The Belgian Tervuren is one of four breeds that, in Europe, is referred to as the Belgian Shepherd. Here in American, we’ve separated the breeds and because of this, there are distinct differences in temperament and personality between them. Today we’re going to focus on the Tervuren. The Terv – is he is affectionately called – is a breed suited to many different working tasks.
High stamina, sharp intellect and great dexterity make this breed as great at herding (one of its original purposes) as well as many other jobs. Tervs often score high in obedience and tracking competitions, but have known to do well in a great number of other dog sports. Other sports to try include schutzhund, agility, conformation, rally, therapy work and flyball. Some have even been known to pull sleds!
They are very highly trainable and have a lot of energy, which makes them great for people looking for a dog to put a lot of time into… but not so great for a first-time dog owner. Novice owners should also be aware that although Tervurens are very intelligent and willing to please, they can also be independent thinkers and sensitive to corrections. The fine-tuning that needs to be applied to training is best done by someone with prior experience in training dogs. There can be variations in the temperament of the Tervuren, with some being very active and having high drive, and others being more relaxed and calm. They should never be shy or aggressive. On the whole, however, most are very responsive to their owners while being both perceptive and sensitive to changes in the world around them. Many can be quite demanding of attention at times. This can be both good and bad. Good because this makes them ideal for training, but bad because this can also make them pushy. It’s important to find a balance wherein you give your dog the attention he is asking for through obedience… while also teaching him that YOU are the one that ultimately makes the decisions about when to train.
Tervurens are very loyal to their families and may take it upon themselves to watch over those who they care about. Those with the right dispositions can become guard dogs. In Belgium, they are used as police dogs! They are naturally suspicious of strangers and may be aloof until they get to know the person. Tervs get along very well with children, and will watch and protect them in the same way that they watch and protect older members of their family. As with all herding breeds, be aware that they may also try to herd your children.
It is important to give your Tervuren the exercise he needs – both physical as well as mental – so that he doesn’t become bored and destructive. While some can adjust to being apartment dogs, those that do are either older in age, naturally on the more mellow side, or are given a lot of exercise multiple times a day. Generally it is not recommended to have a Terv if you live in an apartment.
“Belgian Shepherd Tervuren running” by Cwazi at the Dutch language Wikipedia.