[Losthwy]

I saw a couple of dogs a while back and don't recall what they were.
They both had the body and head shape close to a German Shepard but had long, solid black, hair (like a Flatcoat). Any ideas of the breed?

 

[Pattie]

Could it be this dog?

http://www.akc.org/breeds/belgian_sheepdog/index.cfm

Pattie

 

[Losthwy]

Could it be this dog?

http://www.akc.org/breeds/belgian_sheepdog/index.cfm

Pattie

BINGO! That is the dog I saw. They are indeed a handsome breed.

 

[Wayne Dibbley]

Tervuren?

Sounds like Tervuren's...can be pretty intense workers in their field...drivery.

Wayne

 

[Gina]

Everywhere but the USA the Belgian Shepherds are considered different varieties of the same breed. There are 4, with 3 being recognized by the AKC, The black one (SHeepdog AKA Groendael sp?) The rough coated black and red - Tervuren, Short coated black and red - The Malinois and the Lakenois which has like a wire coat.

 

[msdaisey]

A giant Schipperke with a tail!!!!

 

[jimandkristine]

Sounds like a tervuren. Have a friend who shows her male and he is flashy!
http://www.akc.org/breeds/belgian_tervuren/index.cfm
This is my friends dog
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/belgiantervueren.htm

 

[Losthwy]

From what have seen from the photos it appears to be a Belgian Groenendael. From the AKC drawing of the Tervuren the body and hair are a match, except the dogs where solid black.

 

[jimandkristine]

Did you see the links I posted?
Not all tervs are all black. There are many different types of tervs.
Some are all black some have the same markings of a german shepard, ect.
The second link I posted is a prime example of a Belgian tervuren.
From your description it sounds like this type of terv.
Very intelligent dogs. My friends dog loves water and loves to retrieve.

Check this dog out and see if its what you saw. Not too many of them so they really stand out when you see one. This is my friends Belgian Terv
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/belgiantervueren.htm

 

[Losthwy]

Yes I did go to those links, and from drawings, photos and reading the coat descriptions not sure which variety of Belgian Shepard it was. It's toss up between a solid black Teruven or the Groenendael. Those dogs looked like the drawing of the Teruven, though just imagine it being solid black. The photo of the Teruven has a more pointed face than what I saw or the drawing.

 

[Latisha]

Yes I did go to those links, and from drawings, photos and reading the coat descriptions not sure which variety of Belgian Shepard it was. It's toss up between a solid black Teruven or the Groenendael. Those dogs looked like the drawing of the Teruven, though just imagine it being solid black. The photo of the Teruven has a more pointed face than what I saw or the drawing.

A solid black Tervuren IS a Groenendael aka "Belgian Shepherd" in AKC.

As Gina pointed out, they are all Belgian Shepherds and there are 4 varieties of the breed distinguished by coat and color.

Groenendael - solid black, long coat
Tervuren - fawn, red or gray with black overlay, long coat
Malinois, fawn, red or gray with black overlay, short coat
Lakenois, fawn or red with traces of black overlay, wire coat

Only in the AKC are the varieties considered to be "breeds" and cross-breeding among varieties is not permitted. However, Groen litters can produce Terv pups, and Terv litters can produce Mal pups. In other countries the puppy is simply registered as the proper variety, but in the US they are considered DQ's. As a result of AKC not allowing the varieties to cross, US Belgian varieties have become more distinct. Many US breeders choose to import European stock to add to the small gene pool as cross-breeding is still allowed there, even though it may not be done very often.

The Belgians are a wonderful breed, and one of my favorites of all the non-retrievers.

Latisha