Belgian Tervuren, is a medium-sized shepherd dog with a well-proportioned body.
It has a square proportion, elegant posture, and a sturdy neck that supports the head, allowing the latter to be held high. The muscles are firm and developed, and the movement is agile and flexible, always maintaining a high level of vigilance. The overall structure looks very deep, but not clumsy. The males exhibit more masculinity, while the females tend to be more delicate.
In addition to herding flocks, they can also protect their owners and their property, but they are not very aggressive. Under command, they are alert, focused, and ready to act.
The Belgian Tervuren, originated in Belgium in the 13th century. It has the same origins as all Belgian Shepherd dogs, especially similar to the Groenendael.
In 1891, it was bred under the guidance of Professor Reul of the Belgian Veterinary College. It is said that if two Belgian Shepherd dogs (Groenendael) mate, sometimes this dog will be born by chance. One characteristic it has that the Belgian Shepherd dog (Groenendael) doesn't have is the color of its fur. The Belgian Tervuren's fur color is not pure black.
The Belgian Tervuren is intelligent, brave, vigilant, and devoted to its owner. In addition to herding flocks, it can also protect its owner and their property. It is not very combative and is very suitable as a family companion dog and guard dog.
Interdigital inflammation
Symptoms: The dog frequently licks its toes, and the interdigital area becomes red and moist. In severe cases, lameness may occur.
Preparation: Povidone-iodine, erythromycin ointment, Elizabethan collar
Method: Wear an Elizabethan collar, remove the hair from the feet, wash with soapy water or wipe with povidone-iodine. After the inflamed area is dry, apply erythromycin ointment between the toes once a day for a week.
Ear mites
Symptoms: The dog scratches its ears, shakes its head, and the ears have a strong sour odor. There may be increased tear stains, hair loss around the ears, and dark brown secretions and earwax.
Preparation: Ear cleanser, ear wash
Method: Clean the hair inside the dog's ears, pour ear wash or Vicks ear cleanser into the ear canal, gently massage the base of the ear for 30 seconds, and let the dog shake out the ear wash. Use a cotton ball to wipe away the secretions and gently clean the earlobe and ear canal.
Skin disease
Symptoms: The dog feels itchy, the skin becomes red and itchy, the dog scratches frantically, the coat becomes dull and rough, there are more dandruff, and even patches of hair loss.
Preparation: Saline solution, topical ointment or spray for skin, vitamin B
Method: Put an Elizabethan collar on the dog to prevent scratching and licking. Trim the problem skin and surrounding hair, then rinse with saline solution to kill bacteria. Apply ointment or use spray, and combine with antibiotics and vitamin B.
Because shepherd dogs are carnivorous animals themselves, Belgian Tervurens are more suitable for raw food feeding. Even though they have been domesticated for thousands of years, it cannot fundamentally change their digestive system or their basic nutritional needs. They need meat and fat to provide enough energy to survive. However, just eating meat is not enough, and a balanced diet is still important. It is recommended to integrate and combine meat, coarse grains, and dog food to let the dogs grow healthier. Moreover, this breed is lively and active, and they love to exercise. They consume a lot of calories every day, so the amount of food should be sufficient. Since this breed comes in different sizes, the feeding amount should be determined according to the specific dog's size.
Belgian Tervurens are very active and seem to never settle down. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that they have enough time to be active and reach the required amount of exercise every day. It is recommended to let them jump in the yard or take them for 1-2 walks a day, each lasting about half an hour.
1. Cannot bath frequently
When bathing the dog, of course, it cannot be too frequent. The frequency of bathing depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather in summer, bath the dog one or two more times. In winter, reduce it by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Frequently comb hair
The dog will shed hair almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. Seasonal shedding is more severe. To ensure good hair growth, frequent hair combing is an important step. Pet owners can use pet-specific combs to help the dog clean naturally shed hair and prevent tangles. Comb the hair once in the morning and evening, and about five minutes each time is enough.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial to the dog's hair growth, and besides making the hair more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help sterilize. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can help improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier hair.
4. Deworming
Poor hair quality is closely related to parasites. Parasites will absorb a large amount of nutrients in the dog's body and snatch them away. Therefore, deworming work is necessary. It is recommended to do internal and external deworming at the same time. Deworming drugs also cause great harm to the dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is recommended to feed them with probiotics usually to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order for the dog to have beautiful hair, a good nutritional foundation must be established and daily diet should be paid attention to. On one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that is suitable for the dog and has sufficient nutrients to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can also give the dog an appropriate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil, etc.