Editing Belgian Shepherd (section)

==Appearance==
The Belgian Shepherd is a medium-sized athletic breed with a body built for endurance. Dogs typically stand between {{cvt|56|and|66|cm|in}}, with bitches being on average {{cvt|4|cm|in|0}} shorter than dogs. They usually weigh between {{cvt|20|and|30|kg|lb|round=5}}; the [[breed standard]] states the ideal height is {{cvt|62|cm|in}} for dogs and {{cvt|58|cm|in}} for bitches.{{r|Alderton|Fogle|FCI}} The breed has a long, slender head with triangular, erect ears that are rounded at the base, and a long, narrow but balanced muzzle.{{r|Fogle|Morris|Jones}} According to the breed standard a dog that stands 62 centimetres at the withers should have a head {{cvt|25|cm|in}} long and a muzzle approximately half that length.{{r|FCI}} The body is muscular but not overly heavy; body length from shoulder to haunches is approximately the same as the height at the withers, proportionally slightly longer in bitches; the topline is straight and the belly neither low-slung nor overly high like that of a [[sighthound]].{{r|Jones}} The chest is deep but not overly broad; the neck is muscular, widening at the shoulders with a slight arch at the nape; the tail is strong and of medium length, and curves upwards slightly at the level of the knee. The forelegs are straight and well-boned, the hind legs muscular and powerful; the legs are not overly heavy.{{r|Jones}}

===Varieties===
The four varieties vary principally in their coat types and colours. The breed standard describes three coat varieties; long-haired, short-haired and rough-haired.{{r|FCI|Jones}} Long-haired dogs have a long, smooth coat with short hair on their faces, ears and legs although there is long feathering on the rear of the legs, they have an abundant mane on their neck and chest, particularly long hair on the rear of their thighs and a bushy tail that forms a plume.{{r|FCI|Jones}} Short-haired dogs have particularly short hair on the faces, ears and lower portion of their legs, short over the rest of the body and slightly longer on the neck and tail.{{r|FCI|Jones}} Rough-haired dogs have a coat that is rough, dry and approximately {{cvt|6|cm|in}} long over the body, they have shorter hair on the top of the muzzle and legs and, unlike the other coat types, they have long hair on the face and muzzle.{{r|FCI|Jones}}

====Groenendael====
The Groenendael variety is long-haired, it has a solid black double coat, the outer coat is straight and particularly long around the shoulders, neck and chest; they have short hair on the face, and well feathered legs and tail.{{r|Fogle|Jones}}

====Laekenois====
The Laekenois variety is rough-haired, its coat is fawn in colour with discreet black overlay and is harsh, dry and normally slightly tangled in appearance; it has a bristled, feathered muzzle and limited feathering on the legs and tail.{{r|Fogle|Morris}} According to the breed standard, black overlay means the tips of the hair are black but not in patches or stripes such as [[brindle]].{{r|FCI}}

====Malinois====
The Malinois variety is short-haired, it is fawn in colour with black overlay, with a charcoal-coloured face and extremities.{{r|Fogle|Morris}}

====Tervuren====
The Tervuren variety is long-haired like the Groenendael; its double coat is typically fawn in colour with black overlay and with black extremities, although grey with black is known. It has a ruff of long hair around the neck and feathering on the legs.{{r|Fogle|Jones}}