Stephens Stock vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison

Stephens Stock vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed ComparisonBelgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) is originated from Belgium but Stephens Stock is originated from United States. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may grow 16 cm / 7 inches higher than Stephens Stock. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may weigh 28 kg / 61 pounds lesser than Stephens Stock. Both Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) and Stephens Stock has same life span. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may have more litter size than Stephens Stock. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) requires High Maintenance. But Stephens Stock requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Hound dog
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Belgium
United States
Height Male:
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
35 - 50 cm
13 - 20 inches
Height Female:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
32 - 46 cm
12 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
41 - 58 kg
90 - 128 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 30 kg
50 - 67 pounds
39 - 55 kg
85 - 122 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
3 - 6
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Belgian Groenendael, Belgian Shepherd, AKC: Belgian Sheepdog
Stephens' Stock Mountain Cur Little black dog Little Darkies
Colors Available:
Black
Black or dark gray; white markings may appear on the neck, and feet , chest
Coat:
Dense double coat
Short, smooth/rough outer coat; short, dense, soft undercoat
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
Aggressive, Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Playful
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.

stephens stockThe Stephens Stock is a member if the Cur dog breeds. They are a scent hound bred in southeastern Kentucky by the Stephen’s family. For generations the dogs were simply known as the “little black dog”. The Cur breeds are dogs with a mixture of ancestry and the Stephens Cur is no different. However, the name Cur now means a working dog from the South in the United States. They were known as hunting and guard dogs, chasing wild boar, squirrel and raccoon. They were also called the Mountain Curs throughout Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.

These mountain working dogs came close to extinction by the 1940’s but four separate breeders set out to save the Mountain Curs. They were the founders of the Mountain Cur Club and involved Woody Huntsman of Kentucky, Carl McConnel of Virginia, Dewey Ledbetter of Virginia and of course Hugh Stephens of Kentucky. Later the name of the club was changed to the Original Mountain Cur Breeders Association or OMCBA. The Mountain View Cur, the Treeing Cur and the Stephens Stock Cur were the results of their efforts.

In the 1970’s Stephen’s decided that his Cur was different from the original Mountain Curs and should be a separate breed. He formed the Stephen’s Breeders Association and the breed was recognized as distinct from other Curs. However, it was not recognized by the UKC (United Kennel Club) until 1998.

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.

stephens stock puppy - descriptionThe Stephens Stock Cur is a breed of medium size, dark dogs – either very dark grey or black. Their heads are domed, and the muzzle is short with dark eyes. The breed’s chest is broad and deep with a neck of medium length and either a rough or smooth coat. They are smaller than the other Curs like the Black Mouth Cur or the Mountain View Cur.

They are strong and capable of treeing their prey. Their body is longer than it is high, and they have powerful and long legs. Their appearance is sleek and elegant. The nose is dark and square, and their stance is alert and that of a watchdog. This is an athletic hunting dog that is aggressive in the field and chilled at home.

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.

Characteristics

stephens stock dog - characteristics1. Children friendliness - They are tenacious on the hunt but once at home they love children.

2.Special talents tenacious – treeing prey

3.Adaptability They are adaptable if you can get them the exercise, they need every day. They won’t do well in an apartment without going to play and run somewhere else every day.

4.Learning ability - highly intelligent, eager to learn.

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.

stephens stock puppies - health problemsThe Stephens Stock Cur is a fairly healthy breed, fairly isolated in the hills and mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee. They are prone to a few health conditions but there are no genetic and breed specific issues.

  • PRA Progressive Retinal Atrophy can lead to blindness.

• Ear and Eye Infections. Keep them clean and keep debris out of both ears and eyes after hunting.

  • Deafness is seen in some.
  • Dental issues have been seen in some.

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.

stephens stock dogs - caring1.Feeding the puppy -Feed puppies a quality food desired for medium breed, high energy dogs. Puppies should eat 3 times a day about a total of 2 cups.

2.Feeding the adult Feed a high quality dog food with plenty of protein and designed for medium size dogs. Feed a total of 3 cups over 2 meals a day.

3.Points for Good Health – They are energetic and tenacious.

4. Games and Exercises – This is a very high energy treeing hunting dog with remarkable speed and agility. They need exercise – both physical and mental. One walk a day will not do it for these dogs. Have a fenced in yard or take them to organized activities like field trials, agility, flyball, hunting, search and rescue or barn hunt. They love to hunt with their people.

Comparison with other breeds

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