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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+8
Dogs
# The Belgian Tervuren: temperament, price, health, and breeders
Belgium
An elegant, vigilant and tireless Belgian Shepherd, as gifted for work as he is devoted to his family.
Size LargeLife expectancy 10–12 yearsBudget ≈ €110/monthPuppy €600 – €1,000
[Find a breeder 52](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Good
Daily exercise needs Very high
Apartment living Good
First-time owners Good
Other pets Fair
Tolerance of being alone Fair
Guarding instinct Excellent
Strengths and weaknesses
- Remarkable intelligence: He learns quickly and excels in disciplines that require thinking and cooperation.
- Great versatility: He proves effective in guarding, search, herding work and dog sports.
- Family loyalty: Very attached to his owner, he forms a close bond with his household.
- Endurance: His energy and stamina make him an excellent partner for sporty people.
- High activity needs: Inactivity and lack of stimulation can lead to frustration and undesirable behaviors.
- High sensitivity: Harsh or inconsistent training may undermine its confidence and balance.
- Strong protective instinct: Insufficient socialization can increase its distrust of strangers.
- Heavy shedding: Hair loss becomes significant twice a year and requires increased brushing.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Active and sporty people: He readily accompanies long outings, jogging and sustained canine activities.
- Dog sports enthusiasts: His intelligence and dynamism are particularly suited to agility, obedience and tracking.
- Available and consistent owners: He thrives with a person who offers him work, presence and positive training.
- Experienced families: Well socialized, he can become a close and protective companion for the whole household.
Not recommended for
- Very sedentary households: Its daily need for exercise and stimulation is incompatible with a low-activity pace.
- People often absent: Very attached to its owner, it copes poorly with long periods of inactivity and isolation.
- Owners looking for a low-maintenance dog: Its training, mental stimulation, and coat care require regular commitment.
- Coercive training: Its great sensitivity makes harsh methods particularly unsuitable.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
61 cmBelgian Tervuren
- Height at the withers
- 56–66 cm
- Weight
- 20–30 kg
- Coat
- Long, dense
- FCI group
- 1
- Origin
- Belgium
- Grooming
- High-maintenance coat
## Photos and videos
See the Belgian Tervuren in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The Belgian Tervueren Shepherd takes its name from the Belgian village of Tervueren, today located in the province of Flemish Brabant. The variety is said to have appeared in the 19th century, probably from a fawn herding dog crossed with a black Groenendael. First used for driving and guarding herds, it then demonstrated its abilities in protection, security, search, dog sports and shows. The Belgian Shepherd Dog, of which the Tervueren is one of the four varieties along with the Malinois, the Groenendael and the Laekenois, was definitively recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale on 1 January 1956.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
The Belgian Shepherd Tervueren is a medium-lined dog, harmonious and able to be inscribed in a square, whose construction combines power and elegance without heaviness. Its long, dry and straight head is carried high, with a rather flat forehead, a moderate stop, a black nose and dark brown slightly almond-shaped eyes. Its small triangular ears are set high and erect. The back is straight and muscular, the chest well let down and the croup very slightly sloping. Its tail of medium length hangs at rest and is raised in action. Its fawn coat, long, dense and close, forms a ruff around the neck and develops on the forechest, the back of the thighs and the tail; a woolly undercoat reinforces its protection against bad weather.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
Active, vigilant, observant and extremely intelligent, the Belgian Tervueren Shepherd is a versatile, loyal dog and very attached to its owner. It excels in guarding, defense, search, herding work and sporting disciplines. Affectionate with its family and generally patient with children, it retains a strong protective instinct and may be reserved, possessive or reactive towards strangers. Its great sensitivity requires a stable and respectful relationship.
Affectionate Playful Intelligent Protective
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
Always ready to act, the Tervueren does not tolerate prolonged inactivity well. It needs long daily outings, sustained exercise and varied mental stimulation. It enjoys jogging, agility, obedience and search activities. A house with a large, well-fenced garden suits it particularly well, but apartment living remains possible if its physical and intellectual needs are fully met. Its cohabitation with other animals is best prepared through early socialization.
Training
## Training and socialization
The Belgian Tervueren Shepherd learns quickly and readily seeks to please, but its intelligence, sensitivity and a certain tenacity require consistent training. A firm, gentle and positive method is essential, as brutality risks breaking its trust. Socialization must start early and continue regularly. Short, varied and stimulating sessions prevent boredom and help channel its energy, its guarding instinct and its tendency to test limits.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Belgian Tervuren
The purchase price varies according to the quality of the bloodline, the pedigree, the health screenings carried out, the reputation of the breeding kennel, the dog's age and its intended purpose as a companion, sport dog or show dog.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
The Belgian Tervueren Shepherd is generally robust and resilient. Its abundant coat and undercoat provide it with good protection against cold and bad weather. Serious selection and regular veterinary follow-up remain important due to known predispositions, notably joint, neurological and endocrine.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The Belgian Shepherd Tervueren needs a complete, digestible diet rich in quality animal proteins, with an energy intake adjusted to its often high activity. The ration must maintain its musculature without promoting excessive weight gain.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
The Tervueren is one of the four varieties of the Belgian Shepherd Dog and is distinguished in particular by its long fawn coat. Its elegant coat makes it a dog noticed in shows, while its working abilities allow it to excel in agility, obedience, search and in protection missions. Despite its refined appearance, it remains above all an energetic, hardy shepherd deeply oriented toward action.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Belgian Tervuren
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Is the Belgian Tervuren suitable for a family with children?
It can be an affectionate and patient companion with children when it is well socialized and trained. However, its liveliness and protective instinct require supervision of interactions, especially with younger children.
### Can the Belgian Tervuren live in an apartment?
Yes, provided it gets long outings, vigorous exercise and mental activities every day. A house with a fenced garden is more comfortable, but the garden never replaces walks or shared work.
### Is the Tervuren easy to train?
Its intelligence and desire to cooperate make learning easier, but its sensitivity and tenacity require a consistent, gentle, firm and varied approach. Early socialization is essential.
### Does the Belgian Tervuren shed a lot?
It has two pronounced seasonal shedding periods during which hair loss is significant. Regular brushing, reinforced with a rake comb during shedding periods, helps maintain its coat.
## Find a Belgian Tervuren breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Belgian Tervuren breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
[Belgian Tervuren breeders in Occitanie9](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/occitanie) [Belgian Tervuren breeders in Hauts-de-France7](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/hauts-de-france) [Belgian Tervuren breeders in Grand Est6](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/grand-est) [Belgian Tervuren breeders in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté5](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/bourgogne-franche-comte) [Belgian Tervuren breeders in Nouvelle-Aquitaine5](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/nouvelle-aquitaine) [Belgian Tervuren breeders in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur4](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/provence-alpes-cote-dazur) [Belgian Tervuren breeders in Centre-Val de Loire3](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/centre-val-de-loire) [Belgian Tervuren breeders in Brittany3](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/brittany)
### Belgian Tervuren breeders by country
[52 breeders of Belgian Tervuren in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren) [35 breeders of Belgian Tervuren in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/germany) [8 breeders of Belgian Tervuren in Austria](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/austria) [8 breeders of Belgian Tervuren in Denmark](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/denmark) [5 breeders of Belgian Tervuren in the Netherlands](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/netherlands) [3 breeders of Belgian Tervuren in Belgium](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/belgium) [3 breeders of Belgian Tervuren in Switzerland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/switzerland) [2 breeders of Belgian Tervuren in Poland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/poland) [2 breeders of Belgian Tervuren in Spain](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/spain) [1 breeder of Belgian Tervuren in Croatia](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren/croatia)
[All breeders of Belgian Tervuren in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren)
## Ready to welcome a Belgian Tervuren?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-belgian-shepherd-dog-tervuren)
## Discover other breeds
[Belgian Shepherd Dog Groenendael
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/belgian-shepherd-dog-groenendael)
[Belgian Laekenois
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/belgian-shepherd-dog-laekenois)
[Belgian Malinois
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/belgian-malinois)
[German Shepherd Dog
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/german-shepherd-dog)
[White Swiss Shepherd Dog
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/white-swiss-shepherd-dog)
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