For more than 100 years, there are the races of the belgian shepherd dogs. They initially served only as working dogs by shepherds and farmers and were previously not a separate race. They are not linked to the German shepherd dog.

The "Club du Chien de Berger Belge" was founded on September 29th in 1891 at Brussels by Prof. Dr. Reul, in the same year was specified also the first standard for the Belgians. The first officially registered Belgian was the Malinois "de Vos Polders" (1901). This standard covers four variants:

The Groenendael, long-haired, black fur,	the Laekenois, wire-haired, reddish brown fur,
the Malinois, short-haired, reddish brown fur and	the Tervueren, long-haired, reddish brown fur.

The Laekenois is the rarest representatives of the Belgians, and like all dogs of this breed, he is working joy, teachable and aptitude for sports and services and is primarily used as protection and family dog.

The name comes from the city of Laeken, where a shepherd family in Castle Park of Laeken bred these dogs.

The Laeken can be led very well, is reservedly, very waked up thereby, to educate learn-willingly and well. Nevertheless, he is willing to protect his family. He is very lively, watchful, very fond of children and well integratable into the family.
He is intelligent, balanced and very sensitive, until the high age playful and loves the water and swimming.
The Belgian Shepherd Dog is 'late-ripe', needs time and should not too early to be straightened. The first half year should be gone around very sensitivly with him; with play and with small walks the possibility is given to him, to gain first experiences.
Only after it, if he learned playful, what he must know for his further life, he may playful, but consistently be educated, in no case however with “hard hand”. Then he learns very fast, but he also never forgets, what was done to him unjustified.
The race is led successfully in the rescue dog nature, protection service and at the police. The Laekenois takes a lot of movement and employment.The hard hair is easy to clean, trim or shear are not, the hair is just plucked twice a year.