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Belgian Sheepdog Did You Know?
- The Belgian Sheepdog is known as the Groenendael, or Chien de Berger Belge
in most parts of the world.
- The Belgian Sheepdog has its origin in the late 1800's when it was
listed as the Chien de Berger de Races Continentales (Continental Shepherds),
a group that includes GSD's, Hollander Herders, Beauceron, Bouviers,
and Briards.
- In the late 1800's, efforts were made to propagate a "Belgian breed"
for nationalistic purposes, resulting in the Club du Chien de Berger Belge
(Belgian Shepherd Club), a group that eventually fostered the rise of the
Belgian Sheepdog.
- The longhaired black Belgian Shepherds primarily owe their existence
to Nicolas Rose, who purchased what are considered to be the foundation
couple of the Belgian Sheepdog.
- During WWI, Belgian Sheepdogs distinguished themselves on the battlefields,
serving as message carriers, ambulance dogs, and even pulling machine guns.
- The Great Depression had a marked effect on the Belgian Sheepdog, which
had previously risen to great popularity in the US and elsewhere. However,
they rose back to fame post-WWII, when it was decided that only the Groenendael
type could be registered as a Belgian Sheepdog - not any Belgian Shepherd
- a rule that took effect in 1956.
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