Gruenendaal is a species of breed Belgian Shepherd. She is known not only at home, but has earned worldwide recognition. Such dogs are especially popular in Europe, and this is not surprising, because they have excellent qualities and characteristics. Such dogs have an attractive appearance, good-natured disposition, are very attached to the owner and need him. More about the features of the breed will tell in our article.
History of origin
This breed was originally considered a shepherd and originates in the middle of the XVII century. Even at that time, the grunendeals differed from their fellows. The owners noted the loyalty of their pets, their courage and amazing endurance. In addition, dogs are very intelligent and independent.
Several varieties of Belgian shepherds were presented at the exhibition in the XIX century. Of these, slightly more than 30 individuals were selected — those who, according to the jury, had perfect external data. Sheepdogs were divided into 4 main types.
The founder of this breed is Nicholas Roes. He was a restaurant owner and named a pet after one of them. According to the assurances of compatriots, Grünendealy Rose was very fond. It was he who kept their first representative - a wonderful dog who later participated in the breeding.
The descendants of Grunendal were excellent service dogs. They were used to help people in wartime and these dogs won universal recognition and respect.
In subsequent years, people tried to bring the breed to perfection, to improve its appearance and performance. This desire has given good results, and today its representatives are valued all over the world.
There are 4 main types of Belgians. They are very similar in character and features. The main difference is the length of the coat and its color. Practically throughout the world, with the exception of the United States, as well as the American Kennel Club, they are classified as one breed. The subspecies are the Grünendahl, Malinois, Lachenois and Tervuren. We will understand in more detail in their description.
Gruenendaal has a long, shiny and soft coat. Its color is exclusively black. Tervuren is also a long-haired dog, but in its colors black, on the contrary, is absent.
Mostly representatives of this species have a very bright red color.
Laekenois - haired dogs. They have a fawn color. On the face and tail there are small areas with black hair. Sometimes white tones appear on the chest and paws. Malinois, on the other hand, are characterized by short fur, yellow hues prevail in the coloring. On the head is a black mask.
After the Gruenandals began to be considered a separate breed, they were used for a wide variety of purposes. Its representatives can often be met in the service of the police, the Ministry of Emergency Situations or customs. However, over time, people considered the invaluable qualities of such dogs as true friends and excellent companions. Nevertheless, the American Kennel Club considered the Grunendals to be the dogs of the working group.
An important factor is the fact that genetics and dog handlers did not take part in breeding such dogs.
Breeders selected representatives depending on how hardy they were and what working qualities they possessed. Appearance into account almost not taken. This is due to the fact that, in the first place, the Groenendael is considered a working dog, therefore there is no need to pay special attention to its exterior.
Characteristics of dogs
As for the standards, the Belgians are of medium size and square body type. They are folded very proportionally. Dogs are distinguished by direct and attentive gaze, are able to focus on one point for a long time. They are very active, they understand the instructions given to them and execute them quickly.
The head of dogs has a slightly elongated shape with a neat transition from the forehead to the muzzle. Visually, the occiput is not striking. Spout standard should be exclusively black.
Almond-shaped eyes have a rather dark brown tint. The triangular erect ears are set high on the head, covered on the inside with soft hair.
The body is very powerful, with well-developed bones and strong muscles. The croup has a slight slope.
As for the legs, they are straight and proportional to the size of the body. They are crowned with black claws. Hips wide and powerful. The tail is saber-shaped and not too long; it has a narrowing near the end.
Deviations from breed standards may be critical for the Grünendal. Such representatives are culled, not allowed to breed. Also, they can not participate in exhibitions and shows.
As for growth, deviations are allowed to be quite insignificant.. In the smaller side they can not be more than 3 centimeters, and in the larger - more than 4. On average, males should be between 60 and 66 centimeters in height. Their weight ranges from 25 to 30 kilograms. Bitches in size slightly smaller, from 52 to 60 centimeters and from 20 to 26 kilograms, respectively.
There is shorter hair on the head than on other parts of the body. Representatives of the breed are distinguished by a collar. It is formed from a particularly thick and long hair, which is located around the neck and in the lower part of the chest. As mentioned above, Gruenendals have only a uniform black color without blotches of other shades.
Character and behavior
These dogs are just amazing, they found connoisseurs around the world. They have a direct belonging to the hunters, this tells them to become and appearance. In addition, they are able to perfectly perform guard functions. These little dogs will be great friends and companions for humans.
Experts recommend carefully consider this breed if the future owner needs a dog for the family. Gruenendali have an independent character, they may show a tendency to dominate, but aggression is absolutely not peculiar. They are excellent defenders, defend their interests, and also rather wary of strangers.
For a family in which there are small children, dogs of this breed will be an excellent option.
They are very friendly to kids, hardy and able to tolerate and take part in games, never show aggression in response to any action. In this case, dogs are able to protect the little owners and stand up to protect them if necessary.
It is impossible not to note the emotional stability of such dogs. They are very stress-resistant, but tied to the owner. If a person is absent for a long time, they will miss and miss him. Gruenandali have excellent intuition. This is reflected in the ability to understand the owner, even without words, focusing exclusively on emotions.
They are very worried about their family members, and when they feel in danger, they attract attention with a loud voice.
These dogs have excellent hearing and very sensitive sleep, due to which they are considered excellent guards. They will tenderly protect the territory and things entrusted to them. As a herding breed, it can be used to control pets and, if necessary, collect them in flocks. Has touchiness, hard going through long punishments. In most cases, she will try to please the person and show her feelings, as she is completely dependent on him emotionally.
How to choose a puppy?
For lovers of this breed, the choice of a future pet is not particularly difficult. A puppy that meets the basic characteristics is easy to find, the main thing is to determine the place of purchase and trust the previous owner. You should also consider for what purpose the dog is purchased.
If you plan to represent her at shows or breeding, It would be advisable to apply for purchase in specialized nurseries. Yes, it is possible that the price in them will be slightly higher than when buying from the hands, but at the same time certain guarantees are provided. In such institutions honestly report on the pedigree and the health of the baby. On average, the cost of a Grundal puppy is from 35 to 50 thousand rubles. Representatives of the show class will cost more, their price starts from 50 thousand rubles.
As for the purchase of ads, this event is considered quite risky. Naturally, the price will be lower, and possibly tangible. There is no guarantee that a thoroughbred representative of the breed will be acquired. There is also a risk to buy a pet with health problems and congenital abnormalities. It may be non-compliant with certain standards.
Whatever it was, in any case, the first thing to do - carefully check the necessary documents, look at the puppy's parents passports. It is also very important familiarity with the mother and her cubs. If there is an opportunity, you can show your baby to a veterinarian who will assess his state of health and other indicators.
The owner of the groundgun should take into account that this dog will need to pay a lot of attention and effort.
To the dog was educated and intelligent, they need to be engaged from a tender age. This also applies to training, its absence threatens with the occurrence of problems in the future.
If the breeder is not too conscientious, he can ignore the moment, relying solely on a good pedigree. This threatens with the fact that a teenage puppy will be ill-mannered and even a little wildly, which will require long-term rehabilitation.
However, even working with a competent dog handler will not help to eliminate some problems. therefore It is very important to get a future pet in a safe place with a good reputation. Such kennels, as a rule, do not leave the owners of their dogs alone with emerging issues and are ready to give professional advice in the future.
Maintenance and care
Since the Gruenandals are, in fact, a shepherd’s breed, they were not initially spoiled by the gentle conditions of detention and careful care. However, we must not forget that they belong to long-haired dogs, which imposes certain obligations. Appearance mainly depends on how well the dog ration is made, we will talk more about this.
As for the care, one of its most important aspects is combing. This item can not be ignored. Dogs of this breed have a rather long hair, which, without timely combing, will acquire a completely non-marketable appearance, roll up and adorn with mats. This is dangerous because dirt will accumulate in the hairs, which in turn can lead to serious skin problems.
It is often not necessary to wash the gruenendaals; several water procedures per year are sufficient.
These dogs feel best in a private home. As for the content in the apartment, it is also quite realistic, provided that the active animal will have enough free space. It is necessary to purchase and periodically change dog toys, otherwise they will perform such things as TV remote control, slippers and much more. Blame the dog in this case should not be, because it is entirely the result of lack of attention.
In addition, it is necessary to take into account that the Grünendali love to walk, and they will also need active physical exertion.
The sofa maintenance in this case is unacceptable, therefore, it is recommended to start dogs of this breed for people who move a lot and do not sit in one place. These dogs are different excellent health, with proper care, they are almost not susceptible to diseases of different plan. However, this does not preclude compulsory vaccination. In addition, you will need to carry out some hygienic procedures in time, for example, claw clipping, ear and eye brushing, as well as monitoring the condition of the pet's teeth and gums.
Feeding
In order for the wool to be healthy and look great, you need to take care of the proper and varied nutrition of the pet. In the absence of a well-designed diet, no hygienic and cosmetic procedures will help. The main thing is that fresh foods are present in the food. Food supplements that can provide the body with the necessary amount of minerals and vitamins will also be useful.
It is necessary to feed an adult pet twice a day. The size of the portions should be selected based on the size of the animal, its age category and activity.
In natural nutrition, you need to monitor the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, vegetable and animal fats. The diet of the dog should be meat products, sea fish, eggs and greens, vegetables, cereals and dairy products. Also always in access the dog should be fresh and clean water.
Such dogs should not be given chicken bones. They are perfectly replaced by store bones from the veins. Also, pickles and sweets, smoked and spicy foods are not recommended. Should refrain from things that provoke an allergic reaction. Dogs will need vitamins sold in a pharmacy.
As for puppies, they need to be given food 5 times a day. At first, it will consist of porridge, which is boiled in water.
A little later, boiled meat and vegetables are added. When the Groenendael reaches the age of 3 months, you can pamper it with fruits.
Representatives of this breed are not recommended to give dry food. However, if the decision was made in his favor, you should be convinced of its quality. It should be borne in mind that good food have a high enough price, so you can mix this food with natural. However, a competent approach is important here. In this case, one feeding is carried out using dry food, the second - with natural products. You can not give everything at the same time, it will lead to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Upbringing and training
Dogs of this breed are very energetic and curious. They are quite clever, training usually does not cause problems. They tolerate physical exertion well, do an excellent job of searching for objects, they are very fond of complex tasks.
Grunendahl loves to walk without a leash. In general, these dogs love to spend time on the street. They can easily be taken along for jogging, hunting, fishing and hiking. They are happy to travel by car.
Socialize the dog as soon as possible. She should know what a leash and collar are and not resist putting them on.
You can start raising puppies when they reach 2 months of age. After vaccination, they should be taken to crowded and noisy places, this will help to socialize faster. Running dogs is better to let go on soft surfaces, concrete and asphalt are not the most suitable options for this.
Education begins gradually, as the kids get tired very quickly. At the very beginning it should not take more than 15 minutes to complete one team. Dogs need praise and dainty for its success. It will take fun and active games.
When a baby reaches the age of 4 months, it should take at least an hour a day to train and train him. From half a year it will take 2 classes daily for 40 minutes each.
Intellectual abilities of such dogs are beyond doubt. However, the owner must take into account that it is impossible to frighten, crush and scold the Grunendals. The most important thing is establishing a trusting contact.. In addition, the Gruenendali are very sensitive and adore praise, so they always try to serve the owner. If necessary, you should use rigor and perseverance, but not aggression and physical strength. In this case, the pet will be educated and affectionate towards its owner.
About the Belgian Shepherd Groenendael look further.
