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CLEAR ALLNative to Belgium, Belgian Shepherds were primarily bred as working canine companions. There are four kinds of Belgian Shepherds in existence today, all named after the regions in which they were first produced. One of these is known as the Laekenois (pronounced Lak-in-wah). All four breeds are very similar in temperament but the Laekenois has a unique rough, tousled coat. It is named after the town of Laeken where it first originated and is the rarest of the Belgian Shepherd breeds, especially outside of their native Belgian. However, they are steadily becoming known for their loyal, reliable natures and keen, alert appearance.
Laekenois, as well as the other Belgian breeds, are highly intelligent. They are also known to be very sensitive to everything going on around them, making them relatively easy to train in the right hands. These are loving, devoted dogs that form strong bonds with their families, including children, because of their intense protective instincts. So, they can make wonderful family companions as long as you have the time and understanding to devote to the unique mental and physical needs. Their training and socialisation should start as early as possible to get the most out of this breed. Regular involvement in canine sporting events will also help to keep their minds and bodies sharp and stave off boredom. These dogs are not best suited to first-time dog owners because they are known to be able to display their dominant side or even outsmart their owners if training does not remain consistent.
If you are looking for an active, independent thinker with a strong desire to protect you and your family, then the Laekenois could be the breed for you.
Native to Belgium, Belgian Shepherds were primarily bred as working canine companions. There are four kinds of Belgian Shepherds in existence today, all named after the regions in which they were first produced. One of these is known as the Laekenois (pronounced Lak-in-wah). All four breeds are very similar in temperament but the Laekenois has a unique rough, tousled coat. It is named after the town of Laeken where it first originated and is the rarest of the Belgian Shepherd breeds, especially outside of their native Belgian. However, they are steadily becoming known for their loyal, reliable natures and keen, alert appearance.
Laekenois, as well as the other Belgian breeds, are highly intelligent. They are also known to be very sensitive to everything going on around them, making them relatively easy to train in the right hands. These are loving, devoted dogs that form strong bonds with their families, including children, because of their intense protective instincts. So, they can make wonderful family companions as long as you have the time and understanding to devote to the unique mental and physical needs. Their training and socialisation should start as early as possible to get the most out of this breed. Regular involvement in canine sporting events will also help to keep their minds and bodies sharp and stave off boredom. These dogs are not best suited to first-time dog owners because they are known to be able to display their dominant side or even outsmart their owners if training does not remain consistent.
If you are looking for an active, independent thinker with a strong desire to protect you and your family, then the Laekenois could be the breed for you.
Belgian Laekenois are medium-sized dogs, standing between 56 and 66 cm tall and weighing 25 and 30 kg. They have powerful yet sophisticated bodies with deep chests, well-sprung ribs, and muscular legs. They have equally robust upper bodies, including oblique shoulder blades and arched solid necks.
Laekenois have broad, lean heads with well-chiselled features and triangular pointy ears. Their almond-shaped eyes are dark brown with black rims, giving an intelligent yet curious expression.
The most distinctive feature of the Laekenois is its wiry and harsh coat, which makes them look less elegant than the other Belgian Shepherd varieties (but no less adorable). The fur is relatively long and consistent ( around 6 cm all over the body), but it can be slightly shorter on the muzzle, forehead, and legs.
The most prominent Belgian Laekenois coat colouring is reddish-fawn with black shading around the tail and muzzle. However, light fawn and even grey are possibilities, both of which also have black markings.
Like all Belgian Shepherds, the Laekenois are known for their high energy and intelligence. They require constant stimulation to stay happy, ideally through activities that involve helping their owner or playing outside. They excel in agility courses and flyball and enjoy long walks in nature and interactive games.
As inside/outside dogs, Laekenois need to live in a place with access to an enclosed garden and ample space. They are not suited for apartment living but will thrive in a country home. They are also best suited to people with previous experience with dogs, as their needs make them fairly high maintenance.
Belgian Laekenois require frequent human interaction and can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long. Their protective nature can also make them wary of strangers. Still, they do not attack without reason and will simply keep their distance to observe and assess the situation.
With frequent interaction and exercise, the positive side of a Belgian Laekenois personality will shine through. These dogs take wonderful care of their owners and will make you feel safe and cherished, and as they don’t like to leave your side, you’ll never feel lonely.
