CLYDE, Alta. – The cuteness factor at Tanya McKee’s ranch has increased by the power of 10.
McKee’s Belgian Shepherd female, Aica, gave birth to 10 puppies in May at her ranch near Clyde, Alta.
The yard is now overrun with snoopy, playful bundles of energy she plans to train as herding dogs for sheep and cattle.
Developed in 19th century Belgium, the dogs were bred to work, and they have been used by the military, police, Red Cross and livestock producers. Four strains emerged – solid black coats, short and long haired and curly haired – and each type is named after the Belgian province where it was developed.
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McKee is raising the Malinois type, a short-haired dog with a brown and black coat.
An agile, lean machine of constant movement, the breed competes well against Border Collies in dog trials and is enthusiastic about moving livestock. Unlike collies, these dogs don’t slink and they bark more.
While Belgian Shepherds have similar competencies as collies, only 17 to 21 litters are born in Canada each year.
Finding the right dog can take time.
An experienced trainer and groomer, McKee wanted a versatile herding dog to work with her 70 miniature Herefords.
“I did a lot of research for about five years before I got her,” McKee said.
Aica was a former police dog in Ontario that didn’t bond with the officer but found its niche herding cattle at a year and a half of age.
Cindy Bazin of Stony Plain, Alta., a long-time breeder and trainer, warns potential owners that Belgian Shepherds are high energy dogs, and behavioural problems can result if owners are not prepared to let them work.
Most Belgian Shepherds are bred to work six to eight hours per day so are not suitable for apartment living or lifestyles with little activity.
“Some dogs are good at sitting on the porch but these dogs need something to do,” Bazin said.
She raises the Groenendael type with a long black coat.
Nicole McIlwick of Whitecourt, Alta., another trainer and breeder, has worked with dogs for many years, including training and grooming in Europe.
She started with hunting dogs, moved to racing Huskies and settled with the Belgian Shepherds because they could perform a number of activities. The shepherds can be trained to apprehend criminals for the police, search, drive carts, carry backpacks for hikers and herd livestock.
They are long lived and can remain in good shape until about 14. Females top the scales at 50 pounds and the males can reach 60 lb.
There is plenty of information available about the dogs but it is better to have a mentor when starting a training program because owners who have been trained to use the dogs have the most success.
Bazin advised buying a dog from a reputable breeder rather than a pet shop, where dogs may be overpriced or are not as healthy as those coming from a breeder.
A dog show is a good place to start researching breeds and types of dogs and meeting breeders with puppies to sell.
“If you have a good breeder, you will have rapport for the rest of the dog’s life,” she said.
McIlwick screens potential buyers with a questionnaire and a personal interview.
“You don’t want to place a dog in a situation that Belgians can’t deal with.”
Breeders look for intelligence, good temperament, proper body conformation and breed type. They also warn people not to go into the puppy rearing business as an investment.
“People can be misguided and think they will make a lot of money,” McIlwick said.
“It has to be your passion to improve the breed, not the money.”
