Belgian Shepherd Dog

• Like all dog breeds, Belgians are susceptible to the most common ailments so regular veterinarian visits of least twice a year are necessary. The longevity for Belgians is 10 to 14 with an average of 12 years old. This is above the norm for breeds of similar size.

• Belgians differ from other breeds particularly in their high disposition toward seizures and/or epilepsy. Some studies have shown Tervuren’s with a reported epilepsy rate of as a high as 17% or about 1 in 6 with the average rate for all breeds at about 2.5%.

• Not unlike humans, dogs too can develop cancer. In Belgians this may show up by around eight years old. If your Belgian has not developed cancer by eight then you are pretty safe and should realize a long life together.

• Be sure to let your veterinarian know that Belgians are very sensitive to any form of Anesthesia. As your Belgian ages they can become hypersensitive to loud noises and strange places. Any medication given to help your dog relax should always be given with the express approval of your veterinarian.

Belgian Malinois

• Both Belgian Sheepdogs and Tervuren’s are long haired with a healthy undercoat that shed year round so daily grooming is necessary. If you prefer to talk your dog to a professional groomer a process called “Furminating” is a great way to relieve most of the undercoat and dramatically reduce shedding.

• As with all dogs regular teeth cleanings are a must especially for older dogs. Their teeth can become just as sensitive as humans.

• As with all pet services whether the Breeder you choose, the veterinarian, Professional Groomer, and boarding ensure you have thoroughly vetted the people. Visit the Groomer facility and staff; see exactly where your dog will sleep if boarding and find out how much time they will spend with your dog – feeding time, how often do they take dogs for a walk, etc.

• Belgians are members of the Herding Group and love to be active. Make sure you provide plenty of exercise like going for walks; they very much enjoy playing freebee and fetch…they can be tireless so be ready – when you throw the first ball you could be there for awhile. Great for both dog and human!