Belgian Shepherd Dog, Laekenois

History, origin & features

The Laekenois Belgian Shepherd was named after the castle of Laeken. This dog was a favorite of Queen Marie-Henriette (1865-1902). This is the oldest variety of Belgian Shepherd, but also the rarest. Very few exist outside Belgium and the Netherlands. The Laekenois Belgian Shepherd is thought to have originated in Boom, in the province of Antwerp. It was definitively recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale on January 1, 1956 as a Belgian Shepherd Dog, and the official FCI standard was published on March 13, 2001. Together with the Malinois, Groenendael and Tervueren, the Laekenois Belgian Shepherd forms the large family of Belgian Shepherd Dogs. The main difference is the harsh, rough coat. Medium-lined, harmoniously built and powerful, these are hardy, robust dogs. They are the rarest of Belgian dogs. They have many of the same qualities as their cousins, such as loyalty, frankness and intelligence. He's also athletic and lively, but knows how to be calm when the situation calls for it. A companion par excellence, it is also an excellent protector, watchdog and working dog. Coat: harsh, dry and tousled, short on top of muzzle, forehead and legs. The topcoat is lined with an undercoat to give the dog excellent protection.
Color: fawn with charcoal markings on muzzle and tail.
Head: long, carried high, straight and dry. Skull of medium width, moderate stop.
Ears: triangular, small, set high, pointed and erect when alert.
Eyes: Slightly almond-shaped, brownish in color, medium-sized, with a lively, intelligent expression.
Body: square-shaped, powerful without being heavy. The line of back and loins is straight, the withers accentuated, the back short and well muscled, the croup well muscled and very slightly sloping.
Tail: moderately long, reaching to or slightly beyond the hock, strong at the base, hanging at rest with the tip slightly curved back, raised when the dog is in action.