2. The Belgian Tervuren has a square shaped appearance to its body.
When viewed from the side, the topline of its moderately pointed muzzle
is parallel to the topline of its skull. The stop is moderate. The black lips
are tight. The medium sized, almond-shaped eyes are dark brown. The
erect ears are triangular in shape with their height equal to their width.
The chest is deep reaching the elbows. The legs are straight, parallel
and vertical to the ground. The topline is level, sloping slightly at the
withers. Dewclaws are usually removed. The feet are cat-like in shape.
The teeth meet in a scissors or level bite. The tail is strong at the base with
the bone reaching to the hock. The double coat is weather resistant
with long, abundant, close-fitting guard hairs. The overall length of the
harsh coat is medium to long with the hair on the head, legs and outer
surface of the ears being shorter. The undercoat is dense and the outer
coat is straight with black tips. Males have a mane of hair around the
neck that is not as prominent in females. There is longer hair fringing
down the back and front legs with abundant hair on the tail. Coat
colors include rich fawn to russet mahogany, or shades of gray with
black tips. The chest, toes and chin may have some white. The coat
usually darkens as the dog gets older.

3. The Belgian Tervuren is one of four Belgian sheepdogs. A very bright and obedient dog, it is
determined and observant with strong protective and territorial instincts. Socialize well to
prevent it from becoming shy or sensitive. Belgian Tervurens need an experienced master who
is firm, but not heavy handed. If you are harsh or overbearing it will become uncooperative.
Owners need to display a confident, natural authority over the dog. Consistent rules must be
set and made clear. This breed is instinctively protective so it should be trained and socialized
very well from an early age. Puppies should be socialized right from birth. Good for working and
competition obedience, these dogs make excellent police and guard dogs. This type of work is
currently their main occupation. They do however, make excellent pets if they have owners
who can challenge their minds with an air of leadership. They are ever watchful, alert and
loyal. The Belgian Tervuren is good with children if socialized well with them. This breed needs to
be part of the family and not locked up in a kennel. They need leadership, daily exercise along
with training and companionship, for without it they may become destructive and hard to
handle. The Belgian Tervuren is high energy, with a high mental capacity, and is quick to
comprehend. They need a job to do, especially if you are dealing with working lines. Take care
when introducing this dog with small non-canine pets. They can be rather dominant toward
other dogs and need an owner who can communicate to the dog that dominance is an
unwanted behavior. Provided they are correctly socialized with cats and other pets, they
should not present any problems. Belgian Tervurens may instinctively display herding behavior
such as chasing and circling, moving effortlessly for hours and nipping at people's heels. They
must be taught not to do this to people. This is a very demanding dog. It needs an experienced
owner for it can easily be difficult to control unless the owner knows how to handle him. The
way the owner handles the dog can produce wide differences in temperament and
aggressiveness. Talk to someone experienced with the breed before you buy your dog. These
dogs are often impressive; don't base your purchase solely on achievement records and
appearances. Only adopt this type of dog if you fully understand what it means to be alpha.

4.  Height:
Males 24 - 26 inches (61 - 66 cm)
Females 22 - 24 inches (56 - 61 cm)
 Weight:
Males 65 - 75 pounds (29 - 34 kg)
Females 60 - 70 pounds (27 - 32 kg)

5. This hardy, healthy breed has
no major health concerns.
Some minor concerns that
have been seen are
epilepsy, skin allergies, eye
problems, excessive
shyness, excessive
aggressiveness and
occasionally hip dysplasia
and elbow dysplasia. Do not
overfeed this breed, for it has
a tendency to become
obese and lazy.

6. The Belgian Tervuren will do okay
in an apartment if it is sufficiently
exercised. It is moderately active
indoors and will do best with at
least an average-sized yard. This
breed prefers cool climates, but
adapts well to others. It can live
outdoors but would much rather
be with his people.

7. This is a working dog that is
accustomed to an active
outdoor life. As such it needs
a lot of exercise, including a
long daily walk. In addition,
it will greatly benefit being
off the leash as much as
possible in a safe area.