Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison

Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) is originated from Belgium but Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is originated from Switzerland. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may grow 18 cm / 8 inches higher than Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) may weigh 15 kg / 34 pounds more than Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher. Both Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) and Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher has same life span. Both Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) and Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher has almost same litter size. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) requires High Maintenance. But Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
undefined
Belgium
Switzerland
Height Male:
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
Height Female:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
11 - 15 kg
24 - 34 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 30 kg
50 - 67 pounds
11 - 15 kg
24 - 34 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
2 - 8
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Belgian Groenendael, Belgian Shepherd, AKC: Belgian Sheepdog
Glattharidge
Colors Available:
Black
Black and tan
Coat:
Dense double coat
Short and smooth
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, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, 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.

The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an ancient dog breed and dates back to 1780. It is believed that this dog breed is extinct, but that the German Pinscher of today is family of this dog breed. The dog used to be good on the farm as an all-purpose working dog.

When you look at the history of dogs, there are so many that have come and gone, never to be seen or heard of again. Other animals become extinct because of environmental factors, but with dogs it’s a bit different and most, like the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, died out simply because it became unfashionable.

Maybe the jobs that this dog was designed to do no longer existed and he died out because he was no longer needed.

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.

Described as a medium sized dog, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an extinct variety of the German Pinscher. Like that dog, the Swiss Shorthaired had a muscular, strong square build.

Possibly he also had his ears and tail docked at that time. It is thought that he stood between 40 – 48cm in height and weighed in the region of 11 to 15kg.

He had the typical looks of the Doberman Pinscher with short smooth hair in black and tan, short erect ears and a tail that was traditionally cropped. He was lean and muscular with brown eyes. They were working dogs in their day and were not considered the best dogs to have for the first time dog owner.

Tempeament

These dogs have always been hardworking, brave and fearless. They make good family pets too and get on well with children. They would have been adaptable too to life in the city or the countryside, so long as he got his exercise.

A well bred Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher was alert and a good guard dog, and one wonders why this dog with its good qualities died out.

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.

The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is no longer around but he would no doubt have made a good family pet. He would have wanted to protect his human family.

He was a stubborn, bold dog, and maybe socialization and training didn’t exist then, but he would have benefited from it.

He’s the kind of dog that would have adapted well to life in the city or the countryside, but you could never neglect his exercise needs. In the right environment, this Pinscher would have made a loving, loyal pet.

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.

It is not too sure about the health status of this extinct dog but we can assume that he would have been prone to some of the typical dog illnesses there are.

Hypothyroidismd, bloat, cancer, cataracts, infections and obesity were just some of the diseases this dog would have had to contend with.

Hypothyroidism:

The thyroid glands in the neck produce hormones. These hormones affect the functioning of the body. Hypothyroidism in dogs is usually caused by shrinkage of the thyroid gland or inflammation.The disease occurs more often in Pinscher dogs.

You may notice a dulling or thinning of your dog’s hair, weight gain and reduced activity. Hypothyroid dogs also tend to battle more with ear- and skin infections. Veterinary treatment will become necessary.

Catarats:

It causes a whiteness,cloudiness or opacity on the lens of the eye. It's not painful for a dog but it can cause loss of vision. Surgery can improve vision for the dog.

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:

In those days of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, maybe commercially manufactured dog foods weren’t available. If the dog were still around today, you would feed him dry kibble for medium sized dogs.

Probably the owners of these dogs fed them from the food they ate. It can be a good idea to feed any dog you have with some homemade food.

This can include things such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This is the kind of simple food that dogs love.

Being a farm dog in his day, he was probably tossed raw meat occasionally and this would have done him the world of good.

General Care:

Although the short, smooth hair of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is looked upon as low maintenance, the dog would have needed a good brush twice a week just to keep it shiny and healthy.

After a hard day of work on the farm, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher would have required a nice warm, dry spot to sleep.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison