Belgian Shepherd vs Malinois vs Belgian Tervuren

[jrvl]

Title says all, what is the actual difference between them?

 

[corgipower]

Coat.

 

[Zoom]

Depending on which kennel club you're adhering to, they're different breeds. To everyone else, it's just coat type and you can have all four types (you left out Groendal) in one litter.

There are those who are seemingly working towards creating a defined split, especially in regards to the Malenois.

 

[corgipower]

Depending on which kennel club you're adhering to, they're different breeds. To everyone else, it's just coat type and you can have all four types (you left out Groendal) in one litter.

The Groenendael is the same as the Belgian Shepherd. The missing one is the Laekenois.

And while AKC classifies them as separate breeds, that doesn't make it so. A maliXmali breeding can still produce a terv, for example.

There are those who are seemingly working towards creating a defined split, especially in regards to the Malenois.

I gotta say, sometimes the boys do seem like a different species even.:ninja:

 

[Zoom]

Oh shush you, the cold has frozen my brain.

 

[mrose_s]

I think in the ANKC they are all listed under "Belgian Shepherd" but I don't think people mix types.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

Temperament shows a difference, and size, but that is all about kennel lines and purpose lines. In theory the only difference should be a coat but I've only known of one (awesome) terv with the drive and intensity as a malinois. I have known a few Laeks which are similar though. Never known any Groen.

I would like a sweet malinois temperament in a terv coat.

 

[UniquityBelgians]

I think in the ANKC they are all listed under "Belgian Shepherd" but I don't think people mix types.

Yes, you can mix the varieties. This is called "intervariety breeding." AKC is the only kennel club that won't allow it; It WOULD be allowed if the breed clubs would get off their high horse. The club officials are afraid of losing control and power, and as long as that is the case, AKC won't allow intervariety breeding. People can still do it in the USA if they register with UKC or whelp the litter in Canada and register it with CKC.
However it is very commonly done in Canada and Europe.

Even without intervariety breeding, things happen. Two malinois can produce tervuren or groenendael. Two groenendael can produce tervuren (this is most common). Two tervuren can produce groenendael... Etc.

The varieties are basically the same breed, just split up into different coat types/colours. Malinois are used for working most often so you tend to see more drive and energy in them, but that certainly isn't always the case. The breed, overall, is basically known for similar characteristics between the varieties. The slight differences could also be due to other genes attached to the genes for physical traits; Mal breeders notice that their longhaired puppies tend to be calmer with less drive than the shorthaired pups. And the fact that tervs are known for worse structure and temperaments than groens could be due to some breeders placing colour as a priority (obviously groen breeders don't worry much about colour).
Groens and tervs tend to have a much bigger issue with epilepsy. Mals tend to have higher rates of hip dysplasia (ALOT less testing done in the working lines), and laekens appear to have more elbow dysplasia.

But all in all the same breed, and I hope that it stays that way. I will fight for keeping them as varieties, and not breeds. The gene pool is small as it is, and we can't keep other varieties from popping up in our litters, so it's only fair they remain as one.

 

[corgipower]

Even without intervariety breeding, things happen. Two malinois can produce tervuren or groenendael. Two groenendael can produce tervuren (this is most common). Two tervuren can produce groenendael... Etc.

Interesting...I didn't know two groens could produce tervs. I thought the solid black was recessive. Learn something new.

Also, two malis can produce a short haired black.

Intervariety breeding is discouraged in FCI. Is it not discouraged in UKC/CKC? Many European breeders also mix breeds. The idea of "pure" and "registered" isn't as important to the hard core working dog breeders over there, which is fine with me.

 

[stafinois]

Interesting...I didn't know two groens could produce tervs. I thought the solid black was recessive. Learn something new.

Belgians are lucky enough to have both dominant and recessive black. Keeps things interesting

 

[jrvl]

Awesome, thanks for the replies guys. I honestly never knew (or thought about it!)

 

[UniquityBelgians]

Interesting...I didn't know two groens could produce tervs. I thought the solid black was recessive. Learn something new.

Also, two malis can produce a short haired black.

Intervariety breeding is discouraged in FCI. Is it not discouraged in UKC/CKC? Many European breeders also mix breeds. The idea of "pure" and "registered" isn't as important to the hard core working dog breeders over there, which is fine with me.

It's not at all discouraged in CKC or UKC; It's the breed clubs that decide what should or shouldn't be discouraged. The Belgian Shepherd club in Canada is smaller than the clubs in the US and the majority of the breeders up here (infact almost all of them) do intervariety breeding. To get around it with FCI, you just have to get permission from your country's breed club. It's done in Europe all the time.

Black is usually dominant in Belgians; Very occasionally you'll see a recessive black or black and tan in tervuren or malinois litters. Sometimes blue or liver will pop up as well, usually in mals, but I have seen blue in a groenendael and a tervuren. It's very beautiful!