Chipoo vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison

Chipoo vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed ComparisonBelgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) is originated from Belgium but Chipoo is originated from United States. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may grow 28 cm / 12 inches higher than Chipoo. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may weigh 21 kg / 47 pounds more than Chipoo. Both Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) and Chipoo has almost same life span. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may have more litter size than Chipoo. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) requires High Maintenance. But Chipoo requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Toy dog
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Belgium
United States
Height Male:
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
13 - 38 cm
5 - 15 inches
Height Female:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
13 - 35 cm
5 - 14 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
1 - 9 kg
2 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 30 kg
50 - 67 pounds
1 - 7 kg
2 - 16 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
4 - 5
Size:
Large
Toy
Other Names:
Belgian Groenendael, Belgian Shepherd, AKC: Belgian Sheepdog
Chi-Poo, Wapoo, Chipoodle, Choodle Poochi, Chi Poo
Colors Available:
Black
any
Coat:
Dense double coat
Because of their mixed parentage, Chipoo coats can be smooth or coarse, wiry or fluffy, long or short and are sometimes wavy or curly.
Shedding:
Constant, Seasonal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Cheerful, Energetic, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Stubborn
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

belgian shepherd dog groenendaelLooking much like a pitch black German Shepherd dog, the Belgian Shepherd is a beautiful looking dog. Their roots go back to the 1800s to Groenendael, Belgium. This is where they were bred by a certain Nicolas Rose in 1910. The Groenendael is one of four different Belgian Sheepdog varieties but the Groenendael is sometimes treated as a distinct breed.

They have always been used for their intelligence, serving for instance in the police force and being message carriers in war situations. Originally, Belgian Shepherds were used to herd livestock. It was in 1911 that the Groenendael was registered in the United States, and not much later the first Belgian Sheepdog Club of America formed. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1912.

chipooThe Chipoo is not a purebred dog but rather a cross between the Toy Poodle and the Chihuahua. In the 1970’s the two breeds were crossed and the Chipoo was born. Chihuahuas have their origin in Mexico while the poodle is believed to come from Germany. This hybrid dog, because he comes form two purebred dogs is considered to be a designer dog. The Chipoo is not of course a purebred dog and is not recognized by the American kennel Club (AKC), but it is recognized by the designer groups and hybrid groups. These organizations include the International Designer Canine Registry, the American Canine Hybrid Club, the Designer Breed Registry, and the Designer Dogs Kennel Club.

Description

Large, Strong and Well Proportioned

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppy - descriptionWith his alert, bright brown eyes, the Groenendael, referred to often as the Belgian Sheepdog, has erect ears with a long, feathered tail. The straight, strong legs are also feathered. He is well proportioned, athletic and strong. He has a dense double coat, and this working dog’s coat is black, but you sometimes find some small white markings around his paws and muzzle. The size of the Groenendael is roughly 60-66cm at the withers with the females sometimes being slightly smaller. The weight of the dog is roughly 25–30 kilograms.

He’s a Social Dog who Craves Companionship

The Groenendael is an active, intelligent breed and training and socializing will be necessary to ensure he knows how to behave around his human family. He is a big, social dog and won’t do well when left alone day after day in the back yard. In fact he may even show signs of separation anxiety if you leave him indefinitely. He makes for an excellent family dog, just loving their companionship and he becomes very protective of them.

An Intelligent, Alert Breed

He is used to making use of his intelligence and therefore he will need mental stimulation as opposed to lying around all day. He gets on well with adults, children and other pets, but he needs to grow up with children and not be put among children when he is already an adult. He is loyal and loving to his human family, forming a deep bond, especially with just one member of the family.

chipoo puppy - descriptionThe Chipoo varies greatly in looks depending upon which breed it got most of its characteristics from. It is a toy dog, but it can have a curly coat or a straight one. It can be fluffy or wiry. It can be just about any color. All of them have Chihuahua tails but again depending on the mix, they can look like poodles or they can look like chihuahuas. They can vary in size from a very small toy to a larger sized small dog. You can have two Chipoos from the same litter and they will not be recognizable as littermates. However, they will all be adorable.

Characteristics

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dog - characteristicsYour Belgian Shepherd is an intelligent, active, loyal companion for you. He is highly intelligent too, and will need the right owner who can meet his energetic needs. He therefore wouldn’t do well with in a small place where the owners are couch potatoes. He is a working dog and will require being kept busy.

