Belgian Tervuren
The fawn long coated Belgian shepherd, with a black overlay that darkens as it matures. Watchful, quick to learn, and happiest with something to do.
Photo by SheltieBoy (Ron Armstrong), CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Tervuren is the long coated fawn variety of the Belgian shepherd, distinguished from the Groenendael by colour rather than by anything else. The coat is fawn to mahogany with black tipping over it, which gives the depth the breed is known for, and a black mask.
It was standardised alongside the other three Belgian varieties in the 1890s, and in some registries all four are a single breed with four coats.
Temperament
Bright, busy and intensely observant. Tervuren notice everything, which makes them superb working dogs and means they can be reactive to a household that is chaotic.
They are affectionate with their families and aloof with strangers, and they are sensitive enough that fair, clear training works far better than pressure. They are also among the more vocal herding breeds.
Care and grooming
Brushing two or three times a week, daily during the moults. The double coat sheds heavily twice a year.
Hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy and progressive retinal atrophy occur in the breed, as do some autoimmune conditions. Twelve to fourteen years is normal.
Living and exercise
Two hours a day plus real mental work. They are outstanding at obedience and agility and they need a job.
They are not suited to being left alone all day, and a bored Tervuren invents work. A household with the time and the interest gets an exceptional dog, and one without it gets a difficult one.
Something here wrong or out of date?