How to Identify A Belgian Laekenois Dog

The rarest of the four Belgian Sheepdog breeds, the Laekenois is a very intelligent and energetic breed. They can be kept as pets but must receive a great deal of daily exercise to be happy. They make very good competition and working dogs thanks to their unquestioning obedience. They will follow and given command they know instantly and regardless of the situation, making them good for most forms of work provided they are closely supervised as they don’t have much initiative. Because of their rarity many people do not know what a Laekenois looks like and will mistake one for a common run of the mill mutt. Here is a guide on how to identify a purebred Belgian Laekenois.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog
• Your Eyes

Identifying A Belgian Laekenois

1. Look at the dog’s general shape and build. The dog should be about twenty five inches at the shoulder and weigh at least forty pounds. It should be of average length, but have shorter than average limbs and a truncated or non-existent neck. The dog’s shoulders should be thick and strong looking, though not muscular. Its chest should be neither wide nor narrow, but very deep, reaching all the way to its elbows. The limbs should be very straight and parallel to one another with wide cat-like paws. The tail should be of average length, hanging straight down with the bottom half arched out to be nearly horizontal with the ground.

2. Look at the dog’s fur. It should be thick and wiry, but very uneven. Many people mistake the Laekenois for having mange because of the patchy appearance of its coat. The possible colors of the dog run the gamut from light tan to a dark brown or mahogany. These colors may or may not include dark brown or black highlights.

3. Examine the dog’s head. It should be swallowed partly by the thick ruff of fur leading from the top of the shoulders to the bottom of the ears, obscuring much of its features. The skull should be flat and parallel to the plain of the muzzle. The nose should be black and the lips tight. The eyes should have dark rims and come close to matching the color of the dog’s fur. Its ears should be small, pointed, triangular, and set high on the dog’s head. If the dog matches this description then you’re looking at a Belgian Laekenois.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a very rare species and can be often hard to find when you wish to buy one. They are primarily a working dog and perform well as police dogs, search and rescue animals, and guard dogs. They can make good pets but require a great deal of training and exercise. If they are to be kept as a pet the Laekenois should not be put in a kennel, but rather allowed to come and go as they please in order for them to feel like they are a part of the family. They should not be let near non-canine pets, but play well with other dogs. The Laekenois has a tendency to from a strong bond with only one or two people and simply tolerates anyone else they come into contact with.
• This species is naturally defensive and territorial, tendencies which are a boon in a sheep dog, but not good for a pet. To counter this, the Laekenois needs very strong socialization and training from an early age. They should not under any circumstances be harshly treated regardless of their actions as they will ignore any commands or instructions they are given afterward. This is a difficult breed to keep and train, so if you are not particularly familiar with dogs and dog training, you might want to reconsider keeping one as a pet.

Resources

• List of Reliable Belgian Laekenois Breeders