It is necessary to walk the dog every day, give it a sufficient amount of physical activity and training, come up with new tasks and exercises, the dog will find it very interesting. The Laekenois needs to constantly throw out its violent energy, and this requires constant sports, training, agility, otherwise the dog will begin to show aggression and splash out emotions at home.

Features of maintenance and care

The Belgian Shepherd Laekenois does not require increased or special care. It is enough to constantly carry out a visual inspection after a walk for the presence of ticks (particular attention is paid to the ears). It is necessary to trim the nails in a timely manner and perform hygiene procedures. Don't forget about regular walking and training.

Combing

The Belgian Shepherd Laekenois renews its hard hair naturally, by molting. If the wool does not cause any inconvenience for the owner, then you can not interfere with this process. However, for people who keep animals in apartments, it is better to use a special brush for combing.

Grooming is necessary not only for maintaining hygiene. Grooming also helps to establish contact between the owner and the shepherd. Such interaction makes the animal feel cared for, connect with the person, and recognize him as a leader.

Bathing

Laekenois do not need frequent water treatments. They can get rid of dirt and clean the coat on their own. It is recommended to wash your pet once a month with dog shampoo purchased at a pet store. It is better to take a flea and tick preventative. To make the shepherd's coat more manageable and lay down beautifully, it is treated with conditioner. After bathing, the animal is thoroughly dried with a towel and allowed to dry.

In addition to cleansing, you need to monitor your oral health. Brush teeth weekly, give dental bones and toys.

Care is also taken for the ears. They remove visible contaminants and prevent sulfur from accumulating.

Eyes are washed in case of dust or discharge.

Walk

Walking is an important aspect for dogs of this breed. The Belgian Shepherd Laekenois needs to be outside at least twice daily. The animal loves space and active games, so it needs to run around a lot. The duration of walks should be at least one and a half hours. Laekenois are unpretentious and tolerate any weather well. Even rain and wind are not an obstacle to walking.

It is important not to forget about regular training of your pet. At least a couple of times a week, visit the site to practice commands and conduct classes to improve physical health.

Feeding

To boost immunity and build proper metabolism, Laekenois puppies need to be fed only licensed food suitable for this breed. They completely cover the need for vitamins and calcium necessary for the strengthening and growth of skeletal bones. From regular food, it is allowed to give boiled meat, low-fat sour milk, stewed carrots, buckwheat and rice cereals.

An adult dog needs a balanced diet. Food should contain a sufficient amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, be healthy and easily digestible. Lean varieties of meat and fish, various cereals, eggs, and fermented milk products are acceptable.

Natural food can be replaced with premium dry food for shepherds.

It is necessary to control the weight of dogs, as extra pounds create additional stress on the body. First of all, the musculoskeletal system suffers from excess weight.

Feeding regimen and diet

The Belgian Shepherd's diet should be varied. The most important thing on the menu is meat. But in addition to it, the dog should eat the following beneficial substances.

Squirrels. The pet must consume the required amount. Basically, the required concentration of the component is found in meat, fish products, and kefir. You can feed your dog eggs up to twice every 7 days.

Carbohydrates. They give the animal an energy supply. It is better to feed your pet porridge made from rice, buckwheat or wheat cereals, cooked in meat broth. It is recommended to feed the dog black bread.

Fats. High content is observed in fish and meat products. There are also fats in oils, but you should not give them too often.

To prevent diseases and maintain health, veterinarians advise giving special supplements or a complex of vitamins.

You can consult with the breeder and find out which food is best for your pet. Food must be of high quality, with the necessary content of useful and nutritious substances. Also, food should be chosen for large breed dogs.

Health

The Belgian Shepherd Laekenois has been on the verge of extinction more than once. To prevent the breed from completely disappearing, it was necessary to crossbreed with close relatives. Such connections weakened the genetic background and provoked the development of hereditary diseases. Therefore, breeders of this subspecies of Belgians need to closely monitor the health of the animal.

