Belgian Tervuren
10-12 yrs
40-60 lbs
22-24"
Belgium

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Belgian Tervuren

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Dog Breeds
Belgian Tervuren

40-60 lbs

22-24"

Belgium

Tervuren, Chien de Berger Belge

The Belgian Tervuren was one of four Belgian Sheepdogs in the time of the 1800s. This breed is one that has to constantly be on the move, is extremely intelligent, and loyal to a T. One thing that makes this dog so incredible is his ability to learn quickly. The Belgian Tervuren, or Terv for short, have been used as police dogs and military dogs in the past, performing jobs from messenger animal to Red Cross dogs. Today, their amazing feats continue through performing as police dogs, service dogs, show dogs, and herders (no surprise there). Although this breed is intelligent and kind, they do possess a shy personality. Because of this, it is important to have them socialize often with other dogs and children while the dog is still young. Keep in mind that the Belgian Tervuren is a herding dog naturally, so they may tend to try and herd young children by nipping at them slightly. This shouldn’t be allowed and once they realize what you want, your dog will most likely curb that habit. Belgian Tervurens do have a high prey drive, but if they are raised with small animals like cats, they are more likely to leave them alone. Just like the other Belgian Shepherds, the Terv has long, coarse hair that comes in a variety of colors such as fawn and russet mahogany with black accents. The other colors that can be seen on this breed’s coat are white, grey, cream, and light beige. Beautiful combinations come together to decorate the chest and under-tail of the dog. The Terv is a medium to large sized dog with tall, triangular ears and a long face.

                
                Purpose
              
stock herding, guarding

                Date of Origin
              
1800s

                Ancestry
              
shepherd

Belgian Tervuren Health

Sketch of Belgian Tervuren

Average Size

Height: 24-26 inches Weight: 55-75 lbs

Height: 22-24 inches Weight: 40-60 lbs

Major Concerns

Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Hip Dysplasia
Bloat
Thyroid
Von Willebrand's Disease
Degenerative Myelopathy

Minor Concerns

Elbow Dysplasia
Sebaceous Adenitis
Skin Allergies
Dental Disease
Osteochondritis Dissecans

Occasional Tests

Blood Test
Thyroid Tests
X-Rays
Eye Examination
Dental Examination

Belgian Tervuren Breed History

The Belgian Tervuren was first bred in the 1800s from a pair of dogs that stem from the Tom and Poes breeds, both of which are fawn colored. The first female was named Miss, who then gave birth to a gorgeous male, Milsart. He was the breed’s first show champion in 1907.While it seems that these dogs would have been known for quite some time, they actually didn’t become popular until 1893 when a breed standard was written for the Belgian Tervuren. This is most likely because, at one time, all Belgian Shepherd dogs were thought to be in one category. But in 1891, the Belgian Shepherd dog club, known as the Club du Chien de Berger Belge, came up with a criterion for the Shepherd dog and created four different types of Sheepdog: the Malinois, the Tervuren, the Laekenois, and the Groenendael. The Tervuren name was taken from a tiny Belgian village that was home to the creator of the breed, M.F. Corbeel. These dogs, just like the rest of the Shepherds, were used as herding dogs originally. As time went by, their skills were put to other uses such as working in World War I as messengers, Red Cross assistants, and police guards. They even pulled carts or machine gun wagons behind them! While the breed was very popular in Europe, the Terv didn’t catch on until the year 1953, when more Belgian Tervuren were imported to America for breeding purposes. Today, these dogs are used for show and herding. On top of being incredibly strong and intelligent, the Belgian Tervuren is striking in appearance. Because of this, they make excellent show dogs and beautiful additions to any family.

Belgian Tervuren Breed Appearance

The Belgian Tervuren is a medium-sized dog that has a very strong, and proud stance. He has an elegant appearance that is solid, agile, alert, well-muscled, and intelligent. Meeting the criteria of the Belgian Shepherd Dog Club, the Terv possesses dark brown eyes, with a long face, and wide-set triangular ears. He has a double-coat that has short, dense fur beneath and long straight hair above. This double coat keeps him well protected and insulated against the elements. The fur is also water resistant and wicks off any light water. The thickness of the coat will depend purely on the environment in which the Terv lives. The colors of the Belgian Tervuren are typically fawn or russet mahogany, with a black overlay. The face will have a black mask and black ears, underlined with a chest of either black, grey, or black and grey. The tail will have a dark tip at the end and, occasionally, white tips on the toes. Males are always more decorated than the females, having a large fluff of fur around their necks called a collarette. and trails of fur down the back of the front legs.

Appearance of Belgian Tervuren

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

Black

Brindle

Cream

Fawn

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Belgian Tervuren Breed Maintenance

Because the Belgian Tervuren has a long, double-coat, you will need to expect grooming to be a weekly occurrence. Double-coated dogs tend to shed their undercoat rather slowly, and have a large shedding session at the changing of the seasons. The time of shedding can also differ according to sex; males tend to shed heavily once a year, while females shed between each heat cycle. In order to properly take care of your Terv’s long-haired coat, you will want to invest in some good quality grooming tools. Other grooming needs outside of brushing will include dental care, due to the fact that the Belgian Tervuren is susceptible to dental disease. You will want to brush your dog’s teeth 2 to 3 times a week in order to remove the tartar buildup that can occur. Lastly, trim your dog’s nail regularly so that his feet will be in good condition. When it comes time for you to welcome one of these amazing dogs into your home, keep in mind that they are a very active breed. Because of this, a Terv will need plenty of exercise, at least an hour a day. You will also need to keep a close eye on your dog when he is around children or small animals. This is not because he is aggressive, but simply because as a herding dog, the Terv may have the tendency to try and herd children and small animals with nips. He is merely doing this because of his nature! The best thing that you can do is begin training your Belgian Tervuren early. This will help him learn what he can and cannot do, as well as give you the control needed to guide a very intelligent breed.

Brushes for Belgian Tervuren

Pin Brush

Slicker Brush

Comb

Deshedder

Scissors

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Belgian Tervuren Temperament

The Belgian Tervuren is a wonderful dog, full of life and energy. They were bred to be herding dogs, which means that they are extremely intelligent and a breeze to train. It is important to remember that when a Tervuren is not being told what to do, he will do whatever he likes. So, in order to keep your things from being destroyed you will want to work on training and ensure that your dog gets plenty of exercise. The Belgian Tervuren is a great family dog because they are good with children under supervision and are excellent guard dogs. They learn best under firm, yet kind instruction. Yelling and getting upset at your Terv will only cause him to fear you, not respect you. This is because, despite the Terv’s outgoing personality, they are rather shy. So, through gentle yet firm guidance, you will be able to train your dog into becoming a wonderful companion and working dog. Because this breed is playful and friendly you will never be bored with a Belgian Tervuren in your home.

Activity Level

                  Low
                  Medium
                  High
                
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
8 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Belgian Tervuren

Similarly Sized Breeds to Belgian Tervuren

Belgian Tervuren Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2.5 cups
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00

Belgian Tervuren Height & Weight

6 Months

                  Height: 9.5 inches
                  Weight: 32.5 lbs
                
                  Height: 7.5 inches
                  Weight: 22.5 lbs
                
12 Months

                  Height: 14.0 inches
                  Weight: 47.5 lbs
                
                  Height: 10.0 inches
                  Weight: 35.0 lbs
                
18 Months

                  Height: 17.0 inches
                  Weight: 65.0 lbs
                
                  Height: 15.5 inches
                  Weight: 50.0 lbs

Top Belgian Tervuren Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Belgian Tervuren breeders of 2024.

SilverTrace Belgian Tervuren
Cincinnati, Ohio
Sky Acres Kennel Belgian Tervuren
The Dalles, Oregon
Shumaker Hills Belgian Tervuren
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Zephyre Belgian Tervuren
Peyton, Colorado
MonAmi Belgian Tervuren
Bozeman, Montana
Vivant et Lisse Belgian Tervuren
Phoenix, Arizona
Belgian Tervuren from Richard and Tamera Lewis
Selah, Washington
Darboshea Belgian Tervuren
Edmond, Oklahoma
Montage Belgian Tervuren
New York, New York
Timberwind
Pleasant Valley, New York

Belgian Tervuren Owner Experiences

Bandit

6 Months

2 People

House

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

This is my first Belgian Tervuren. Bandit is very easy to train and very social!

6 years, 10 months ago

Gemma

5 Years

1 People

Apartment

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

I rescued Gemma this year and she is a fantastic, very loyal dog. She gets protective of me when men come up to us unannounced and will bark at them/come closer to me. She is very smart and learns commands quickly, though occasionally decides not to listen even though she clearly understands. She knows when she has done something wrong and does a walk of shame towards me with her head down when I scold her. She does NOT like other dogs, but this is likely because of her unknown history. She is fond of children. She had pretty bad skin allergies when I was feeding her beef and/or chicken dog food but does well now that I placed her on salmon and/or trout dog food. Love her to death!

6 years, 2 months ago

Question - My pet

Question

My 8 month old Tervuren has a cut on his paw. Any suggestions on how to keep him quiet while it heals? As soon as he gets out the door he runs laps in our pasture at 100 mph. As soon as he gets off leash in the desert he chases jack-rabits off the map. Keeping him indoors would be a huge mental strain for him.

Answer

Question - My pet

Question

We have a new Beligum Tavern 5 month puppy and he wiggles when he walks, we have had this breed before and never have seen this behavior

Answer

Book me a walkiee?

Pweeeze!

Sketch of smiling australian shepherd