Belgian Shepherd - Laekenois

FCI:

Belgian Shepherd Laekenois Group I. - Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs, Section 1 - Sheepdogs with working trial. Recognized in 1891.

Belgian Shepherd with a rough coat.

General Appearance:

Belgian Shepherd Laekenois is characterized by cleverness, perseverance, diligence and docility. It is very resistant to the weather. Perhaps because of lacks a little elegance than its relatives, it is may be less popular than they are. It is also compared to them in character it is harder and sharper.

Temperament & Behavior:

It is an excellent guard that it never lets enter stranger inside the territory it is responsible for. Coming strangers are watching carefully for a long time and with considerable distrust. Slightly worse than the other varieties are tolerant of other dogs. Its character is also highly dominant, and therefore it needs to be familiar with other animals in the house, especially cats, from an early age.

What is the most extensive early socialization with its absolutely necessary? It is very confident and attempt to "break this dog” it definitely will not end well, it can only spoil it completely. This breed is not for beginners, the person who has this breed must have natural authority, respect.

It also needs plenty of exercise and in any case it cannot be kept locked up in an outdoor pen, although its coat is perfect durable. This breed prefers living to the countryside than in cities, but in the suburbs, where e.g. a fenced garden, it may well live.

Body:

Laekenois is significantly heftier than the remaining three Belgian Shepherds, it has harmonious construction, muscled. Belgian Shepherds are medium-sized dogs shortly rectangular body frame. Males 62 cm and females 58 cm (for both sexes, the tolerance of - 2 / + 4 cm).Weight of body is the range, male 25-30 kg for females range from 20 to 25 kg.

Head high, proudly carried, moderate length, straight outlines, as if carved dry. Skull should be appropriately broad width corresponding to the length of the head, almost as long as the muzzle.

The forehead should be rather flat. Longitudinal front cutting furrow is only slightly pronounced. The occipital protuberance is only slightly noticeable. The frontal slope is distinct, reasonably steep.

Muzzle should be formed under the eyes, has not fallen and the overall shape of an elongated wedge.

Cheeks are dry, really flat, but well-muscled.

The mouth is relatively large and broad. Lips may be narrow, tightly fitting to the jaws and teeth on the edges of fully pigmented. The teeth are large, pure white, regularly spaced and deeply fixed in strong jaws. It requires a scissor bite, but tolerates also pincer bite. Full dentition is requested, but may be missing two of the first premolars (P1) and molars 3 (M3) is considered.

The eyes should be of medium size, slightly almond-shaped, slanted, brown colour. Dark-coloured iris is preferred. The rims are black. The look is open, lively, bold, determined.

Pricked ears to be rather small, set high, distinctly triangular shape, with firm tips. In action must be carried vertically, rather than spread out to the sides or tops leaning toward each other.

The neck is clearly indented from the head rather longer adequately muscled. The receptacle shall be without dewlap, nape slightly arched. Strong topline of the body is in the back and loins straight tap must be distinctive, back firm, short and tightly muscled.

The loin should be short, moderately broad, and muscular. Croup is a little steep, fairly broad and well-muscled.

The tail should be set at a suitable level, strong at the root, medium length. Reaching at least to hock joints. In rest hanging down, and its end is level with the hock slightly curved upwards. When moving carried clearly higher, but never above the topline of the body.

The tip must not be formed like - crochet.

The chest should not be too broad, but deep. The ribs are in their upper part more strongly curved than near the sternum. The abdomen is adequately rolled up. Forelegs should be boned, without coarse and should be properly muscled and vertically to ground. Shoulders should be long, oblique, close to the chest.

Elbows should be strong forearms are long, flat, firm wrist, dry. Pasterns should be strong and short. Feet are round, "cat", toes arched and tight, padded rigid, but flexible claws solid, dark colour.

The hindquarters should be strong, vertically to ground. Thighs should be moderately long, broad and well-muscled. Your knees should be bent. Tibia must have adequate length, broad and muscular. Hocks to be low over the base, broad, moderately angulated. The hocks are strong, short. Persistent dewclaws are not acceptable.

All kinds of movements are lively, open, parallel, equally.

The coat is hard, dry, and upstanding, tousled and feel "fragile" on the trunk about 6cm long, on the nasal spine, forehead and legs shorter.

Nor the eyes, nor to muzzle it should not be enough to cover their faces facial region, that nevertheless it must be sufficiently richly feathered. Laekenois colouring is beige with a hint of black shading mainly on the muzzle and tail. In other places of the body is black tinge is less clear. White markings on the front chest and toes are acceptable in all sizes.

Regular care of the body cover is combing at least 1 once per week, fingers must be trimmed at least 2 - 3 times per year. Never cut a manual or electric razor. The coat should not be too long, soft, wavy, curly or short, fine mixing with the rough, too long around the eyes and / or on the chin, bushy tail.

All faults from the standard requirements must be considered as defects and precisely evaluated by the degree of seriousness with regard to health and well-being. To negative faults include aggression or fearfulness, atypical overall appearance, overshot or undershot jaw, wry mouth, lack of one canine or P3, P4, M1, M2 or 3 or more teeth, extensive depigmentation of nose, eye rims and lips, earlobes suspended or surgery modification, tail missing or shortened, carried too high, curled into a circle or twisted, any other colour of the coat than specified in the standard, large white shirt, white markings on the legs extending higher than the mid forelegs or white markings anywhere else on the body, absence of mask on the muzzle, shoulder height at withers is different to standard.