Belgian Tervuren

The Tervuren /tərˈvjʊrən/ (sometimes spelled Tervueren), is a member of the Belgian Shepherd Dog family of dog breeds, named after a village in Belgium. Its classification varies, being classified under some breed standards as a breed in its own right, and in others as one of several acceptable variations of the Belgian. It is usually listed within breed standards under one or other, or a combination, of these names.

In the United States, since 1960, the AKC recognizes it under the name Belgian Tervuren. Prior to that date, all recognized varieties of the Belgians were called Belgian Sheepdog.

In Canada, the Canadian Kennel Club recognizes the Tervuren as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog (prior to 2005, Belgian Shepherd Dogs were called Belgian Sheepdogs)

History

The Belgian Tervuren, or chien de berger beige as it is also known as, is one of four dog breeds in Belgium. The Tervuren was once casted into a generalized version of the Belgian Shepherd breed as a sheepdog. In 1959, along with recognition with the AKC, the breed was split into its own breed.

Just as the previous breeds, a man named Adolphe Reul contributed to the first breed standard in the 1800s and a club was to follow soon after. A man by the name of M.F. Corbeel lived in the Belgian village of its namesake. He took a liking to the breed and bred some based on these standards. In 1910, the breed was also featured in a famed painting from an artisted by the name of A. Clarys.

These protective dogs served as security dogs and helpers on the farm. They herded when necessary and guarded due to their alert nature. They are well-rounded working dogs when trained properly.

Personality

The Tervuren is a working breed that enjoys herding and keeping busy. They are intelligent and have a high energy level that keeps them going on the job. They require exercise anyway, so what better way than to take a run to the park?
Considering that they are guard dogs, it should be noted that they are alert and are great at tracking work as well. Some Tervuren dogs go on to be search and rescue dogs for major disasters and the like.

Traits

The Belgian Tervuren is a medium sized dog with a distinctive fur coat. The longhaired aspect of their fur is what differentiates them from the other three Belgian breeds. The colors of its double coat are limited to two acceptable variations. These colors include a red or fawn with a lot of black blended in the mix. They sit pretty with midnight-black masks and typically no other markings.

Just as the other three breeds, they have a similarity when it comes to the way they hold their head and how square their bodies are. They all have a strong appearance. This particular breed can be as tall as 26 inches and weigh as heavy as 56 lbs.

Handling

First and foremost, exercise is extremely important with the Tervuren. They are very active and need to release some of that energy into the doggie world. They need to get exercise or else they can become bored and destructive. Socialization is important when it comes to smaller children and other dogs in their future. Besides if not properly socialized, they may have a tendency to be nervous.

It is fairly easy to train Tervurens because they are willing to work for their goal and they love praise. They can be a tad bit high maintenance to groom but otherwise, they are fairly easy to maintain and love as pets.

When it comes to grooming, their nails tend to get long so they should be trimmed or grinded. This is usually done minimally. An adequate brushing is recommended weekly to avoid hairballs and loose hair. Their feet get a lot of attention. They tend to get paw pedicures to maintain their feline-type feet.

Health
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The Tervuren breed is bred properly thus making it a healthy dog. They can get typical health problems that dogs get like hip dysplasia and epilepsy. However, they can live up to 15 years with proper care. Considering they are working dogs that are used to long days in the field, they are pretty durable.