Ratings

Breed Introduction

The Belgian Shepherd originated in the early 19th century. Before the early 20th century, Belgian Shepherds were widely used in Belgium to guard sheep, and now they are mainly used in military and police work or by tavern owners for protection, while also being loved as family dogs.

Before the 19th century, many breeds closely related to shepherd dogs existed in Belgium. Later, as the need to guard sheep decreased, breeders crossbred these shepherd dogs to create four basic breeds with different colored coats, which dog enthusiasts consider different forms of the same breed. The United States recognizes the following three types of dogs as distinct breeds: the Belgian Shepherd with black fur, the brindle variety, and the rough-coated variety, but they have not yet been recognized in the U.S.