The Offical FCI Breed Standard for Belgian Shepherds (Tervueren) contrasted with the AKC (American Kennel Club) and KC (The Kennel Club - United Kingdom) regulations.

I have tried to list the breed standard of the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale), the AKC (American Kennel Club) and the KC (The Kennel Club - United Kingdom).
The breed standard by the FCI is printed in blue like the rest of this page. Where appropriate I will add notes in green to point out differences between the FCI standard and the AKC standard. Alterations between the British and the FCI standard will be printed in purple. If no special note is added to the FCI breed standard list the AKC and/or KC have essentially identical criterea in their respective standards
I will not compare the AKC and KC standards!

Index

This is intended to help navigation within this document:

  1. Date of publication of this version of the Breed Standard
  2. Country of origin
  3. Original name
  4. original utility
  5. FCI classification
  6. a very brief history
  7. General Appearance
  8. Proportions
  9. Temprament
  10. Head
  11. Face
  12. Neck
  13. Body
  14. Tail
  15. Limbs
  16. Movment and Gait
  17. Skin
  18. Testicles
  19. Hair and Coat
  20. Size, weight, other measurments
  21. Faults
  22. Disqualifying Faults


Date of this revised publication:
  • 22 June 2001
  • 7 January 2007 (AKC)
  • 12 May 2006 (KC)
Country of origin:
  • Belgium
Native (french) name:
  • Chien de Berger Belge
  • in english Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervueren)
  • AKC name: Belgian Tervuren (not Tervueren!)
  • Other varieties of Belgian Shepherds (not mentioned hereafter!); KC also acknowledges all four varieties as one breed with different coat
    1. Malinois (short haired; fawn)
    2. Lakenois (rough haired; fawn)
    3. Groendalen (long haired; black)
    4. Tervueren (long haired; fawn)
  • the AKC treats all of the varieties as individual breeds, hence this entire section does not exist in their standard. I will ONLY compare the FCI standard for the standard for "Belgian Tervuren"
Original and current use (and hence specialisation) of Tervueren:
  • originally a herding dog in Belgium
  • found to be an excellent guard dog (AKC does not emphsize this)
  • a sporting/working dog (tracking, obedience, etc) (AKC does not emphasize this)
  • a family dog (AKC does not emphasize this)
  • multi-purpose service dog (e.g. police, assistance dog for the physically or visually impaired,...)
  • KC gives "sheep dog" and "guard dog" as the only uses of the Tervueren
Categorization within the FCI:
  • Group 1 (Sheepdogs & Cattledogs; excluding Swiss Cattle Dogs)
  • Section 1 (Sheepdogs)
  • Working trial permission
  • Herding Group (AKC)
  • Working Trial permission (AKC)
  • Pastoral Group (KC)
A very brief history of the development of all Belgian Shepherd Dogs:
  • in the late 1800s some people interested in Belgian Shepherd dogs and their varieties contacted Prof. A. Reul of the Cureghem Veterinary Medical School in order to form a more uniform group of dogs
  • Belgian Shepherd Breed Club was found in 1891
  • dogs were gathered to develop a breeding program
  • first breed standard was published in 1892
  • by 1910 the breed was fairly firmly established and had a fairly unified appearance
  • while there has always been disagreement on colour and coat type within the founders of the breed there was never a serious disagreement on character, hence various colours came to be accepted
General Appearance:
  • mediolinear*, harmonious, proportions [*this means: medium, well-balanced proportions, no exaggerated proportions]
  • body expresses elegance & power; neither "spindly" nor "bulky" (AKC)
  • dry, strong muscles
  • square, rustic proportions blending into the belgian area of origin and being well adapted to its climate
  • these dogs carry their head high (unlike e.g. German Shepherds) and thereby have an aura of elegance and strength
  • Belgian Shepherds are to be judged and presented in their natural stance without interferance or positioning by the handler
  • depth & solidity without bulkiness (AKC)
  • stand squarely and firmly on all four feet (AKC)
  • breeding should prioritise the Tervuerens abilities as a herding dog in gait, bite, tempramnt and coat over any other goal (AKC)
Proportions:
  • Belgian Shepherds have Square proportions
  • Chest goes down to the elbows (not emphasized by AKC)
  • muzzle has approximately the same length as the head; slightly longer is acceptable, slightly shorter is not
Temprament and Behaviour:
  • watchful
  • active, lively
  • energetic
  • protective of home and owner (stubborn in this respect only)
  • self-confident
  • not timid or shy
  • not aggressive
  • temprament should be presented by body stance and expression
  • temprament should be included when judging this breed
  • signs of clear devotions to owner (AKC)
  • affectionate, friendly and flattering towards those the dogs knows well (AKC)
  • KC specifies temprament as "wary" towards strangers; neither timid, nervous nor aggressive
Head:
  • carried high
  • long but not exaggerated
  • well formed, dry
  • a slight bias towards muzzle permitted to accentuate the elegant shape
Cranial region:
  • medium width
  • proportionate to length of head
  • forehead flat, not round
  • frontal groove not very pronounced
  • paralell to muzzle line (when viewed in profile)
  • occipital crest very little developed
  • no brow ridges
  • zygomatic arched not prominent
  • Stop: moderate
Facial region:
  1. nose:
    • black
    • nostriles well defined (AKC)
  2. muzzle
    • elegantly chiselled
    • elongated wedge shaped
    • narrowing towards the nose
    • bridge of nose straight & continuation of topline
    • when mouth is open:
      • commissures (the place where the lips meet; the edged of the mouth) pulled right back
      • jaws are well apart
  3. lips
    • thin
    • tight
    • strongly pigmented (meaning very dark)
    • no pink visible when mouth is closed (AKC)
  4. Jaws/Teeth
    • strong white teeth (hm, why not green teeth? or orange?) (AKC regulation different - see below)
    • regularly set in strong & well-developed jaws
    • scissor bite; pincer bite is tolerated (it is preferred by herders)
    • complete dentition (absence of two premolars - P1 - and the molars 3 - M3 - are not taken into consideration) (AKC will judge any missing tooth as fault)
    • discoloured/stained teeth shall not be penalised (AKC)
    • broken/chipped teeth should not be penalised (AKC)
  5. Cheeks
    • dry, quite flat
    • well muscled
  6. Eyes
    • medium size
    • not protruding
    • not sunken in
    • slightly almond shaped
    • obliquely (slopingly) set
    • brown, preferably dark
    • black rimmed eyelids
    • direct, lively, intelligent, enquiring look
  7. Ears
    • rather small
    • set high
    • triangular
    • well rounded
    • pointed tips
    • stiff
    • carried upright
    • height is equal to width at base(AKC)
Neck:
  • standing out (AKC does not mention this); KC wants a "subtle, unobtrousive" neck
  • slightly elongated
  • rather upright
  • well-muscled
  • broadening towards shoulders
  • no dewlap (flap of skin hanging loosely under the chin, a bit like a "double chin" in humans)
  • nape (back of neck) slightly arched
Body:
  1. general:
    • powerful without being heavy
    • shoulder to croup approximetely same length as height at withers (point of intersection between neck and back)
  2. topline:
    • line between neck and loin is straight
  3. Withers (intersection of back and neck):
    • pronounced
  4. back:
    • firm
    • short
    • muscular
  5. loins:
    • solid
    • short
    • sufficiently broad
    • muscular
  6. croup:
    • well-muscled (AKC does not mention this)
    • only very slightly sloping (AKC does not mention this)
    • sufficiently broad but not excessive (now, that's a clear and simple definition - NOT) (AKC does not mention this)
    • medium long
    • sloping towards base of tail
    • straight and firm
  7. chest:
    • little broad but with good depth
    • upper part of ribs arched; AKC standard puts it like this which is almost identical but not quite: "ribs well sprung (arched) but flat on the side"
    • in frontview chest is neither wide nor excessively narrow (yet another ingenious and "unambigous" description)
    • forming a smooth curve towards the abdomen (AKC)
  8. underline:
    • rising gentely and harmonious from ribs to abdomen
    • neither drooping nor tucked up
    • slightly raised and moderately developed
Tail:
  • strong at base
  • medium length, reaching at least the hock (joint in hindlegs, looks like an inverted "knee") but preferably longer
  • more raised when moving but not raising up to a horizontal; (KC permits tip of tail to be raised above topline in movment)
  • curve at tip becomes more accentuated when tail is lifted but never forms a "hook" or deviation
  • tip to be slightly bent inwards (KC)
Limbs:
  1. Forequarters
    • General view:
      • solid but not heavy bones
      • dry, strong muscle
      • legs uprigt from all sides
      • legs parallel when viewed from front
    • Shoulder
