How to Identify a Belgian Tervuren

The Belgian Tervuren is a member of the herding group, and one of four dogs that are native to Belgium (Laekenois, Malinois, and Sheepdog are the other three). [1] Although the Belgian Tervuren has some similarities to other dog breeds, it has some unique characteristics as well. This wikiHow will help you with figuring out whether or not a dog is a Belgian Tervuren.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Looking at the Body Structure

  1. Step 1 Identify the dog's size.
    Male Belgian Tervuren are generally anywhere from 24–26 inches (61–66 cm) tall, and they weigh between 55–75 pounds (880–1,200 oz). Female Belgian Tervuren are usually a little smaller, being anywhere from 22–24 inches (56–61 cm) tall, and weighing somewhere between 45–60 pounds (720–960 oz). [2]
  2. Step 2 Examine the dog's head.
    Belgian Tervuren have a head that is long without any exaggeration, that is well-defined with taut skin. Its skull and muzzle are both of equal size.[3]
  3. Step 3 Take note of the dog's ears.
    The ears of a Belgian Tervuren are triangular, stiff, erect, and set high on the head, with the ear base not coming below the center of its eye. [4]
  4. Step 4 Look at the dog's eyes.
    Belgian Tervuren have non-protruding, slightly almond-shaped eyes, that are dark brown. [5]
  5. Step 5 Examine the dog's nose.
    Belgian Tervuren have nostrils that are well-defined, and their nose is usually black, and does not have any spots or discoloration. [6]
  6. Step 6 Notice the dog's tail.
    Belgian Tervuren have a tail with a strong base, that is held low at rest. When the dog is not at rest, its tail may be raised to a slight curve, but it generally should not form a hook shape. [7]
  7. Step 7 Take a look at the dog's overall body structure.
    Overall, Belgian Tervuren should appear well-balanced, and they should stand squarely on all four legs. Their gait is overall graceful and lively, showing ease in its movements. [8]
    • As opposed to a straight line, Belgian Tervuren may move in a circle. [9]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Examining the Coat

  1. Step 1 Understand what color Belgian Tervuren are.
    The American Kennel Club standards state that Belgian Tervuren should ideally be anywhere from a fawn to mahogany color, with black as an overlay. The coat is also double-pigmented, with black usually at the tips of fawn-colored hairs. The black should not be in patches, and the only place you may see white coloring is in the dog's sternum and chest area, and even then, it’s usually not very much. [10]
    • Typically, the coat of Belgian Tervuren tends to become darker as the dog gets older. [11]
  2. Step 2 Look for ornamentation.
    This is longer than normal, and more abundant hair, in a collar-like shape around the neck, going down the forearm, and on the tail. [12]
    • Females are a lot less likely to have ornamentation on their coats than males. [13]
  3. Step 3 Take a look at the appearance of the dog's coat.
    Belgian Tervuren have guard hairs, as well as an undercoat. The guard hairs are long, straight and abundant (not wavy or silky). Meanwhile, the undercoat is dense (dependent on weather-Belgian Tervuren are very adaptable to weather conditions). Tufts of hair are found by the ears, and the hair is shorter on the head, and the front parts of the legs. [14]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Noticing the Dog’s Temperament

  1. Step 1 See if the dog is energetic.
    Belgian Tervuren are very energetic dogs, and as such, they need a lot of activity[15] (such as going for a run, games of fetch, regular walks, etc.).
  2. Step 2 Notice protectiveness.
    Belgian Tervuren are known to be protective of their family. As a result, they may occasionally be suspicious towards those who are not members of their family, especially if they aren’t socialized properly from an early age. [16]
  3. Step 3 Look for alertness.
    In addition to being energetic and protective, Belgian Tervuren are also alert. They are known to be able to sense new and unfamiliar things in their environment (and will likely bark to alert you of these things). [17]
  4. Step 4 Figure out if the dog is affectionate.
    If the Belgian Tervuren knows someone well, then they will likely show affection towards them. [18]
  5. Step 5 See if the dog is intelligent.
    Belgian Tervuren are overall very intelligent dogs, and can learn a variety of new tasks relatively quickly. [19]
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Tips

  • If you’d like to figure out whether or not your dog is truly a Belgian Tervuren, then consider a dog DNA test. This can help confirm whether your dog is indeed a Belgian Tervuren.
    Thanks
  • You may hear Belgian Tervuren referred to as “Tervs” or “Tervurens”.
    Thanks
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/belgian-tervuren/
  2. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/belgian-tervuren/
  3. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  4. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  5. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  6. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  7. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  8. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  9. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  1. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  2. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  3. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  4. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  5. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  6. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/belgian-tervuren-temperament/
  7. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/belgian-tervuren-temperament/
  8. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/belgian-tervuren-temperament/
  9. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf
  10. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BelgianTervuren.pdf

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