Provide him with good food, look after that thick, lustrous coat of his, provide him with a warm, dry place to sleep and plenty of exercise, love and attention and he will turn out to be the wonderful pet that makes him such a popular breed.

chipoo dog - characteristicsThis is a friendly dog and a great family member. They love to play and are easy to train. He does like to bark and makes a good guard dog. Get him a lot of toys for smart dogs. He is loyal and affectionate. You can carry him around all day if you want.

Health Problems

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppies - health problemsThe Belgian Groenendael is a healthy, strong breed with no major health problems and with an average lifespan of 12-14 years.

As with every dog breed, there will be some health issues to be aware of. Skin allergies, epilepsy, eye problems and hip- and joint dysplasia are some areas to look out for

Dental disease for instance, is a common problem with pets, and your Belgian Shepherd can have serious problems with their teeth. Tartar build-up on the teeth ca take you down a trail of infections and gum disease. If you don’t want to make use of a special canine toothbrush and toothpaste, your vet will do it for you.

Your Groenendael will also be susceptible to ticks, fleas and bacterial and viral infections. As a puppy of 6 – 8 weeks, vaccinations for parvo, rabies, and distemper will be necessary. You’ll also need to be generally watching your pet’s health and to get him to the vet when he shows signs of being run-down and ill.

chipoo puppies - health problemsHybrid dogs often do better health wise than the original parents, but this is not true of 2nd and third generation crosses. However, this is not generally true of the Chipoo, as they are no longer bred poodle to chihuahua but rather Chipoo to Chipoo. They are basically healthy but face some issues such as:

Overactive tear glands

This is what causes the tear stains on most small light-colored dogs. This is called Epiphora and is not an irritation in the eye, just overly active glands.

Hypoglycemia

This is low blood sugar and can cause all kinds of problems for your Chipoo. This can be fatal if not cared for. It has many causes if the dog is not diabetic including Xylitol (sugar free gum and other) parasites, stress, diarrhea or bacteria.

Luxating patella

This loose knee cap condition is found in many small breeds and can lead to arthritis and lameness.

Caring The Pet

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dogs - caringThe Groenendael has a double coat and because it is also fairly long, his black coat may well be high maintenance and brushing every 2nd day will be necessary to keep the coat unmatted and to also get rid of those loose hairs. In fact, heavy shedding is part of this breed’s life and while heavy shedding happens twice a year, light shedding continues throughout the year. Sometimes is may be necessary to send him to a dog grooming parlour to snip his hair and to wash it.

Other care routines to watch for -

A healthy, quality diet it absolutely imperative. Speak to your vet about the best kind of wet- or dry food suited to an energetic breed like this and appropriate to his age. You need to include raw meat into your pets diet every day now and then to avoid skin problems. Always ensure a bowl of clean, cool water is available, The bowl will need to be washed out every other day.

make sure his ears are cleaned. Once again you have to be careful when prodding in a dog’s ear and your veterinarian will show you how.

keep him well exercised with long walks and ball games.

Feeding

chipoo dogs - caringBecause they are prone to hypoglycemia, make sure you feed a high quality dry food and break it up into three or four small meals a day in order to maintain the blood sugar and avoid the drops and spikes that can cause them serious health issues.

Health issues

Glaucoma

This disease of the eyes can lead to blindness.

Dry skin

This is common in the Chipoo and it makes it hard for the dog to absorb things through the skin such as topical ointments for ticks and flea prevention.

Dental Issues

Dental issues can lead to lost teeth and gum disease. Brush their teeth.

Cold

If the outside temperature is less than 50’, then your Chipoo needs to wear a sweater as they get cold very easily.

Exercise and games

The Chipoo is an energetic little dog and he loves to go on walks, play in the yard and be with the family. Both the Chihuahua and the Poodle are very intelligent dogs and so this cross gets bored and destructive if not stimulated enough. He’ll be great at agility and obedience. Like the poodle you can teach him a lot of tricks.

Comparison with other breeds

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  9. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
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  26. Chipoo vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Chipoo vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Chipoo vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Chipoo vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Chipoo vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Chipoo vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Chipoo vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Chipoo vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Chipoo vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Chipoo vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Chipoo vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Chipoo vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Chipoo vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Chipoo vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Chipoo vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Chipoo vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Chipoo vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Chipoo vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Chipoo vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Chipoo vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Chipoo vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Chipoo vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Chipoo vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Chipoo vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Chipoo vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison