Question about BSDs? General Chat

Are the four types of BSD similar in temperament to each other?

I'm especially interested in the Malinois.

Any info very welcome, many thanks!

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Yes and no.

Not a lot of difference between the types in the show/pet lines.

Working lines (and by that I mean dogs specifically bred for the KNPV, Schutzhund, Mondioriing , MOD, police etc) then you will find that it is only the Malinois that is used (with the VERY odd and rare exception).

Cheers SB

Would a Malinois ever be happy as 'just' a pet...?

I just got the feeling from the little I've read that they really need to work?

Show/pet lines appear to be happy as just pets.

The working one, er no!

I am a newcomer to Belgian Shepherds. My boy (show line Groenendael) is 16 1/2 months old now. I also know alot of other BSD owners.

They are fabulous dogs

We tried lots of different sports but decided to concentrate on agility. We train about 4 times a week and also do lots of walking on and off lead, playing with balls, biking etc.

Callan loves to learn. Is very quick and clever. Has masses of confidence and gets on brilliantly with all other dogs and people.

I think to live in a pet home with no sports involved (in his case) it would have to be a very active home or he would become bored easily.

Saying that though with enough to occupy him he is a perfect pet and is currently laid asleep next to me legs in air

Just noted my original link did not attach.

As you will see here, the only difference between the BSD is supposed to be the coat.


http://bsdaofgb.webs.com/breedstandarduk.htm

@SmokeyBear - there are quite a few working line Tervueren breeders on the continent. I'm hopeful that more and more will be worked in Mondioring and VPG/IPO. Granted, they're not as pretty pretty as the showline ones over here. ;-)

IMHO not all showline breeders have a strong enough emphasis on sound temperament and strong nerves over pretty looks. Similar to BCs, that can result in BSDs that have 'all the drive, but none of the ability' - and they make neither good pets, nor good working dogs. (I admit to being very Opinionated on the subject, but I hope I've worded it sufficiently carefully!)

It is IMHO very unfortunate that the word "wary" appears on the breed standard! ;-)

Hi there TabithaJ,

I have a Malinois from predominently 'show' lines (ie rather than complete working strain) and we do agility, so see the different types within the agility scene.

I would say 'generally' the Malinois are a higher drive dog than the other three, not always the case - but they do like to be 'doing' something otherwise generally find their own entertainment!!

A lot of the BSDs I know are not suited to the typical 'pet' life ie just the one walk a day type thing (not saying all pet people are like that but hopefully you know what I mean) but sometimes when my Mali is bored and I haven't been able to walk her (rest from injury etc) OTHER things will entertain her - treat toys, bits of obedience type things, trick training, making her use her nose to find treats, - I think what I'm trying to say is that their brains need to be occupied not just their feet!

Agreed.

Unfortunately that "quality" can be only too apparent in some BSDs, however carefully they are brought up and however carefully they have been socialised.

Good upbringing may mitigate, but may not always eliminate, the results of less than ideal breeding.

i like BSD, my favourite are the gronendael (sp?) think they are absolutely gorgeous looking dogs

And the black shows of those lovely shiny white teeth so nicely

Personally my favourite are the tervs

gorgeous they remind me of the wolf out of little red riding hood

Before I had my Belgian (back in the eighties), I asked the breeder what they were like and was told, "In the time it takes you to tell a GSD what to do, a Belgian has been there, done that and come back again".

A friend of mine later added an addendum to that description by saying:

"...and got arrested on the way ".

they sound like my kind of dog

ETA: not that i have ever been arrested lol, just realised how it read then!

Nah, they're too smart to get caught

What my friend actually should have more accurately said would have been:

"..and somehow managed to avoid being arrested on the way";-)

They are certainly dogs who are not short of personality

And that's why I loves them

Re the "storybook wolf" - I have always thought Merlin looked like one. Once we were out walking and a little girl said to her mum: "Mummy! Mummy! Look! It's the Big Bad Wolf!"

This is by the illustrator Walter Crane, whose work I have always loved:


Something rather Terv-like about the wolf there I think!

Here is Callan proving that the big bad wolf was a Groenendael

His acting debut last halloween

what a great idea

He was framed I tell you