Herding group
Belgian Tervuren
A glamorous, fawn-and-black Belgian shepherd with a working brain.
Belgian Tervurens are elegant, long-coated herding dogs with mahogany coats and black masks. They are intelligent, loyal and eager to work, but energetic and sensitive, needing an active, involved home.
- Height
- 22–26 in56–66 cm
- Weight
- 45–75 lb20–34 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Size
- Large
- Group
- Herding
- Origin
- Tervuren, Belgium
Coat: Long, straight double coat with a ruff. Colours: Fawn to rich mahogany with black overlay, Grey with black overlay.
At a glance
Ratings describe typical dogs of the breed on a 1–5 scale. Individual dogs vary with lines, upbringing and training.
Temperament
Tervs are affectionate, alert and highly attached to their people. They are watchful with strangers and make good watchdogs.
They are intelligent and sensitive, thriving on training and activity. Under-exercised Tervs can become anxious, vocal or herd-y with children and pets.
Living with a Belgian Tervuren
Exercise
Needs 90 minutes or more of vigorous activity plus mental work each day.
Grooming
Brush a couple of times a week and daily during heavy seasonal sheds.
Training
Very trainable and sensitive; positive methods and early socialisation work best.
Kids & other pets
Devoted to their family; better with older children. Usually fine with dogs they know.
Time alone
Needs company and activity; long isolation can cause anxiety or destructive behaviour.
Home fit
Best suited to a house with secure outdoor space; apartment living is hard on this breed and its neighbours.
Is a Belgian Tervuren right for you?
Take the Breed Fit quiz to see how a Belgian Tervuren matches your home, schedule and tolerance for shedding, barking and exercise — or find out which breed matches your personality with Dogsona.
Health
With good breeding and care, a Belgian Tervuren typically lives 12–14 years. These are the conditions most associated with the breed — not a prediction for any individual dog.
Epilepsy
Inherited seizures are a notable concern in the breed.
Hip and elbow dysplasia
Screened parents reduce the risk of joint disease.
Hypothyroidism
An underactive thyroid; managed with daily medication.
Cancer
Haemangiosarcoma and lymphoma occur in the breed.
Ask a breeder for
- Hip and elbow evaluation
- Eye examination
- Thyroid evaluation
Sources: OFA CHIC breed requirements: Belgian Tervuren; American Belgian Tervuren Club. This is general information, not veterinary advice — talk to your vet about your own dog.
Cost to own
After the first year, expect roughly $1,500–$3,000 a year for food, routine vet care, preventives, insurance and supplies (US estimate).
- Food, medication and anaesthesia are dosed by weight, so every vet visit costs more for a big dog.
- Pet insurance for a puppy typically runs $30–$60 a month; premiums rise with age and breed risk.
History
The Tervuren is named after the village of Tervuren, where M. F. Corbeel bred fawn long-haired shepherds in the late 1800s. It is one of four Belgian shepherd types.
Tervurens were rare in America until the 1950s. The AKC recognised the Belgian Tervuren as a separate breed in 1959, and it has since excelled in herding, obedience and agility.
Did you know?
- The first AKC Herding Champion was a Belgian Tervuren.
- Tervurens darken with age, and males often develop more black overlay.
- The breed is named after a village near Brussels.
Library guides for Belgian Tervuren owners
Grooming
Brushing
A brushing routine keeps Belgian Tervuren shedding under control.
Grooming
Bathing
How to bath a Belgian Tervuren without drying out the coat.
Exercise & Play
Fetch
A fast way to meet a high exercise need.
Exercise & Play
Dog Road Work
Structured conditioning for high-stamina dogs.
Exercise & Play
Hide and Seek
Brain work that tires busy minds.
Training
Place / Go to Mat
Teaching a settle helps dogs that struggle to switch off.
Similar breeds
Frequently asked questions
- Are Belgian Tervurens good family dogs?
- For active, experienced families, yes.
- Do Tervurens shed?
- Yes, heavily during seasonal sheds.
- Tervuren vs Belgian Malinois?
- Tervurens have long coats and are often slightly softer in temperament; Malinois are short-coated and more intense.