Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois)

Infobox Dogbreed


image_caption =
name = Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois)
altname = Belgian Laekenois
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laeken)
Chien de Berger Belge
country = Belgium
akcgroup = Foundation Stock Service (FSS)
akcstd = http://www.akc.org/breeds/belgian_laekenois/index.cfm
ankcgroup = Group 5 (Working Dogs)
ankcstd = http://ankc.org.au/home/breeds_details.asp?bid=206
ckcgroup = Group 7 - Herding Dogs
ckcstd = http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/workingdogs/belgianarticle1.htm
kcukgroup = Pastoral
kcukstd = http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/126
nzkcgroup = Working
nzkcstd = http://www.nzkc.org.nz/br512.html
ukcgroup = Herding Dogs
ukcstd = http://mail.ukcdogs.com/UKCweb.nsf/80de88211ee3f2dc8525703f004ccb1e/e68ff1d3122aad5a85257049004937a3?OpenDocument
fcigroup = 1
fcisection = 1
fcinum = 015
fcistd = http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:KDb1qzo2YZoJ:www.fci.be/uploaded_files/015gb2002.doc+site:www.fci.be+%2215/+19.04.2002%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
akcfss = true

The Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) is a breed of dog, sometimes classified as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog rather than as a separate breed. The Laekenois is not fully recognized in the United States. However, they can be shown in Britain, along with all three of the closely related breeds which share a heritage with the Laekenois: the Tervuren, the Malinois, and the Groenendael, the last being shown in the U.S. as the Belgian Sheepdog.

Appearance

Like all Belgian Shepherds, the Laekenois is a medium-sized, hard-working, square-proportioned dog in the sheepdog family with sharply triangular ears. The Laekenois is recognized by its woolly brown and white coat, intermixed so as to give a tweedy appearance.

History

The Belgian Laekenois derives its name and origin from the lake district of Belgium. It is considered both the oldest and the most rare of the Belgian Shepherd Dogs. Until the advent of dog shows in the early 1900's, the four varieties were freely intermixed, in fact, there are only three genes (short/long coat, smooth/wire coat, fawn/black coat) that separate the varieties genetically. Purebred Laekenois occasionally give birth to smooth-coated puppies, which, depending on the pure-bred registry, can be registered as Malinois.fact|date=August 2007

Health

See Health section of Belgian Shepherd for more information.

External links

* [http://www.bsdaofgb.co.uk Belgian Shepherd Dog Association of Great Britain]
* [http://www.bsdcc.ca Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of Canada] Breed club for all four Belgian Shepherd breeds.
* [http://www.finbelge.fi/english/eng-index.html Belgian Shepherd Dog Association of Finland]
* [http://www.laekenois.org American Belgian Laekenois Association]

ee also

*Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael)
*Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)
*Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervueren)