Lakenua: breed characterization and content

The breed of Belgian Shepherds is quite rare. One of the most noteworthy points is the dog’s coat, which looks like a twisted wire. In addition, such a dog has great endurance, and also has a athletic figure. Initially, it was bred only to protect various objects, and later became a shepherd.

You can already understand from the name that Lakenua appeared in Belgium. On its territory at the end of the 19th century there were quite a few dogs that helped herd the flocks. And although they all had the same job, their appearance was different. Professional dog lovers decided to combine the best qualities of all these animals in one look. So in 1891 a club of lovers of these animals was created. They organized an exhibition where hundreds of dogs took part, among which the best were selected and used to breed high-quality breeds.

As a result of this, four types of Belgian shepherds were obtained at once. These are the Tervuren, Malinois, Groenendale and Lakenua. Today, the International Association of Cynologists evaluates them all according to one standard. However, in some countries they are still considered separate breeds.

Lakenua was named after the residence of the Château de Laken, which belonged to Queen Henrietta of Belgium. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, the standards of this breed were established. In accordance with them, the dog should be ash-colored, as well as wool, resembling a wire. However, some followers disagreed about the coloring. Some of them wanted to recognize only standard red lacquers, the latter were adherents of the ashen color.

Purebred thoroughbred Belgian shepherds are quite strong and large animals, whose body is densely covered with "wire" wool. In addition, they have a very elegant head, as well as proud posture. All this gives the dog an aristocratic look. However, in fact this is a working dog, which can graze a huge herd, and work in a guard service, and guard the house of its owner.

The description of generally accepted lakenoin standards is as follows.

• The growth of the female varies within 60 centimeters, but the male may be taller, up to 65 centimeters. Females weigh at least 25 kilograms, males weigh about 30 kilograms.
• The face has a wedge-shaped and rectangular shape.
• The nose is smooth and the lips are very thin.
• The mouth is filled with a number of large and strong teeth that form a scissor bite.
• The eyes of animals are small, characterized by a slanting and elongated shape, the color of the iris is most often brown or black.
• On the top of the head are small triangular ears.
• The neck is long and high set, besides it expands to the shoulder blades.
• The physique is very strong, with a large chest. The back of the animal is straight and slightly shortened, the loin is strong, with beveled croup. Belly tightened.
• The tail of the Belgian Shepherd Dog is of medium length. If the animal is calm, then its tail will be lowered down, and if it is happy, then the tail rises.
• Lakenua's paws are long and powerful, with slightly rounded tips.
• Such animals have a rather dense undercoat, since most of them live in cold conditions.
• Due to its unusual coat, the dog looks sloppy and has a disheveled look all the time. On the face and legs, the hair will be shorter than on the rest of the body. In some places, it reaches 5-6 centimeters.

The history of Lakenua began recently, so the animals have not yet managed to inherit all the qualities of their ancestors. Dogs can graze herds and engage in various search activities. And, if their shepherd’s skills are not so in demand, then it’s quite possible to involve dogs in the search work.

They have a very solid character, however, they completely dislike loneliness. Shepherds are very attached to their owners, but they can only recognize one owner. To other people, such a dog seems very evil and dangerous. And this is absolutely true, because they are excellent defenders and security guards.

They must be brought out to people and acquainted with their friends and with other animals. This will provide an opportunity to build self-confidence in them and not be too timid. In addition, dogs will be less aggressive in the future.

Belgian dogs get along well with children. This does not have to be a game. Dogs can simply execute commands, which is very pleasant for young children. But with other pets that live in the house, they may not get along. Usually, dogs negatively relate to rodents. They evoke hunter instincts in dogs, and dogs look at them as a prey that must be caught. In addition, they also get along badly with cats. The only exception is cats that were raised with shepherd dogs.

If we talk about the content of such unusual animals, then this is a very easy process. It is enough to give them a little attention, properly feed, and also care. First of all, we must pay tribute to the care of their hair.

Since Belgian dogs are wire-haired animals, they will need a procedure such as trimming. However, such dogs are not always ready for procedures.Therefore, most often they molt naturally, as a result of which they have new wool.

But if a pet lives in an ordinary apartment, then the wool scattered throughout the apartment will be a real nuisance for the owners. In this case, it is necessary to comb the pets with a special comb, which will allow you to quickly pass the period of molting. Do this during molting every day. In addition, the Belgian thanks to the procedure will always look beautiful and neat.

