Belgian Laekenois

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 12-14 years
The Belgian Laekenois is considered to be a healthy breed, but there are some medical conditions that you need to know about. When you search for your puppy, make sure that you talk to the breeder and look over all of the provided information to ensure that the puppy’s parents have been properly screened. Some of the conditions to know about include hip dysplasia, allergies, elbow dysplasia, eye problems, and bloat.

Hip dysplasia is a condition that can cause crippling arthritis for your pup and it can lead to lameness in their legs. Hip dysplasia affects the back limbs and is a painful condition for your Belgian Laekenois to go through. The condition occurs when the hip joint or socket are not formed properly.

Allergies may be present in your Belgian Laekenois. These allergies can range from a vaccine sensitivity to a skin irritation or rash. It is important to keep an eye on your pup and report any symptoms to your veterinarian.

Similar to hip dysplasia, your Belgian Laekenois may have elbow dysplasia. This condition affects the front limbs and can cause lameness and arthritis. You may notice that your pup has trouble getting up from a reclined or laying position.

Eye problems may arise in your Belgian Laekenois and can range from complete blindness to cataracts or even progressive retinal atrophy or PRA. It is important that you have your dog screened if you think that he or she may have eye problems or a vision issue.

Lastly, bloat is a serious condition that you cannot wait to handle. If you do not seek treatment for your pup immediately, he or she will die. Bloat occurs when too much air enters into the stomach and then places pressure on the surrounding organs. This additional pressure then causes your pup’s body not to function correctly.

The Belgian Laekenois has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The Belgian Laekenois is a very intelligent pup that will impress you day in and day out with his or her smarts. You will find that this pup is a wonderful watch dog and remains alert at all times. This also means that your puppy will bark to alert you when he or she thinks someone is approaching your home.

Your Belgian Laekenois is affectionate and is wonderful with young children. This breed has a lot of patience and will do well with children who may be rough with him or her. This breed is okay with other dogs, but can be aggressive with pets that are not other canines. You will find that your pup likes to chase cats and run down smaller animals.

This breed can be shy, but with proper socialization, he or she will not be. You can use your puppy as a working dog and this pup will keep an eye on your property and your family.

You will find that your new Belgian Laekenois craves attention and wants to be part of your family. While dominant at times, you will find that this breed can be fairly easy to train. However, this breed is not ideal for a first-time dog owner. You must remain consistent when you train. The Belgian Laekenois likes to please and will pick up on commands early on.

This breed needs a lot of exercise and is perfect for a family that is active and has a large yard. This breed is not right for an apartment lifestyle. You need to walk your pup a few times per day in addition to outside play time.

Grooming

The Belgian Laekenois has low grooming needs and does not require much from you. This breed does shed a little bit, but nothing that cannot be managed.
You should brush your pup at least once or twice per week to remove any tangles and loose hair. You do not have to bathe your pup on any special schedule and should only do it when it is required.

You should clean your pup’s ears once per week to prevent an ear infection and trim his or her nails at least once per month to ensure they remain at a healthy length.

Diet

Your Belgian Laekenois will consume anywhere between 2.5 cups to 3 cups of dry food per day. You should make sure that you choose a high-quality brand of dry dog food that will meet the needs of your puppy. It is important that you look at the nutrients and match the brand of dog food with the activity level of your pup.

You should choose a dog food that is made with wholesome, real ingredients and not one that is filled with by-products and chemicals.
 

Find A Belgian Laekenois Breeder

Belgian Laekenois Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Belgian Laekenois

Cost

A Belgian Laekenois puppy will cost you approximately $650. This cost may rise or fall depending on the demand for the breed and the breeder. It is unlikely that you will find this breed in a shelter for adoption, but you should try, and if you do, you can expect to pay about $200 as an adoption fee.

In addition to the cost of the puppy, you also want to factor in the cost of vet checkups, vaccines, food, supplies, and any other costs related to the puppy over the first year and beyond.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Belgian Laekenois will make a good addition to your family, but this should not be your first dog. This breed gets along well with kids and other dogs, but can be aggressive towards cats and other small animals. This pup is great for a home with a yard and requires exercise daily. This breed ranks a 3.

 

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