Drever vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison

Drever vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed ComparisonBelgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) is originated from Belgium but Drever is originated from Sweden. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may grow 28 cm / 12 inches higher than Drever. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may weigh 14 kg / 31 pounds more than Drever. Both Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) and Drever has almost same life span. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may have more litter size than Drever. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) requires High Maintenance. But Drever requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Hound dog
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Belgium
Sweden
Height Male:
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
32 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Height Female:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
32 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
13 - 16 kg
28 - 36 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 30 kg
50 - 67 pounds
13 - 16 kg
28 - 36 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
3 - 6
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Belgian Groenendael, Belgian Shepherd, AKC: Belgian Sheepdog
Svensk Dachsbracke , Svensk Drever, Swedish Drever
Colors Available:
Black
Brown or tan and black with white markings
Coat:
Dense double coat
Short and dense
Shedding:
Constant, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
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.

dreverThe Drever dog hails from Sweden, being brought from Germany to the Scandinavian country in 1910. As a scenthound, in spite of his short legs, he was once used for hunting purposes, having a keen nose.

The dog was developed from the Westphalian Dachsbracke and then crossbred with other Swedish hounds.

By the 1940s there were two distinctive sizes of this Dachsbracke dog and the larger one was named Drever. It was in 1947 that the Drever was then recognized by the Swedish Kennel Club as a separate breed. It was also recognized by a number of other clubs and registries.

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.

drever puppy - descriptionLooking quite similar to the Beagle, the Drever is a medium sized dog which stands at about 32 – 38cm and weighing between 14 and 16kg.

He has a fairly long body but unlike the Dachshund his short legs are straight and aren’t bent. The nose of the dog is fairly large and black and the ears are quite long, much like a Beagle dog.

The eyes are bright, alert and dark and the expression on the dog’s face is amicable and gentle.

He has a short, dense coat and is looked upon as a moderate to heavy shedder. The coat can be in several colors such as brown or tan and black with white markings over the face, neck, chest and feet. He has floppy ears and a long tail carried downwards.

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.

drever dog - characteristicsThe Drever dog is an easy dog to have around, not requiring any special treatment to keep him happy.

He gets on well with every member of the family as well as any pets in the home and fits easily into city- or country life.

He is an active dog however, and will require exercising to avoid him becoming frustrated.

Treat your amicable Drever with the attention he deserves and you’ll have a friendly, calm and devoted pet who wants to be your best friend.

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.

drever puppies - health problemsThe Drever is a dog which enjoys good health generally, and with good care he can reach 12 to 15 years of age. The Drever, similar to other dogs, may be susceptible to some common health concerns that any healthy dog can experience such as back pain, hip dysplasia, eye diseases, obesity, diabetes and others.

Veterinary care is an important part of a dog’s health – from puppyhood to the senior years. However, the frequency of visits you make to your vet with your adult dog will depend on his health.

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.

Diet:

drever dogs - caringIt is important to feed your dog food that will cater to his digestion. That is why some of the best commercially manufactured foods are so good – they cater specifically for a dog’s age, his size, his activity levels and for any illnesses he may have.

In terms of activity levels, the Drever is an active dog, quite capable of chasing prey for long distances without tiring. This is why some dog foods are breed- and activity specific.

A good brand of kibble mixed with some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken will be excellent for your pet. Remember, if at all possible, to include some raw meat into the diet from time to time. Cool, fresh water should be available at all times.

Grooming:

Maintaining your Drever’s short, coarse coat won’t be a hassle, and you can call him a low maintenance dog. All that is essentially required is for you to give his coat a good brush twice a week. Nails will also need to be checked as well as his ears. Ignoring his ears can lead to wax build up and dirt and this can result in infection.

Comparison with other breeds

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