Groenendael
Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Shepherd Dog, Chien de Berger Belge, Groenendaeler

The Groenendael takes its name from the Chateau de Groenendael, just south of Brussels, Belgium. It is one of four types of dog known as the Belgian Shepherd Dogs, the other three being the Laekenois, Malinois, and Tervuren. In some countries, each type is recognized as its own breed, while in others they are all simply a different variety of the same standard. Originally employed as sheepherders, they are now more commonly found in the show ring or as companions. In their homeland, the Groenendael is also used as police or military dogs and property guards.
Groenendael Standards
- 22-26"
- 61-63 lbs
- large shepherd
- triangular, erect ears
- tail reaches the hock
- long, straight, dense coat
- black
- may have limited white markings
History of the Groenendael
As with all the Belgian Shepherd Dogs, the original history of the Groenendael has been lost in time. It is believed that these types of dogs have existed throughout Belgium, and much of Europe since the Middle Ages. Bred for their working abilities instead of appearance these dogs were of a type rather than breed and at one point each region would have had its own distinct variety. True selective breeding did not begin until the late 1800s when individual breeds were being listed into a group of dogs known as the Continental Shepherds. This grouping consists of other modern breeds such as the German Shepherd Dog, Beauceron, Briard, and Dutch Shepherd.
Unlike the other varieties, the Groenendael is often listed as having one specific ancestor, the Leauvenaar. The Leauvenaar was said to be similar to the Groenendael, a sheepdog with a long, solid black coat. However, little is known about it other than a shared appearance. The Leauvenaar is also stated to be related to the small Schipperke.
In the 1890s Professor Adolph Reul identified that the Belgian Shepherd was unique from the other Continental Shepherds. It was during his study of the breed that individual names for each variety were given, based on the location where they were most commonly found. Long black coated dogs became the Groenendael, long coated fawns the Tervuren, short coated fawns the Malinois, and the rough coated the Laekenois.
The Groenendael arrived in the United States in the early 1900s. They were recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1912 under the name Belgian Sheepdog. During WWI Belgian Shepherds were used by the military and as ambulance dogs by the Red Cross. This service helped it surge in popularity and by the 1920s it was in the AKC's top five breeds. During this time the AKC chose to separate them by two varieties, long coated dogs as the Belgian Sheepdog and the short coated as Malinois.
During the Great Depression, numbers of the Belgian Sheepdog were so low it was moved to the Miscellaneous class. Despite this, the breed rallied, even causing a rift in the 1950s when the Tervuren began being shown. In 1958 the AKC Board of Directors separated the varieties into their own breeds, the Groenendael remained the Belgian Sheepdog, while “Belgian” was added to the title of the Malinois and Tervuren. Today the Laekenois is listed by the AKC in their Miscellaneous Class and still has not gained full recognition.
Related Breeds: