Belgian Shepherd Laekenois

One of several Belgian Shepherd breeds, the Belgian Laekenois is defined by its rough and coarse coat. These elegant shepherd dogs, the rarest of the four varieties, were kept in Belgium as flock protectors thanks to their ability to learn quickly and adapt. They are natural watchdogs, alert and ready to go at the slightest noise or movement.

Belgian Shepherd Laekenois Breed Overview

Like other Shepherds, the Belgian Shepherd Laekenois was bred to work. They are independent thinkers who are eager to please their owners and will do what it takes to protect their flock. Loving, loyal, and outgoing around those they know, they can be reserved around strangers due to their instincts to guard. They are sometimes referred to as the “soft” Belgian Shepherd breed, as they are more cuddly than the other three (the Groenendael, Tervuren, and Malinois). The Laekenois has a somewhat regal air to them, thanks in part to their association with Queen Marie Henriette of Belgium, a 19th-century royal. The breed’s name comes from her favorite residence, Château de Laeken. There, the dogs served as guard dogs, even protecting the linen line-drying in the fields. During both World Wars, they were on active duty, serving as messenger dogs. It is a relatively rare dog in the U.S., with only a few hundred registered. 

Belgian Shepherd Laekenois Facts

• The rarest of the four Belgian Shepherd breeds
• Named after Queen Marie Henriette of Belgium’s favorite palace, Château de Laeken
• Known as the most cuddly of the Belgian Shepherds
• Their distinctive coat is rough and coarse.
• They served as messenger dogs in World War I and World War II.
• The breed is also known as Laekense and Chien de Berger Belge.

How to Care for Your Belgian Shepherd Laekenois

Here’s what you need to know about caring for your Belgian Shepherd Laekenois dog, including nutrition and feeding, health and wellness, grooming and hygiene, and living with the breed.

Nutrition & Feeding

What to Feed a Belgian Shepherd Laekenois

These dogs are highly active and need dog food with high-quality protein, moderate carbohydrates, and good, healthy fats for a balanced diet. Purina Pro Plan Large Breed food is a good food to meet their calorie needs. Extremely active dogs might benefit from a more tailored food, such as Purina Pro Plan Sport formulas.

How Much to Feed a Belgian Shepherd Laekenois

A Belgian Shepherd Lakenois will need to eat over two scheduled feedings to help with digestion and to maintain energy. Consult your vet or the food label to find out how much to feed them per meal. If your dog is highly active, older, a puppy, or if you just want the most accurate food amount possible, use the Purina Feeding Calculator. It can generate an accurate amount of food based on caloric need, activity level, stage of life, type of food, and other factors.

Treats & Supplements

High-protein, low-calorie dog treats can be used in conjunction with positive reinforcement training methods. Weight management will be important as your dog ages. As such, treats should not account for more than 10% of their daily calories. You can also consult your vet about supplements, something they may or may not recommend based on your individual dog. They could recommend things like fatty acids for skin and coat health and inflammation, glucosamine for joint health, or probiotics for digestion.

Health & Wellness

Veterinary Care

Part of responsible dog ownership is establishing a vet for regular checkups. You can discuss things like parasite prevention, vaccine schedules, and dental care with them, as well as spaying or neutering your dog. Belgian Shepherd Laekenois dogs can also have some conditions that might need further attention from your vet, such as hip dysplasia, joint issues, eye issues like progressive retinal atrophy, or epilepsy.

Belgian Shepherd Laekenois Enrichment & Exercise Needs:

Bred to patrol, the Belgian Shepherd Laekenois has high energy release needs. They enjoy intense leash walks, free running, hiking, swimming, agility training, dock diving, tracking, herding trials, and other activities that combine mental and physical stimulation. Indoors, keep their minds sharp and active with things like puzzle toys, scent games, and trick training. Without enough mental stimulation, these dogs can become bored and develop behavioral issues, such as separation anxiety, chewing, and excessive barking.

Understanding Your Belgian Shepherd Laekenois’s Behavior

These natural herders will want to satisfy this instinct, which could mean they nip at people’s heels trying to corral them (especially children). Prevent this by giving them outlets to practice herding, such as with herding balls. Excessive barking can happen when they are stressed from a lack of stimulation, or just because they have been bred to bark to alert when strangers are around. Be sure to keep this in mind when considering living arrangements, and block them from accessing doors, windows, or fences where people might pass by constantly. A lack of stimulation can lead to boredom, which then leads to destructive behavior. Be sure to keep them stimulated and satisfied so they are well mannered. The breed can suffer from separation anxiety, so don’t leave them alone for too long, and if you do have to leave, make sure you have properly stimulated them.

What to Expect as Your Belgian Shepherd Laekenois Ages

A healthy Belgian Shepherd Laekenois can live to be 12 to 14 years old if well taken care of. They’ll naturally slow down as they age, so look to switch them to a senior dog food when your vet recommends doing so. Formulas tailored to senior dogs have ingredients that help with things like joint health and mental clarity. Weight management will also be important as they age, something you can discuss with your vet.

Grooming & Hygiene

Skin & Coat Health

The coarse coat of the Belgian Lakenois is a double coat, protecting them from weather and harsh conditions. It needs regular brushing as part of a grooming routine to remove loose and dead hairs, and you may or may not need to hand-strip the coat or call a groomer for help one to two times a year to allow the new coat to come in. They do shed seasonally, but it’s not nearly as bad as other Shepherd breeds. Bathe them only when they are dirty to protect their skin.

Ear, Paw & Dental Care

Check your dog’s ears regularly for signs of infection, such as redness and discharge, and clean them with vet-approved wipes. Because these dogs spend a lot of time outdoors, check their paw pads for any signs of scrapes, cuts, or other irritations regularly. Their nails should be trimmed if they are not worn down naturally to prevent painful splitting and cracking, which can affect their gait. Dental care should be part of routine care for your Belgian Laekenois, as gum disease can shorten a dog’s life. Brush their teeth regularly and offer dental chews if appropriate.

Anal Gland Care

Your Belgian Shepherd Laekenois dog should be able to express their anal glands naturally. If they can’t, a blockage can form, causing an impaction, and if not fixed, this can lead to an abscess, which will require veterinary care. You’ll know they’re having issues if they are straining to go to the bathroom, scooting, licking their behinds excessively, or emitting a foul-smelling odor.

Living With a Belgian Shepherd Laekenois

Living Space

While these dogs do well indoors, their hearts belong outside. They need ample space to roam, preferably in a suburban or rural area with a well-secured fence. They will naturally want to patrol, so keep that in mind when exposing them to delivery people or passersby. Even well-trained Laekenois are prone to barking – it’s in their nature. This is something to keep in mind if you live in close proximity to someone else.

Socialization

These dogs make good family dogs for the right owner. They benefit from experienced owners who understand their motivations and who can cater to their exercise needs. Socialization will help them greatly with getting used to unfamiliar people and places, but keep in mind that it’s in their DNA to be suspicious of others. Introduce it early and practice it often. While they can do well with families with children, they do best with families with older children or no children who can really devote time and attention to training and stimulating these dogs.

Climate Considerations

Their distinctive wiry double coats provide protection and insulation. They do well in moderate to colder climates thanks to their coats, and they can get by in warmer temperatures with enough shade and water for a short period. You should try to exercise these dogs in the coolest parts of the day if you live in a warm area. No dog should be left out in extreme weather of any kind.

Potential Challenges

These rare but loving and loyal dogs are bright, adaptable, and eager to work. However, they need a lot of stimulation and owner leadership to be well mannered and well behaved. Owners will need to be able to work in a lot of exercise and mental challenges throughout the day for them to use their brains and keep them happy, and not leave them alone for too long, as they can have separation anxiety that leads to destructive behavior. They enjoy life outdoors and prefer to have a lot of space to roam and patrol, although you’ll need to make sure that they’re not disrupting the peace due to excessive barking.  

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