Belgian Sheepdog Breed Standard
Herding Group

General Appearance
The first impression of the Belgian Sheepdog is that of a well balanced, square dog, elegant in appearance, with an exceedingly proud carriage of the head and neck. He is a strong, agile, well muscled animal, alert and full of life. His whole conformation gives the impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness. The male dog is usually somewhat more impressive and grand than his female counterpart. The bitch should have a distinctly feminine look.

Faults
Any deviation from these specifications is a fault. In determining whether a fault is minor, serious, or major, these two factors should be used as a guide: 1. The extent to which it deviates from the standard. 2. The extent to which such deviation would actually affect the working ability of the dog.

Size, Proportion, Substance

Males should be 24-26 inches in height and females 22-24 inches, measured at the withers.

Males under 22½ or over 27½ inches in height and females under 20½ or over 25½ inches in height shall be disqualified.

The length, measured from point of breastbone to point of rump, should equal the height. Bitches may be slightly longer. Bone structure should be moderately heavy in proportion to his height so that he is well balanced throughout and neither spindly or leggy nor cumbersome and bulky. The Belgian Sheepdog should stand squarely on all fours. Side view - The topline, front legs, and back legs should closely approximate a square.

Head
Clean-cut and strong, overall size should be in proportion to the body. Expression indicates alertness, attention, readiness for activity. Gaze should be intelligent and questioning. Eyes brown, preferably dark brown. Medium size, slightly almond shaped, not protruding. Ears triangular in shape, stiff, erect, and in proportion to the head in size. Base of the ear should not come below the center of the eye. Ears hanging (as on a hound) shall disqualify.

Skull
Top flattened rather than rounded. The width approximately the same, but not wider than the length. Stop moderate. Muzzle moderately pointed, avoiding any tendency to snipiness, and approximately equal in length to that of the topskull. The jaws should be strong and powerful. Nose black without spots or discolored areas. The lips should be tight and black, with no pink showing on the outside. Teeth - A full complement of strong, white teeth, evenly set. Should not be overshot or undershot. Should have either an even bite or a scissors bite.

Neck, Topline, Body
Neck round and rather outstretched, tapered from head to body, well muscled, with tight skin. Topline--The withers are slightly higher and slope into the back, which must be level, straight, and firm from withers to hip joints. Chest not broad, but deep. The lowest point should reach the elbow, forming a smooth ascendant curve to the abdomen. Abdomen--Moderate development. Neither tucked up nor paunchy. The loin section, viewed from above, is relatively short, broad and strong, but blending smoothly into the back. The croup is medium long, sloping gradually. Tail strong at the base, bone to reach hock. At rest the dog holds it low, the tip bent back level with the hock. When in action he raises it and gives it a curl, which is strongest toward the tip, without forming a hook. Cropped or stump tail shall disqualify.

Forequarters
Shoulder long and oblique, laid flat against the body, forming a sharp angle (approximately 90 degrees) with the upper arm. Legs straight, strong and parallel to each other. Bone oval rather than round. Development (length and substance) should be well proportioned to the size of the dog. Pastern medium length, strong, and very slightly sloped. Feet round (cat footed), toes curved close together, well padded. Nails strong and black, except that they may be white to match white toe tips.

Hindquarters
Legs--Length and substance well proportioned to the size of the dog. Bone oval rather than round. Legs are parallel to each other. Thighs broad and heavily muscled. The upper and lower thigh bones approximately parallel the shoulder blade and upper arm respectively, forming a relatively sharp angle at stifle joint. The angle at the hock is relatively sharp, although the Belgian Sheepdog does not have extreme angulation. Metatarsus medium length, strong and slightly sloped. Dewclaws, if any, should be removed. Feet slightly elongated. Toes curved close together, well padded. Nails strong and black, except that they may be white to match white toe tips.

Coat
The guard hairs of the coat must be long, well fitting, straight and abundant. They should not be silky or wiry. The texture should be a medium harshness. The undercoat should be extremely dense, commensurate, however, with climatic conditions. The Belgian Sheepdog is particularly adaptable to extremes of temperature or climate. The hair is shorter on the head, outside of the ears, and lower part of the legs. The opening of the ear is protected by tufts of hair.