      • shoulder blade long and oblique (sloping)
      • well attached
      • idealy forming an angle of 110-115° with the humerus (upper arm/front leg) (AKC different; see below); (KC does not specify an angle)
      • ideal angle of chest to front legs should be 90° (AKC)
    • Upper arm
      • long
      • sufficiently oblique (sloped)
    • Elbow
      • firm
      • not tucked in
      • not turned out
    • Forearm
      • long
      • straight
      • bone oval (AKC)
    • wrist/carpus
      • very firm
      • clean cut
    • front pastern (metacarpus)
      • strong
      • short
      • perpendicular to the ground
      • only very slightly sloped forward
    • feet
      • round (AKC different, see below)
      • cat-like
      • toes arched and well closed
      • pads thick and springy
      • nails dark and strong (AKC permits light and transparent toe nails)
      • feet slightly elongated = oval (AKC)
  2. Hindquarters
    • General
      • powerful
      • not heavy
      • hindlegs are upright
      • paralell when viewed from behind
      • bone oval, not round (AKC)
    • Upper thigh
      • medium length
      • broad
      • well muscled
    • Stiffle (like the "knee")
      • normal angulation (AKC calls this "90° angulation")
      • approximately at the plumb line of the hip
    • Lower thigh:
      • medium length
      • broad
      • muscular
    • Hock (the "ankle" like part)
      • close to the ground
      • broad and muscular
      • moderate angulation
    • Back pastern (metastartus) (="upper foot")
      • solid
      • short
      • dewclaw not desirable; AKC does not penalise dewclaws when removed surgically(KC identical)
    • Feet
      • may be slightly oval
      • toes arched & well closed (=close together)
      • pads thick & springy
      • nails dark and strong (AKC permits light and transparent toe nails)
Gait and Movment:
  • lively and free
  • limbs move parallel to the median plane of the body
  • trot reach is medium
  • movment easy and even
  • good drive by hindlegs
  • front lines not moved up too much
  • gait is fast, springy & lively
  • can easily change direction when running full speed
  • tendency to move in circle (due to herding and protection instincts)
  • KC lists only: brisk; free, even
Skin:
  • elastic
  • taut
  • edged of lips and eyelids strongly pigmented
Testicles (males only - obviously):
  • two apparently normal testicles
  • fully decended into the scrotum
Coat (Tervueren only!):
  1. Hair:
    • dense
    • close fitting
    • good texture
    • wooly undercoat (density of undercoat should correspond to climate condition in dogs home (AKC))
    • short at the head, back of ears (on the pinnae) and legs
    • rear side of front legs (from elbow to wrist) covered with feather like "fringes"
    • long, smooth hair
    • more abundant and thicker at the chest; in females this does not need to be pronounced (AKC)
    • forming a "collarette" (like a ruff) at the neck; in females this does not need to be pronounced (AKC)
    • ear opening protected by tuffs of hair
    • from the base of the ears the hair is upright and frames the head
    • back of hindlegs covered with tufts of thick, long hair forming "breeches"
    • tail has long, abundant hair forming a plume (feathery tufts)
    • the hair must be of medium harshness, neither wiry nor silky (AKC & KC)
    • longer and thicker hair expected in males than females (KC)
  2. Colour:
    • Mask
      • pronounced
      • covering top and bottom lip
      • corner of eyes, lips & eyelids are black
      • strictly six points of dark pigmentation are called for
        1. both ears
        2. both upper eyelids
        3. both lips
      • ears must be predominantely black (AKC)
    • Black overlay
      • black tips of hair shading the fawn colour
      • "flamed" colouring
      • no stripes (as in brindle)
      • no patches
    • fawn with black overlay (absence of black overlay acceptable in females and young males (AKC))
    • mahogany with black overlay (AKC only)
    • grey with black overlay (grey colouring is a fault (AKC))
    • fawn preferred over grey
    • fawn must be thick/rich/"warm", not washed out
    • excellent rating can only be given to a fawn dog with sufficient black overlay!
    • a small amount of white can be tolerated on the chest and/or on toes (AKC: not to extend more than 10cm above the prosternum; not to reach either point of shoulder)
    • coat can be expected to be darker in older dogs, especially around the shoulders (AKC)
    • chest must be black or grey, fawn chest is a fault! (AKC)
    • darkening towards the end of the tail (AKC)
    • the underside of the body, inside of legs, the breeches (long hair on back of hindlegs) and fringes (back of front legs) and underside of tail must be cream, grey or light beige (AKC)
    • KC permits all shades of red, fawn & grey; all with black overlay
    • black overlay pronounced in older males (KC)
Size, weight and measurments:
  • Height at withers
    • males: 62cm
    • females: 58cm
    • Limits: 2cm less or 4cm more
  • Weight
    • Males: 25-30kg
    • Females: 20-25kg
  • Measurements (for an average 62cm male):
    • length of body (shoulder to buttock): 62cm
    • length of head: 25cm
    • length of muzzle: 12.5-13cm
Faults:
  • General appearance:
    • lack of elegance
    • plumbness
    • longer than high
    • too light and/or slender
  • Head:
    • heavy
    • too strong
    • insufficient paralellism
    • not sufficiently chiseled
    • not sufficiently dry
    • forehead to round
    • stop too accentuated or too flat
    • muzzle too short
    • muzzle too pinched
    • brow ridges or zygomatic arches too prominent
  • Nose, lips, eyelids:
    • traces of depigmentation
  • Dentition:
    • badly aligned incisors
    • lack of one incisor
    • missing one or more premolar (P2, P3 or P1)
    • AKC does not permit any missing teeth, four missing teeth are a serious fault
  • Eyes:
    • round
    • light
  • Ears:
    • large
    • too broad at base
    • set low
    • carried outward
    • carried inward
  • Neck:
    • short
    • slender
    • deep set
  • Withers
    • flat
    • low
  • Topline
    • back too long
    • loins too long
    • weak
    • snaggering
    • arched
  • Croup
    • sloping too much
    • overbuilt
  • Underline:
    • too much let down
    • too little let down
    • too much belly
  • Tail:
    • set too low
    • carried too high
    • forming a hook
    • deviated
    • too short
  • Limbs:
    • bone too light/too heavy
    • front sloping too much
    • weak wrists
    • unharmonious appearance
    • hind legs too close/too wide
    • hindlegs barrell shaped
    • hocks too close/too open
    • too little angulation
    • too much angulation
  • Feet:
    • spreading
  • Gait:
    • moving close
    • too short stride (steps)
    • too little drive
    • poor hindleg drive
    • too high steps (over middle line)
  • Coat:
    • insufficient undercoat
    • wooly hair
    • wavy hair
    • curly hair
    • hair too short
  • Colour:
    • white marks on chest forming a "tie" (too much white; white stripe(s))
    • white markings on the feet covering more than just the toes
    • predominantely grey coat (as opposed to fawn)
    • brindle-like markings (= stripes)
    • fawn not a "warm" colour
    • not enough/too much black overlay
    • black overlay in patches
    • not enough mask
    • absence of black overlay in older dogs is a serious fault but it is permissable and not punished in younger male dogs and females (AKC)
    • chest coloured neither black nor grey (AKC)
    • white extending more than 10cm over the breast bone (AKC)
    • white chest patches reaching either or both shoulders (AKC)
    • washed out fawn in dogs older than 18 months (KC)
    • too much black in coat (KC)
  • Temprament:
    • lack of self-confidence
    • overly nervous
Disqualifying Faults:
  • Temprament:
    • aggressive
    • timid
  • General appearance:
    • lack of breed type
  • Dentition:
    • AKC rules ANY missing tooth as fault
    • KC does not permit any missing teeth
    • overshot
    • undershot (even if contact is not lost; "reverse scissor bite")
    • crossbite
    • absence of canine(s) (1C) (not permissable by AKC regulations
    • absence of one (or more) upper carnassial (1 P4)
    • absence of one (or more)lower carnassial (1 M1)
    • absence of one molar (1 M1 or M2 - upper jaw);
    • missing P3 is NOT a disqualifying fault
  • Nose, lips, eyelids
    • strong depigmentation
  • Ears:
    • dropping
    • kept upright artifically
  • Tails:
    • missing
    • shortend at birth by docking
    • carried too high
    • forming a ring
    • curled
  • Coat:
    • lack of undercoat
  • Colour:
    • different from colours specified here
    • white markings too wide spread
      • reaching the neck
      • front of foot and ankle with white markings
      • back of foot and ankle with white markings
      • white markings forming "socks"
    • lack of mask
    • muzzle lighter colour than the rest of coat
    • solid black (AKC)
    • solid liver (AKC)
  • Size:
    • outside the measurments specified here


 

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