Laekenois
Chien de Berger Belge, Belgian Laekenois, Belgian Shepherd Dog
The Laekenois is named after the Chateau de Laeken, which was often visited by Queen Henrietta of Belgium. It is one of four types of dog from Belgium known as the Belgian Shepherd Dogs, the other three being the Groenendael, 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. The Laekenois is the rarest of the four, with the lowest numbers worldwide. Originally employed as sheepherders, they are now more commonly found as a companion breed.
Laekenois Standards
- 22-26"
- 61-63 lbs
- large shepherd
- triangular, erect ears
- tail reaches the hock
- coat is rough and coarse, appears tousled
- shades of fawn with black overlay
History of the Laekenois
As with all the Belgian Shepherd Dogs, the original history of the Laekenois 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.
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.
Although Belgian Sheepdogs arrived in the United States in the early 1900s, the Laekenois was not seen until the latter half of that century. The other three Belgian Sheepdog varieties were separated as their own breeds in 1958. 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 American Kennel Club in their Miscellaneous Class and still has not gained full recognition.
Related Breeds: