Like the other Belgian sheepdogs (the Malinois and the Belgian Sheepdog), the Belgian Tervuren (Ter-VYUR-en) is a beautiful, intelligent dog that likes challenging activities and nearly constant companionship. The Tervuren gets his name from the Belgian village of Tervuren, where the breed’s herding and guarding were vital to the every-day life of the people in the farming villages. They were also loving family companions.

Tervurens excel in activities and competitions. They make top-notch therapy or guide dogs for the disabled, and of course they are excellent at their original job, herding.

The Tervuren’s thick, lustrous coat is long, usually rich fawn to russet mahogany with black overlay. The underparts of the body, the tail, and the trousers are lighter—cream, gray, or light beige. The tail has a dark tip. Brushing should be done twice a week, daily during shedding seasons. The outer coat darkens as the dog matures.

Excerpts from the Standard

General Appearance: Displaying intelligence, courage, alertness, and devotion.

Size, Proportion, and Substance: Height—males, 24 to 26 inches at withers; females, 22 to 24 inches.

Fun Facts

The differences among the Belgian sheepdogs are in their coats. The Mali-nois has a short, tan coat with a black face; the Belgian Sheepdog has a long, shiny black coat; and the Tervuren has a long, multi-colored coat. All of these breeds are intelligent, sensitive, and active, with a noble history of hard work.

Excerpted from The Complete Dog Book For Kids © 1996, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.