Collection: Personalised Belgian Tervuren Gifts

The Tervueren is one of four varieties of the Belgian Shepherd breed. There aren’t many physical differences between them, except for their coat type and colour. For example, this pooch has a long coat that can be either red, fawn or grey, sometimes with a black mask. Named after the province it originates from, the Belgian Tervueren is sometimes used as a drug detector but is mostly bred to be a companion dog.

America classifies each variety as a separate breed, but most places, including the UK, see each of the four Shepherd dogs as a type of Belgian Shepherd.

When you first think of Belgium, its infamous chocolate is likely to come to mind. It is responsible for a significant chunk of the country's economy and is one of its main exports. Successful cattle farming is, therefore, an important business. Belgium Shepherds play an active role in this by herding and guarding cattle, indirectly helping Belgium master its wonderful chocolate!

In the late 1800s, Professor Reul split the breed into four standardised types, using a sample of over 100! The Tervueren was bred by a brewer using the Groenendael variety. In the 1940s they almost became extinct, but it didn’t take long for them to become a common household pet.

By the 20th century, word of the breed had spread across the globe - they pulled ambulance carts for the British Red Cross in the First World War and now guard the White House!

Intentionally bred to have a serious, hard-working character, these dogs were never designed to be affectionate companion pets. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t suited to that role, though! The Tervueren has a mellow personality in comparison to the other Belgium Sheperd varieties. It has a more sensitive and shy nature which makes them less comfortable around strangers. They are intelligent, and it’s in their nature to protect their family. They are constantly on the watch for danger. If you are a first-time dog owner, this breed might not be for you, as they are high maintenance and demand regular long walks! (Even when the weather is stormy and miserable)