GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: approx. 41cm (16”).
Colour: Blue, blue/tan, liver or sandy.
Coat: Thick and linty with twisted hair standing away from the body.
Gait: A distinctive light mincing springy trot with a slight roll with speed.
Looking rather like shorn lambs in their trimmed state, Bedlingtons are graceful and lithe dogs. Their trimmed heads are covered with profuse topknots and in profile have a curved Roman nosed appearance. The heads are carried high on long necks which run into well arched backs and well angulated long hindlegs. The lowset tapering tails are scimitar shaped and should never be carried high. The elbows are wider apart than the feet when standing, the latter being long and hare shaped.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
These dogs thrive on companionship and games with their owners. Their grace and speed make them unique in the terrier group and irrespective of their lamblike appearance, Bedlingtons display plenty of courage and speed. Free of doggy odours, they do however require regular grooming and periodic trimming to retain a neat appearance.
HISTORY
While the origin of this breed is rather obscure, the progenitors of the modern Bedlington were greatly valued by the nomadic gypsies. Early in the 18th century in England, these dogs were known as Rothbury or Northumberland Terriers and are believed to have incorporated crosses from both Otter Hounds and Dandie Dinmont Terriers. In later years, in order to increase the speed, breeders in the Northumberland town of Bedlington introduced some Whippet bloodlines. It was this last infusion that created the distinctive breed type that we know today. So besides fulfilling their original roles of rat and badger hunting, the wager loving gypsies now had a dog that could race as well. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 56-66cm (27”- 26”)
Colour and Coats:
Groenendael - always black. Frosting on the muzzle and a small patch of white on the chest and toes is permitted. Outer coat is long and abundant but smooth on the muzzle.
Tervueren - red, fawn or grey with black overlay and double pigmented hairs. Coat as for Groenendael.
Malinois - (Colour as for Tervueren. The double coat is much shorter than the other three varieties.
Laekenois - Reddish fawn and shading on muzzle and tail permitted. Coat — unlike the other three — is harsh, dry, and about
6cm (2’/1.”) covering the head and body.
Gait: Brisk, free and even with fore and hindlegs moving straight and with good hind propulsion.
The first impression one has of Belgian Sheepdogs, is that they resemble a shorter backed German Shepherd Dog with a high head carriage. The slightly almond shaped eyes are set midway in a nicely chiselled head. The highset triangular ears are carried stiffly erect and the slightly arched neck runs into a powerful muscled back. In action the lowset tail is carried level with the topline with a slight curve up at the tip.
CHARACTERISTICS
With their proud head carriage conveying an impression of grace and strength, these dogs’ duties are sheep herding and guarding. Being extremely amenable, they readily adapt themselves to most situations and as they are active dogs, they do require plenty of exercise. Only periodic grooming is required to remove dead hair.
HISTORY
Prior to the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s, Belgian Sheepdogs were already established as a necessary part of farm life in Belgium. It was not until the latter part of the 1800s that a group of dedicated breeders, in conjunction with a veterinary school in the Brussels area, studied the variations found in these local sheepherders. This resulted in the division of the breed into four varieties - the classifications being dependent on their colour and coat. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 56-66cm (27”- 26”)
Colour and Coats:
Groenendael - always black. Frosting on the muzzle and a small patch of white on the chest and toes is permitted. Outer coat is long and abundant but smooth on the muzzle.
Tervueren - red, fawn or grey with black overlay and double pigmented hairs. Coat as for Groenendael.
Malinois - (Colour as for Tervueren. The double coat is much shorter than the other three varieties.
Laekenois - Reddish fawn and shading on muzzle and tail permitted. Coat — unlike the other three — is harsh, dry, and about
6cm (2’½”) covering the head and body.
Gait: Brisk, free and even with fore and hindlegs moving straight and with good hind propulsion.
The first impression one has of Belgian Sheepdogs, is that they resemble a shorter backed German Shepherd Dog with a high head carriage. The slightly almond shaped eyes are set midway in a nicely chiselled head. The highset triangular ears are carried stiffly erect and the slightly arched neck runs into a powerful muscled back. In action the lowset tail is carried level with the topline with a slight curve up at the tip.
