Belgian Shepherd Laekenois

The Laekenois is a very active breed. His intelligent, inquisitive expression clearly says, “I’m ready for action!” Like other Belgian breeds, his prime directive is to always be on the move.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The strong, elegant, and full of life, the Belgian Laekenois (pronounced “lac-in-wah”) is one of Belgium’s four native dogs. Although similar in physique and temperament to the Malinois and Tervurens, the Laekenois differ in coat color, appearance, and region of origin. In 1888, shepherd Adrian Jansen crossed two different kinds of sheepdogs and obtained the modern Belgian Lacenoix sheepdog’s parameters.

Adrian Jansen’s case was continued by his son Jean-Baptiste. Thus, by 1907, when the Belgian sheepdog standard was adopted, the Laekenois had already been formed as a subspecies. But the International Canine Federation considers all four types – the Malinois, the Tervuren, the Grunendal, and the Laekenois – to be of the same breed.

Appearance

The Laekenois is the rarest of the four closely related Belgian sheepdogs. This strong and robust dog is distinguished from its brethren by its rough, mussed coat, which comes in red or pale or grayish hues. Blacking around the muzzle indicates an expression of acute alertness, shining from dark almond-shaped eyes. Most kennel clubs’ standards allow for black shading, mainly on the muzzle and tail, indicating the presence of a unique gene.

Like all Belgian sheepdogs, the Laekenois is a medium-sized dog. The dog’s height falls into the range of 55-65 cm, and the weight varies from 20 to 30 kg, depending on the sex.

Character

The Laekenois is a very active breed. His intelligent, inquisitive expression clearly says, “I’m ready for action!” Like other Belgian breeds, his prime directive is to always be on the move. Laekenois is brilliant, alert, brave, and loyal. It is in his nature; he is willing to protect his family and property.

People he knows well receive an affectionate, friendly welcome, but he can be downright possessive with family members, always wanting their attention. He is vigilant of strangers and ready to spring into action if necessary, but never unreasonably aggressive.

Care

The Laekenois breed is very unpretentious. After all, shepherds bred it to live with them as a helper in the meadows. The dog is not afraid of cold and dampness. It needs minimal care, just like the other subspecies. Attention should be paid to the ears because mites can penetrate their ears. In black claws, blood vessels are poorly visible, so a manicure should be trusted to a specialist. Unlike other subspecies of the Belgian sheepdog, his coat requires more care. Once a week, it needs to be combed out during the molting period twice as often.

Training

The dog can live indoors as well as in the yard of a private home. And while the Laekenois can live in an apartment, you need to make sure the breed gets plenty of exercises and intensive training. As a working dog, it requires a daily routine.

It is an active breed that has to move. Like any sheepdog, it has a complex character. From the earliest months of life, you need to instill a sense of being a leader in the “herd”. This will show wonders in obedience and help tame her. It is worth showing weakness, and you will get a pet tyrant. In the veins of the Laekenois flows both herding and guard blood. Therefore, it is natural that dogs of this breed are distrustful, and sometimes they are somewhat aggressive towards strangers. But they have a good memory. As soon as a person comes to visit and is warmly welcomed by the owners, he passes into the category of “acquaintances.”

Common Diseases

Hip and elbow dysplasia are most common in Lacenoix dogs. Sometimes dogs have epileptic seizures.

Nutrition

In food Laekenois unpretentious, it is quite suitable as a combined diet, and all-natural.