Editing Belgian Shepherd (section)

{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name           = Belgian Shepherd
| image          = 04 - Belgian shepherd dog varieties - Groenendael,Tervuren, Malinois, Laekenois.jpg
| image_alt      = 
| image_caption  = Belgian Shepherd varieties: Groenendael (1), Tervuren (2), Malinois (3) and Laekenois (4)
| image2         = 
| image_alt2     = 
| image_caption2 = 
| altname        = {{ubl|Chien de Berger Belge|Belgian Sheepdog}}
| nickname       = 
| stock          = 
| country        = Belgium
| weight         = 
| maleweight     = {{right|≈ {{cvt|25|-|30|kg|lb|round=5}}}}
| femaleweight   = {{right|≈ {{cvt|20|-|25|kg|lb|round=5}}}}
| height         = 
| maleheight     = {{right|{{cvt|60|-|66|cm|in}}}}
| femaleheight   = {{right|{{cvt|56|-|62|cm|in}}}}
| coat           = Varies by variety
| colour         = Varies by variety
| litter_size    = 
| life_span      = 12 years (Malinois), 13.8 years (Tervuren)
| kc_name        = 
| kc_std         = 
| kc2_name       = 
| kc2_std        = 
| fcistd         = http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/015g01-en.pdf
| note           = 
}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name           = Groenendael
| image          = I´Ker de R.Brown.jpg
| coat           = Long-haired
| colour         = Solid black
| kc_name        = [[Société Royale Saint-Hubert]]
| kc_std         = https://www.srsh.be/les-races/details-de-la-race/bid/4ff5ca7d-4ee9-e611-80fb-e0071b6e3551
}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name           = Laekenois
| image          = Lakenios Koira 2013.JPG
| coat           = Rough-haired
| colour         = Fawn with traces of black overlay in coat and mask
| kc_name        = Société Royale Saint-Hubert
| kc_std         = https://www.srsh.be/les-races/details-de-la-race/bid/53f5ca7d-4ee9-e611-80fb-e0071b6e3551
}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name           = Malinois
| image          = Malinois Shepherd3.JPG
| coat           = Short-haired
| colour         = Fawn with black overlay and a black mask
| kc_name        = Société Royale Saint-Hubert
| kc_std         = https://www.srsh.be/les-races/details-de-la-race/bid/57f5ca7d-4ee9-e611-80fb-e0071b6e3551
}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name           = Tervuren
| image          = Tervuren.jpg
| coat           = Long-haired
| colour         = Fawn or grey with black overlay and a black mask
| kc_name        = Société Royale Saint-Hubert
| kc_std         = https://www.srsh.be/les-races/details-de-la-race/bid/5bf5ca7d-4ee9-e611-80fb-e0071b6e3551
}}

The '''Belgian Shepherd''' ({{langx|nl|Belgische Herder}}), also known as the '''Belgian Sheepdog''' ({{langx|nl|Belgische Herdershond}}) or the '''Chien de Berger Belge''', is a Belgian [[list of dog breeds|breed]] of [[herding dog]] of medium size. It is bred in four distinct varieties based on coat type and colour: the long-haired black '''Groenendael'''; the rough-haired fawn '''Laekenois'''; the short-haired fawn '''Malinois''', and the long-haired fawn '''Tervuren'''. The [[American Kennel Club]] considers the four varieties to be separate breeds.

The breed descends from a common type of shepherd dog found throughout Western Europe that includes such modern breeds as the [[Bouvier des Ardennes]], [[Dutch Shepherd]] and [[German Shepherd]], and was a common sight in the service of Belgian [[shepherd]]s for centuries. At the end of the nineteenth century a [[breed club]] was formed and attempts were made to [[breed standard|standardise]] the breed.

Its historical role was as a herding dog. It is also commonly kept as a [[companion dog]], or used as an [[assistance dog]], [[detection dog]], [[guard dog]], [[guide dog]], [[police dog]] or [[search and rescue dog]]. It has a long history of being used by Belgian police as well as military forces, serving for Belgian armed forces in both World Wars, as well as US Army since then. In the twenty-first century it is in use by a number of armed forces worldwide in a variety of roles.