Belgian Tervuren: temperament, size, care and health

About the Belgian Tervuren

The Belgian Tervuren is a graceful, medium-large herding dog standing roughly 22 to 26 inches at the shoulder. It is the long-coated fawn of the four Belgian herding breeds, with a black overlay on the fawn that darkens the tips of the hairs, a black mask and a full ruff around the neck of the male. The body is square and refined, and the head is carried high with an alert, intelligent expression.

The breed was developed in Belgium for herding and guarding, and it remains a versatile working dog. Today it appears in herding trials, tracking, obedience, agility and service work. It is a refined, elegant dog but a demanding one.

Temperament and family life

A Tervuren is intelligent, loyal and sensitive. It bonds deeply with its household, tends to be reserved with strangers and notices every change in its surroundings. Its sensitivity makes it responsive to training but also prone to nervousness if it is poorly socialized or handled harshly.

Tervuren can be good with considerate children, though the herding instinct appears as chasing and nipping at running feet. They usually accept other dogs, particularly when raised with them, but may be wary of unfamiliar ones. Boredom is a real hazard, since a Tervuren without work can pace, bark, chew or become anxious.

Exercise and training

This breed needs strenuous daily activity, preferably with a purpose: herding, agility, tracking, obedience or long runs and hikes. An hour or more of exercise is a baseline. It is also a dog that must be mentally engaged, so training should be part of daily life.

The Tervuren learns fast and loves to work, which makes it a favorite in competitions. It responds best to positive, fair, varied training and can shut down or become fearful if corrected harshly. Start socialization early and continue it, teach calm behavior in the house and crate train. A securely fenced yard is vital, and the breed should not be left in a yard as a substitute for company.

Grooming and shedding

The long coat is easier to keep than it looks. It has a harsh, straight texture that resists matting, so brushing twice a week with a pin brush and comb is usually enough, paying attention to the feathering behind the ears, the ruff and the britches. The coat is shed heavily once or twice a year, and during that period a daily brushing is helpful. Females often blow coat after a heat cycle.

Bathe occasionally and do not shave the coat. Trim the nails, clean the ears and brush the teeth. Expect hair on clothes and furniture.

Health

The breed is generally healthy, but known concerns include epilepsy, hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, thyroid disease, allergies and certain cancers. Responsible breeders screen hips, elbows, eyes and thyroid function, and avoid breeding dogs with a seizure history in the family.

This is general information about the breed. A veterinarian is the person to ask about any particular dog.

History

The Tervuren is named for the Tervuren area near Brussels. In the late nineteenth century Belgian fanciers sorted the country's native sheepdogs into varieties by coat type and color, and the long fawn dogs with a black overlay became known as Tervuren. Dogs arrived in the United States in the early twentieth century. The American Kennel Club began registering the Tervuren as a separate breed in 1959.

Is the Belgian Tervuren right for you?

A Tervuren suits an experienced, active owner who wants an elegant, trainable and athletic dog and has time for work and play. It is a poor match for a sedentary home, for an owner who works long hours away from home or for anyone who wants a low-shedding dog.

Compare the black Belgian Sheepdog, the short-coated Belgian Malinois and the wiry Belgian Laekenois, or look at the Collie for a gentler long-coated herder.