The Groanda originated in Belgium in the 13th century. The Groanda is the most widely recognized of the three Belgian shepherd dogs. The main differences between the three types of Belgian Shepherd Dogs are the type, length and color of the coat. The Groanda is a long-haired, pure black breed. The other two types are: Lacanos wire-haired type; Malinois short-haired type. There is also a Terfren dog that is considered to be a variant of the Groanda, the difference being the color of the fur. The above-mentioned Belgian Shepherds have the same ancestor.

1. Introduction to Groanda Dogs

The breeding of the Groanda dog was relatively accidental. In 1890, a local cafe owner in Groanda, Belgium purchased a pair of black puppies. This pair of puppies became the basis for the breeding of this dog breed. The British Kennel Club recognizes all four of the above, while the American Kennel Club currently does not recognize the Lakanos, and the remaining three are recognized as three different breeds. The Federal Kennel Club of the United States recognizes four types as one breed. The purpose of this dog is herding, and it is an excellent herding dog.

2. Characteristics of the Groanda Dog

Size: Groanda is 56-66 cm tall and weighs about 28 kg. It is a large dog shepherd dog.

Head: The top of the head is slightly flat, with width and length roughly equal. Eyes are brown or dark brown, medium in size, slightly almond-shaped, not prominent. Eyes express intelligence, questioning, alertness, and concern. The ears are triangular in shape, upright, and in proportion to the size of the head. The muzzle is slightly pointed and roughly the same length as the head. The jaws are strong and powerful. Nose black, no stains or discoloration. The lips are tight and black, with no pinkish color visible from the outside. Teeth are complete, white and strong.

Body: The neck is arched and stretched outward, with well-developed muscles and tight skin. Topline straight and firm; chest not broad but fairly deep, reaching to the elbows. The waist, viewed from above, appears short, broad and strong, blending smoothly into the back. Croup of medium length, gradually sloping. The tail is strong at the base. When resting, the tail hangs downward; when in motion, the tail curls up slightly, with a strong and powerful end.

Coat: The outer coat is long, straight and abundant. The texture is medium coarse, the undercoat is very thick, and it can adapt to various climatic conditions. The coat color is black, pure black or black with white markings. White markings are limited to the following: a small to medium number of white patches or stripes on the chest. There is white on the pads of the feet and between the toes, white on the toes of the hind paws, and white on the muzzle and chin.

Limbs: The length and texture of the hind legs are in good proportion to the overall size, and the bones are oval rather than round. The hind legs are parallel to each other. The thighs are wide and very muscular. The hind legs are slightly longer, the toes are arched and very close, and the pads are thick. Toenails are strong and black.