CHARACTERISTICS
With their proud head carriage conveying an impression of grace and strength, these dogs’ duties are sheep herding and guarding. Being extremely amenable, they readily adapt themselves to most situations and as they are active dogs, they do require plenty of exercise. Only periodic grooming is required to remove dead hair.
HISTORY
Prior to the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s, Belgian Sheepdogs were already established as a necessary part of farm life in Belgium. It was not until the latter part of the 1800s that a group of dedicated breeders, in conjunction with a veterinary school in the Brussels area, studied the variations found in these local sheepherders. This resulted in the division of the breed into four varieties - the classifications being dependent on their colour and coat. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 56-66cm (27”- 26”)
Colour and Coats:
Groenendael - always black. Frosting on the muzzle and a small patch of white on the chest and toes is permitted. Outer coat is long and abundant but smooth on the muzzle.
Tervueren - red, fawn or grey with black overlay and double pigmented hairs. Coat as for Groenendael.
Malinois - (Colour as for Tervueren. The double coat is much shorter than the other three varieties.
Laekenois - Reddish fawn and shading on muzzle and tail permitted. Coat — unlike the other three — is harsh, dry, and about
6cm (2’/1.”) covering the head and body.
Gait: Brisk, free and even with fore and hindlegs moving straight and with good hind propulsion.
The first impression one has of Belgian Sheepdogs, is that they resemble a shorter backed German Shepherd Dog with a high head carriage. The slightly almond shaped eyes are set midway in a nicely chiselled head. The highset triangular ears are carried stiffly erect and the slightly arched neck runs into a powerful muscled back. In action the lowset tail is carried level with the topline with a slight curve up at the tip.
CHARACTERISTICS
With their proud head carriage conveying an impression of grace and strength, these dogs’ duties are sheep herding and guarding. Being extremely amenable, they readily adapt themselves to most situations and as they are active dogs, they do require plenty of exercise. Only periodic grooming is required to remove dead hair.
HISTORY
Prior to the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s, Belgian Sheepdogs were already established as a necessary part of farm life in Belgium. It was not until the latter part of the 1800s that a group of dedicated breeders, in conjunction with a veterinary school in the Brussels area, studied the variations found in these local sheepherders. This resulted in the division of the breed into four varieties - the classifications being dependent on their colour and coat. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 56-66cm (27”- 26”)
Colour and Coats:
Groenendael - always black. Frosting on the muzzle and a small patch of white on the chest and toes is permitted. Outer coat is long and abundant but smooth on the muzzle.
Tervueren - red, fawn or grey with black overlay and double pigmented hairs. Coat as for Groenendael.
Malinois - (Colour as for Tervueren. The double coat is much shorter than the other three varieties.
Laekenois - Reddish fawn and shading on muzzle and tail permitted. Coat — unlike the other three — is harsh, dry, and about
6cm (2’/1.”) covering the head and body.
Gait: Brisk, free and even with fore and hindlegs moving straight and with good hind propulsion.
The first impression one has of Belgian Sheepdogs, is that they resemble a shorter backed German Shepherd Dog with a high head carriage. The slightly almond shaped eyes are set midway in a nicely chiselled head. The highset triangular ears are carried stiffly erect and the slightly arched neck runs into a powerful muscled back. In action the lowset tail is carried level with the topline with a slight curve up at the tip.
CHARACTERISTICS
With their proud head carriage conveying an impression of grace and strength, these dogs’ duties are sheep herding and guarding. Being extremely amenable, they readily adapt themselves to most situations and as they are active dogs, they do require plenty of exercise. Only periodic grooming is required to remove dead hair.
HISTORY
Prior to the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s, Belgian Sheepdogs were already established as a necessary part of farm life in Belgium. It was not until the latter part of the 1800s that a group of dedicated breeders, in conjunction with a veterinary school in the Brussels area, studied the variations found in these local sheepherders. This resulted in the division of the breed into four varieties - the classifications being dependent on their colour and coat.