A Belgian Laekenois will thrive in a home with a garden where they can have off-leash exercises. However, having a securely fenced garden is crucial as these dogs have a strong chase instinct. They tend to go after moving objects, including wildlife, neighbourhood cats, and cyclists.
Belgian Laekenois also need an owner who has enough time for them. These dogs need a minimum of one hour of daily activity, divided into two or three play sessions or short walks.
The Belgian Laekenois is best suited for active, outdoorsy people or families with a high-energy environment. They get along well with children, but training is necessary due to their dominant behaviours and herding instinct. It's worth noting that their energy and personality are better matched with older children than younger ones.
Belgian Tervurens can live harmoniously with other dogs if they grow up together from puppyhood. However, they can be suspicious or even aggressive towards unfamiliar dogs. This makes introducing them to another canine as an adult challenging but not impossible.
Their stories
We love happy endings. Discover stories of pets who found their beloved family with the help of The Pedigree Paws <3.
Neo
Russian Blue
We had some concerns purchasing a kitten online but our experience with The Pedigree Paws was great. They connected us with Caroline, the Russian Blue breeder and we had many conversations and received multiple pictures and videos. She answered to all our questions.
The Pedigree Paws verified for us all the vaccinations and health checks to make sure our new kitten was 100% healthy.
Thank you for all your help The Pedigree Paws! Highly recommended!
Jack
Miniature Dachshund
One of the reasons I was hesitant to order a puppy from The Pedigree Paws is because I live in Spain. However they connected me with a very good FCI breeder in Barcelona.
He showed me all the health documents of both parents, their pedigree and answer to all my questions. I am so happy they helped me to find a healthy puppy as finding one by myself was very overwhelming. Contacting The Pedigree Paws was the best decision and I highly recommend them to everybody!
Stitch
Chartreux
From the kittens's selection to the arrival of our Chartreux kitten, The Pedigree Paws was there to assist us. We had great experience with them, and they breeder Alexandra from France with whom they connected us and from whom we got our kitten from. They are very prompt in answering our initial and follow-up questions while our kitten was in transit. Very reliable and trustworthy!
Thank you so much for all your help. We are very happy with our new family member. We will definitely recommend it to all our friends.
Athena
Chihuahua
It's been a few months since we decided to find a Chihuahua puppy to join our family, however we had issues finding a good breeder.
We contacted The Pedigree Paws and they connected us with a very unique breeder in Greece. Many videos and pictures were shown, the breeder shared with us the proof of vaccinations, deworming and her 5 generation pedigree. We were fortunate as George, the breeder was able to deliver the puppy to us personally. We are very pleased with our beautiful Athena. Thank you, The Pedigree Paws, for being truthful and transparent.
Thor
Abyssinian
I feel wonderful having help from The Pedigree Paws finding the dream Abyssinian kitten I was looking for. Thor is the absolute dream! The Pedigree Paws team was really patient and responsible in everything. Lovely experience! They replied to every questions, requirements, and information I ask about the kitten.
Fin
Chihuahua
Thank you for finding for me such a beautiful Chihuahua puppy! I love him so much from the minute I saw him. He changed my world.
Kate, from The Pedigree Paws assisted me through the whole process informing me about everything from health checks to arranging a Pet Nanny to transport Fin directly to my door. So thankful that the experience went so well! I love my Fin.
Emi
Ragdoll
I have always wanted a Ragdoll kitten as it was my dream cat breed, but didnt know how to find one as heard a lot about kitten farms and bad breeders. I reached out to The Pedigree Paws and they were very accommodating and transparent from the start. They offered me few kittens from their list of breeders and when I saw Emi I knew she was the one! We went through the kitten's parents DNA testing as for me that was a priority to have a kitten free from genetic disorders. We sealed the deal and now I have the best kitten I could dream of! Thank you very much for all your help
Shima
Russian Blue
I really wanted a Russian Blue kitten, but was very nervous getting one after reading horror stories about scammers on the Internet. I had my first call with Natalia, from The Pedigree Paws and with her help I was able to connect with the breeder, that I knew I could trust. I am very lucky to have now Shima, she is an absolute joy to live with.
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