Sol (Terv), Saz (Laeken), Nix (Laeken), Riku (Laeken)
Belgian Laekenois
Pronounced "Lak-in-wah", this breed/variety (depending who you ask) is the rarest of the four Belgian Shepherd dogs, gaining full AKC recognition in 2020. The Laekenois sports a rough, tousled coat, making it a rustic all-purpose farm dog who can work comfortably in all weather conditions.
History
In September of 1891, the Belgian Shepherd Dog Club (Club du Chien de Berger Beige) was organized to investigate the characteristics of the native dogs in Belgium. They defined the consistent type of this native dog that was identical in body and temperament but differing in coat (color, texture and length).
During the early part of the twentieth century, the owners and breeders in Belgium urged the acceptance of additional varieties based on the color and regions of origin. The fawn rough haired varieties were given the name Laekenois (derived from the town of Laeken). The abilities of these dogs as intelligent and versatile workers soon gained popularity in other countries.
The Laekenois' original duty, in addition to guarding and tending the flock, was to guard linen drying in the fields. He was an enthusiast worker and a quick learner that made him a desirable choice for the task at hand. He was later called on to serve as a messenger dog during World War I and II. At this time his numbers were severely decreased. Many breeders worked very hard to restore this variety, while retaining the typical Belgian Shepherd Dog intelligence, type and structure. He is admired today for these attributes. He is still able to herd and guard his flock, and protect his people and their property. His ability to adapt to new situations and to respond to his master's commands makes him an alert, intelligent, inquisitive animal. He typically is reserved with strangers. (American Kennel Club, 2020)
Temperament
"The Belgian Laekenois should reflect the qualities of intelligence, courage, alertness and devotion to master. Protectiveness of the person and property of his master is added to his inherent aptitude as a guardian of flocks and fields. He should be watchful, attentive and always in motion when not under command. He should be observant and vigilant with strangers, but not apprehensive in his relationship with humans. He should not show fear or shyness nor viciousness by unwarranted or unprovoked attack. With those he knows well, he is most affectionate and friendly, zealous of their attention, and very possessive. Extreme shyness is not desirable in the Belgian Laekenois and should be severely penalized. Viciousness is a disqualification." (AKC Breed Standard, 2010)
As a behavior professional, allow me to break down the Laeken's temperament requirement. A dog that is often defined as protective or possessive colloquially can and does sometimes exhibit behaviors of aggression to ensure fulfillment of that task. To make it more clear, this willingness to defend their family, flock, and property can make for a stable and valuable protection dog if given an abundance of structured exercises that give the dog clear context to what is and is not a threat. If this is not clearly defined by his handler, the Laekenois is forced to make that discernment on his own - which will almost always be wrong. Breeding dogs that are self-confident and unbothered by non-threats is very important for the success of our breeding programs. Well bred dogs must also be raised with thoughtful early social development protocols so puppy buyers have a head start. Puppy buyers must then commit to educating themselves on dog behavior and how to build the behaviors they want in their companion throughout their first year as this time is crucial. Even well bred dogs with a predisposition to proper temperament can develop shyness or aggression if not given sufficient, positive exposure to a multitude of environments, people, and animals. Laekens form tight bonds with the people in their inner circle and they are eager to perform and engage with them.
What I want interested buyers to Understand
The Belgian Laekenois is not an easy plug-and-play dog. This is NOT a Golden Retriever. They do not, without work, frolic up to new people desiring friendship. They require a lot of thoughtful behavior work. If you have a good genetic foundation and you put excellent work in, you can have an exceptionally stable dog that is safe and at ease around people and animals. For this reason, they do not generally make for a sound choice for a new dog owner with minimal experience.
On this note, Laeken puppies are not available before 16 weeks so that I may ensure my puppy buyers are acquiring a solid foundation in environmental exposure and social skills with a variety of different types of people (age, gender, race, etc). All puppies will be aptitude tested so should you want to do a type of sport with your pup, I can guide you in which pup best suits your needs and introduce concepts to your pup if you want. If you desire to show your pup, I will recommend which pups structurally check all the blocks (or at least share with you their faults so you are prepared in the long run). This is an assessment of course, and puppies change significantly throughout their first year. Congrats! Your puppy will have started crate training, potty training, off-leash recall, had multiple vet visits, and done cooperative care exercises.
The Belgian Laekenois has a harsh coat that is relatively wash and wear. Until it starts to part and shed the top layer, which they might do once or twice per year. When the coat is ready, many of us hand strip the coat - especially if we want to prepare the coat for a show in upcoming months. If you aren't experienced in grooming or stripping, hand-stripping a large breed dog sucks. If you make friends in the rough coated breed community, they are usually happy to assist in educating with coat care.
The Belgian Laekenois can and in many cases does excel in bite sports. However, most state-side breeders do not compete in bite sports with their dogs and therefore are not deliberately producing puppies for this purpose. If you are looking for a bite sport prospect, my advice is to locate and connect with Laeken owners here in the States that are training and competing with their dogs and ask where theirs came from. Its not a 100% solution, but it gets you closer to your goal. Alternatively you could bite the bullet and buy a puppy that comes from stable, accomplished (in other sports) parents and try your luck in bite sports. You'll find most of the bite sport Laeken owners in the US were wingin' it as it pertains to buying pups from non-bite-sport parents and came out with very capable dogs.
If you are buying a puppy from me, I require that all my puppies title in *something*. If the dog show life is just not for you, that's okay - but I want to see every dog from my kennel accomplish something. If your dog likes to swim and fetch, hit the dock five times with qualifying jumps and boom - dock diving title. If you and your dog have nice obedience, get in the rally ring three times with a passing score of 70 or above? Easy Rally Title. Your dog lights up when something zips around really fast - easy Fast Cat title. Herding? Of course.