I am trying to decide which breed to get, and would like to know which is more destructive indoors and how much mental stimulation and exercise each requires. I'd especially love to hear from someone who's had both! This will be primarily a house pet, not working dog, though it will be regularly walked and receive obedience training.
Thanks.
Tags: Working, walked, house pet, Belgian, indoors, belgian groenendael
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
shelties require a lot of grooming. They are high energy but…honestly if you walk them, play with them a bit they’re fine. I’ve had some that loved to dig lol
None of the ones I’ve owned have been destructive. One liked to rip up stuffed animals but I just kept them away from him.
No idea about the other breed.
They both need around the same amount of exercise. It also depends how much exercise you are willing to give to your dog. I would recommend the Shetland Sheepdog. They are very good dogs and are loving too.
Just a by the way to everyone, Groenendael means long-haired and black coat colored Shepherd, so it’s ‘Beglian Shepherd’.
Here’s a good web site to balance out the PROS & CONS of each breed:
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/shelties.html
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/belgianshepherds.html
I think both will be destructive without proper mental stimulation and physical exercise. If cost is a factor, then you may wish to get the sheltie because the Belgian Groenendael is a rare breed and will cost possibly thousands. You should also teach your dog plenty of tricks, regardless of the choice you finally make because both these dogs are very energetic and need something to do.
Good luck.
A groenendael is a dog that is usually worked, particularly in obedience. It is not a breed for a novice dog owner at all.
I’ve got Belgians, tervs not groenendaels, but the exercise needs are very similar. And if you’re asking the question, a Belgian’s not the breed for you.
Neither of my Belgians have ever been in the least destructive in the house, not even as 9 week old puppies. BUT, they not only need a lot of exercise, Belgians need to be kept busy. Being walked regularly won’t cut it. And if by “receive obedience training”, you mean you’d take him to a set of classes, that’s just not good enough.
Belgians are a commitment to life-long training to keep their minds active. My puppy isn’t quite 1 year old yet, and he’s been through countless handling classes, obedience classes and rally classes. He’s on the waiting list now for an advanced obedience class, and he’ll be continuing in obedience and rally training until he’s got all 3 titles in each. (Conformation showing is extra.) After that, it’ll be tracking/herding/agility, perhaps disc sports.
My older Belgian (who isn’t 2 yet), has a rally title, is going for his first obedience title next month and has done advanced rally training and is in open obedience training right now.
The learning and training and working at something doesn’t stop for these dogs.
If you want a house pet, you need to find another breed, one that will be content to be just a pet.
We have owned a Sheltie, and currently have a Gron. I would *never* recommend a Gron for a pet home, particularly the males. They can be a real handful. Our dogs are all trained for obedience. At 2 y/o, our Gron is trained every day, and is just about ready for the ring now. In comparison, the Sheltie is a breeze!! They both need exercise, but the Gron needs something to think about all the time. The Sheltie, imo, is far, far easier to train and to own.
Edit to add:- We have a Terv, too, and the Gron is more difficult even than the Terv. Much higher maintenance mentally.
I have not owned a Belgian Sheepdog, but had Shelties I have shown in obedience, conformation, agility and done some herding. I have seen several Belgians, have friends who own them.
The Shelties I have had have not been destructive. Very smart, really want to learn, very trainable and have been happiest with exercise, a lot of play, training and some sort of a “job”…even if it is only doing tricks for you.
The Belgians I have seen vary considerably…from VERY low key and blase` (barely jogging thru an agility course) , to EXTREME energy.
Of course there are the variations in all breeds. And how they are raised and trained makes a huge difference.
I prefer Shelties, but they are what I know.
Downside to Shelties…they do tend to be barkers, and one must take special care to avoid shyness tendencies and properly socialize.
You must log in to post a comment.