Diseases

Most types of shepherd dogs, including Laekenois, are characterized by certain pathologies. The main ones include:

Hip dysplasia . Often, adult Laekenois begin to show the first signs of dysplasia, which are accompanied by pain in the hind limbs. It is almost impossible to detect deviations in the early stages.
Gastric volvulus . It happens due to a violation of the diet. For complete absorption of food or natural food, the dog must be allowed to rest for some time. Violation of this condition provokes the described pathology.
Elbow dysplasia. Uneven growth and development of the bone structures that form the elbow lead to weakening of the joints and, as a result, lameness.
Eye diseases . Cataracts are a common concern for adult dogs. It is easy to identify and eliminate in the initial stages of development. In advanced cases, surgical intervention will be required. Another eye disease can be glaucoma. It is very dangerous, as complications lead to complete loss of vision.

In addition to the listed pathologies characteristic of the breed, Laekenois suffer from various diseases caused by aging. Unlike other dogs, the Belgian Shepherd Laekenois encounters them much earlier. Animals over five years of age are at risk. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the pet’s health as carefully as possible, conduct preventive examinations, and pay attention to deviations in behavior.

Vaccinations

Small Laekenois puppies are weakly resistant to environmental factors and are easily susceptible to infectious diseases. Therefore, until scheduled vaccination, children are kept in quarantine.

Laekenois needs vaccinations to maintain health and improve immunity. The procedure is prescribed only after anthelmintic therapy and treatment for surface parasites.

It is better to vaccinate in the morning on an empty stomach. The animal must feel well, otherwise the vaccination will have to be rescheduled.

Vaccination schedule for the year:

Parvovirus – at 6, 9, 13, 24 weeks;
Hepatitis, canine glanders, leptospirosis - at 8,12, 24 weeks;
Rabies - at six months.

After the procedure, you need to monitor your pet’s well-being. If your dog becomes lethargic or has a fever, you should contact your veterinarian.

Origin story

In the 19th century, in Belgium, emphasis was placed on breeding herding dogs. There were many breed groups, all of them very different in appearance and coat type.

In 1891, a group of enthusiasts led by A. Rele, a professor at the Kugerhem Veterinary Institute, decided to breed a breed that would combine the best qualities. They can be called the discoverers of Belgian Shepherds and the first breeders of the breed. It was they who organized the Belgian Shepherd Lovers Club and the first exhibition, which took place in the fall of the same year. More than 100 dogs were presented at the dog show and the best representatives were selected for further breeding. Dog handlers drew up a breeding program and worked diligently on it for the next 6 years.

In 1901, the first Belgian Shepherds were included in the national “Breeders' Book”. Further work was aimed at unifying the type and eliminating unwanted defects. In 1910, a type and temperament was approved, which is common to the four varieties. However, their popularity varies from country to country. In Russia and the CIS countries, the Malinois is the most popular, which is why many consider it a separate breed of dog. Groenendael and Tervuren compete for second place, and Laekenois remains the smallest in number even in its homeland.

Over the years of the existence of Belgian Shepherds, heated debates and discussions have not subsided over obvious differences in appearance, but working qualities and temperament have not caused disagreement.

Video review about the Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) dog breed:

How much do puppies cost?

Among all representatives of Belgian Shepherds, the Laekenois belongs to the smallest subspecies. Since the main purpose of these dogs in herding cattle has ceased to be relevant, the demand for the breed has fallen.

At the moment, the average price of one puppy varies from 20 to 30 thousand rubles. Representatives of purebred Laekenois with good pedigree can cost up to 50,000 thousand rubles. As a rule, such shepherd dogs are purchased to participate in competitions and dog shows or are used for breeding.

The Belgian Shepherd Laekenois has good physical parameters and excellent appearance. These are very smart dogs with a developed memory. Showing care, care and communication with your pet will be rewarded with unconditional dedication, love and devotion.