Ornamentation-- Especially long and abundant hair, like a collarette, around the neck; fringe of long hair down the back of the forearm; especially long and abundant hair trimming the hindquarters, the breeches; long, heavy and abundant hair on the tail.

Color
Black. May be completely black, or may be black with white, limited as follows: Small to moderate patch or strip on forechest. Between pads of feet. On tips of hind toes. On chin and muzzle (frost may be white or gray). On tips of front toes--allowable, but a fault.

Disqualification
Any color other than black, ex-cept for white in specified areas. Reddening due to climatic conditions in an otherwise correct coat should not be grounds for disqualification.

Gait
Motion should be smooth, free and easy, seemingly never tiring, exhibiting facility of movement rather than a hard driving action. He tends to single track on a fast gait; the legs, both front and rear, converging toward the center line of gravity of the dog. The backline should remain firm and level, parallel to the line of motion, with no crabbing. He shows a marked tendency to move in a circle rather than a straight line.

Temperament
The Belgian Sheepdog should reflect the qualities of intelligence, courage, alertness and devotion to master. To his inherent aptitude as a guardian of flocks should be added protectiveness of the person and property of his master. He should be watchful, attentive, and always in motion when not under command. In his relationship with humans, he should be observant and vigilant with strangers, but not apprehensive. He should not show fear or shyness. He should not show viciousness by unwarranted or unprovoked attack. With those he knows well, he is most affectionate and friendly, zealous of their attention, and very possessive. Viciousness is a disqualification.

Disqualifications
Males under 22½ or over 27½ inches in height and females under 20½ or over 25½ inches in height.
Ears hanging (as on a hound).
Cropped or stump tail.
Any color other than black.
Viciousness.

Approved December 11, 1990
Effective January 30, 1991

 Belgian Sheepdog(比利时牧羊犬)

[简介] 比利时牧羊犬首先给人的印象就是一种非常匀称的、正方形比例的狗。度文雅，头部和颈部非常高傲的昂起。他结实、灵活且肌肉发达，永远都保持警觉。整体结构给人的印象是有深度、可靠，但不粗笨。一般雄性给人的印象比雌性要深一些、大一些，而雌性一般显得柔美。

[缺陷] 任何背离这些描述的地方都属于缺陷。不论是次要缺陷、一般缺陷还是主要缺陷的判别，都必须遵循两个标准：1、与品种标准背离的程度。2、这些背离标准的地方，对其工作能力的影响程度。

[体型] 雄性肩高约24~26英寸；雌性肩高约22~24英寸。雄性低于22.5英寸或高于27.5英寸属于失格；雌性低于20.5或高于25.5英寸属于失格。体长，从胸骨到臀部的距离，与肩高相等。雌性可能略长一些。骨量中等，与整体比例匀称，整体非常协调，身躯既不瘦长或细长腿，也不笨重。比利时牧羊犬站立时应该呈正方形比例，即从侧面观察，背线、前肢、后肢形成一个正方形。

[头部] 轮廓简洁、结实、整体尺寸与身躯的比例匀称。表情：显示出机警、关注、随时准备行动。眼神表现出聪明和疑问。眼睛：褐色，深褐色更好。中等大小，略呈杏仁状，不突出。耳朵：形状为三角形，牢固的竖立着，与头部比例恰当。耳朵外侧角不能低于眼睛中心线。耳朵象猎犬那样耷拉着属于失格。脑袋：头顶略平坦，不圆拱，宽度与长度大致相等，宽度不能大于长度。止部适中。口吻：略微有点尖，不能象被截断的样子，长度大致与脑袋相等。轮廓与脑袋的轮廓平行。颚部结实而有力。鼻镜：黑色，无污迹或褪色。嘴唇紧，黑色，从外部看不到粉红色。牙齿：牙齿为完整、有力的白牙齿，均匀分布，剪状咬和或钳状咬和。不能出现上颚突出式咬和或下颚突出式咬和。

