No, that’s not a misspelling. The Belgian Laekenois (pronounced Lak-in-wah) is actually the forth of the Belgian Shepherd breeds, and the only one that has yet to be fully recognized by the AKC. Like his cousins, the Laeken is attentive, loving and quite clever when he wants to be. One of the biggest differences is his coat, which is hard and wiry (and definitely not non-shedding). This large herding breed is capable of working hard and has both the physical and mental attributes to excel in numerous types of jobs and dog sports.
Laekenois are protective dogs, capable of guarding both property as well as people. Not only were these fearless dogs bred to herd flocks of sheep, but were also tasked with guarding them as well as guarding linens that would be set out to dry in the fields. Guarding is in their blood, and it’s a job that they take very seriously. When it comes to strangers, while they can be friendly towards those who they already know, they will regard strangers with a watchful eye. At the home, they will bark to alert when someone comes to the door, and stay close to make sure the person is “ok to enter”.
Energetic and full of vigor, the Belgian Laekenois needs to be exercised every day in order to remain happy. This is absolutely not a dog who can be left in the yard all day by himself, unless the owner doesn’t care about coming home to destruction! Walks are ok, but biking or jogging with the dog is a much better way to expend the energy of this breed. He is also not a dog that will adapt well to a home in which he is not given a job. Mental activity is just as important, if not more so! This breed works best with those who can dedicate lots of time to working one-on-one with the dog on a very consistent basis.
Because of his desire for a job, the Belgian Laekenois tends to take very well to obedience training. He learns quickly and wants to please! Furthermore, his playful nature means that when learning is made into a game, he enjoys it even more. Dog sports such as flyball, rally, tracking, agility, herding – and of course obedience, are all great ways to funnel his mental energy! Make sure to never use overly harsh corrections in training, however, as this breed can be sensitive.
Laekenois, as a breed, don’t tend to do well living in apartment situations. For one thing, they can be big barkers which is often bothersome to people sharing the same wall. But mostly their high exercise requirements makes it hard for them to handle living in small spaces unless they are taken out and exercised constantly. Neither does the breed do well when living in with a large, unfenced area or within the confines of an electric fence, so country-dwellers must also consider their living spaces when deciding about obtaining one. They can tend to roam, and many will not be deterred by a fence that isn’t solid wood or chain link.
Belgian Laekenois tend to get along with children and are often just as devoted to them as they are the rest of the family. Their confident and calm temperament lends itself well to kids, although their energy and tendency to herd children means that they often do better with older kids rather than very young ones. Care must also be taken to make sure they don’t become overly possessive. The breed does best when they are raised and socialized with children from a young age vs. being suddenly thrust into life with a child when they are much older.
With animals, some Laekenois get along just fine with cats while others really cannot live with them at all. This has to do with their high instinct to chase and herd small animals. The higher these drives, the more difficulty an owner will have. Indoor cats will fare better with a Laeken around than an indoor-outdoor cat, but it’s still important to know the dog and ideally raise the dog from puppyhood with the feline family member.
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