To do this, it is enough to shake off a little, and everything will immediately disappear. You should swim once a month or two. In this case, special hygiene products must be used. After bathing, you can moisten the lakenua fur with special conditioners or rinses. After bathing, the domestic shepherd should be wrapped in a terry towel and wait a bit until all the moisture is absorbed.

Pets living in the apartment need to brush their teeth regularly. This should be done a couple of times a week. Cleaning will avoid any diseases of the oral cavity. In addition, for the teeth it is very useful when the animal is given bones, special toys or treats for the teeth.

However, so that there are no problems with cleaning, you need to teach dogs to her from an early age. Only in this case will the puppy behave not only calmly, but also patiently.

Also, do not forget about the ears, which must be regularly cleaned. For this you need to use special tools. They need to be buried in the ears, and after 3-4 minutes just wipe. To prevent sulfur or dirt from accumulating in the ears, remove the wool inside the ears.

Eyes should also be wiped. But you need to do this only when they are slightly “acidified” or dirt gets into them

In addition, the animals living in the apartment need to remove the claws with a clipper. But it is best to do this in veterinary clinics so that the dog does not bite or scratch its owner. In this case, it is necessary to euthanize the animal.

Although almost all dogs of this breed have excellent health, some diseases can still appear in them. They are transmitted from one generation to another. It is worth noting the following ailments.

• Dysplasia of large joints. In this case, the hip bone cannot fit snugly against the joint itself. The gait of the dog is broken, and she acutely feels pain. A little later, lameness appears.
• Eye diseases which most often occur in old animals. It can be glaucoma or even cataract.
• Stomach inversion can be both congenital and acquired. An acquired disease most often appears in such dogs due to malnutrition, which in the future can lead to the death of the dog. To prevent this from happening, you need to give your pet as much rest as possible, and also carefully select his menu.
• Infertility. It occurs in dogs, both female and male.
• Aging too fast. It happens swiftly, and the dog by the age of 6-8 not only feels old, but also looks like this.

The diet must be balanced and varied. Feed can be both industrial and natural. If preference is given to the first, then you need to buy only high-quality products of super-premium class or holistic. So the dog will be able to get all the vitamins and minerals necessary for her.

When choosing natural feeds, it is necessary that certain foods enter the diet.

• Squirrels, found in foods such as meat or fish, as well as offal. In addition, they are also in sour milk and chicken eggs. Meat can be given to dogs daily, but eggs only a few times a week.
• Fats can be found in meat, fish, butter or vegetable oil. However, butter should not be too zealous.
• Carbohydrates perfectly provide dogs with the energy they need. For this, cereals from various cereals may be suitable. For example, you can use products such as rice, buckwheat or wheat porridge. You can cook it on water or meat broth. In addition, carbohydrates usually also include brown bread.

In addition to these products, pets will need minerals and vitamins. To suit them, you must consult with your veterinarian. And also, buying small puppies, you must definitely ask the sellers what they fed them with. This will save owners from mistakes in the choice of feed.

Almost all Belgian shepherd dogs are smart and easy to train. But at the same time, they are quite wary and independent, which in some way can complicate the entire educational process.

From the very beginning, the puppy needs to show its leadership. Moreover, it should be proved. Do not show him your weakness, otherwise in the future the dog simply will not obey the owner. A person must behave confidently. After all, as soon as the dog feels weakness, he will immediately try to take leadership into his own hands.

Most often, lakenoins choose one owner for themselves and listen only to his commands. The rest of the family members such a dog is friendly and respectful, however, may refuse to comply with their orders.

A person who plans to train a dog should be patient, because such dogs are wayward. Each completed team needs to be encouraged with a treat, and if the pet is trying to play a trick, the owner must say “No” in a firm and confident voice. Lessons with a dog need to be carried out every day, only in this way can a dog be accustomed to discipline.

Summing up, we can say that, choosing for themselves such unusual pets as lakenua, one must be prepared not only to care for the puppy, but also to educate him. Only in this case, the animal can be kept in his house, without fear for bad consequences. Such dogs can not only protect their master’s house from various encroachments, but also serve as excellent shepherds for any living creature in the yard.

Read more about the Belgian Shepherd Lakenua in the next video.