[颈部、背线、身躯] 颈部：圆拱且向外伸展，从与身躯结合处向上逐渐变细，肌肉发达，皮肤紧绷。背线：马肩隆略高，背部从马肩隆到臀部保持水平、直、稳固。胸部：不宽，但相当深，深度达到肘部。下腹线（从胸部最深处到腹部）为平顺优美的曲线。腹部：适度发达，既不过分上提，也没有大肚子。腰部，从上方观察，显得短、宽而结实，平滑的与背部结合。臀部长度中等，逐渐倾斜。尾巴：尾根处结实，尾骨延伸到飞节。休息时，尾巴下垂，末端靠近飞节。运动时，尾巴上卷，末端结实有力，不能象个钩子。断尾属于失格。 [前躯] 肩部：肩胛长而倾斜，向后斜靠着身躯，与前臂呈明显的角度（大约90度）。腿：直、结实且彼此平行，骨骼呈卵形而不是圆形。长度和质地与整体的比例非常匀称。脚腕中等长度，结实，非常轻微地倾斜。狼爪可以被切除。足爪：圆（猫足），脚趾圆拱且非常紧密。趾甲结实，黑色（除了与白色脚趾相称的白色指甲）。

[后躯] 腿：长度及质地与整体尺寸的比例非常协调，骨骼呈卵形而不是圆形。两后腿彼此平行。大腿：宽且肌肉非常发达，上半部大腿骨和下半部大腿骨分别与肩胛骨及前臂骨平行，在后膝关节形成清晰的角度。飞节的角度比较明显，虽然，比利时牧羊犬没有太夸张的角度。跖骨中等长度，结实而略倾斜。如果有狼爪，必须切除。足爪：后肢足爪略长，脚趾圆拱且非常紧密，脚垫厚实。趾甲结实，黑色（除了与白色脚趾相称的白色指甲）。

[被毛] 外层披毛必须长、适合、直且丰厚。不应该呈丝状或刚毛状。质地为中等粗硬，底毛非常浓厚，能适应各种气候条件。比利时牧羊犬对极端的气候和温度具有独特的适应性。头部、耳朵外侧、腿下半部的毛发略短，张开的耳朵有丛毛保护。饰毛：更长、更丰厚的毛发，如围绕颈部的围脖；前臂后方的饰毛；大腿和“裤子”部分的长长的饰毛；尾巴上长、厚重而丰厚的毛发。

[颜色] 黑色，可能是纯粹的黑色或黑色带有白色斑纹。白色斑纹之只限于下列情况：前胸少量到中等数量的白色碎片、条纹。脚垫与脚趾间有白色，后足爪脚趾有白色，口吻和下巴有白色（可能为白色或灰色）。前足爪脚趾有白色是允许的，但属于缺陷。

[失格] 任何除了黑色以外的其他颜色，不包括前面指定的白色斑纹。被毛正确，而颜色由于气候原因变红不属于失格。

[步态] 动作平顺、舒展而轻松，显得不费力。动作灵活比驱动力强大更重要。在快速跑动时，比利时玛利诺的足迹为单一轨迹，前后肢都由于重力作用而聚拢在身体中心线下。背线水平而稳固，与运动方向一致，不生硬。这一品种绕圆形跑动要胜于直线跑动。

[气质] 比利时牧羊犬显示出聪明、勇敢、机警、对主人热爱的品质。他天生就很聪明，喜欢保护羊群，继而扩展到主人和主人的财产。在命令下，他非常警惕、专注且总付之行动。其与人类的关系，对陌生人时刻警惕且密切关注，但不担心。不应该显得害怕或羞怯。不能无理由、无原因的凶狠攻击，由此而知，他应该是友善、友好的，对他关注的事物热心，有很强的占有欲。凶恶属于失格。

[失格] 雄性低于22.5英寸或高于27.5英寸；雌性低于20.5或高于25.5英寸。耳朵象猎犬那样耷拉着。断尾。任何除了黑色以外的其他颜色。凶恶。

标准通过日期：1990年12月11日

标准执行日期：1991年 1月30日

原作： 酋长

来源： 转译自AKC

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