Belgian Shepherds as protection dogs

The Belgian Shepherd is one of the most popular and effective breeds used for protection work. Commonly found in police and military working dog units around the world, they are as versatile as they are capable and can be employed in both protection and detection roles. 

The Belgian Shepherd has four variants: the Malinois which is most common, Groenendael, Tervuren, and Laekenois. Temperamentally, all four are similar with only their coats differentiating them. The Malinois has a short fawn coat, the Groenendael has a long black coat, the Tervuren has a double fawn coat with some black colouring, and the Laekenois is rough-haired and fawn. Most Belgian Shepherds will be slightly smaller than a German Shepherd, and it is not uncommon for the two breeds to be confused with each other.

Belgian Shepherds are active, energetic, and highly intelligent working breeds requiring dedicated owners. A busy Belgian Shepherd will be a happy Belgian Shepherd, and varied enrichment is critical for the breed’s wellbeing. In our experience, long walks with plenty of opportunities for sniffing exploration, scentwork, obedience work, and realistic protection scenario training are all good options that can be consistently delivered by the majority of owners with some input from professional trainers.

Given their intelligence and energy levels, it is of paramount importance that a Belgian Shepherd is trained to a high level of obedience. When guided with positive incentives, Belgian Shepherds are some of the easiest dogs to train and will quickly learn all the key commands owners will require. Firm boundaries must also be established to prevent unwanted behaviours. Recall should also be totally reliable before a Belgian Shepherd is allowed to free run in public.

While formidable protectors and guardians, Belgian Shepherds are also highly affectionate and strongly bond with their family members. A well trained and balanced Belgian Shepherd can be excellent with children making them perhaps one of the best breeds for family protection work.