Temperament

One of the most important things to consider about Tervuren temperament is what the heritage of the breed is. They were bred to herd, and protect livestock and the humans associated with the livestock. They were not bred to be a gregarious, outgoing, love everyone on sight breed, and to expect this temperament is to set yourself up for disappointment. Excellent temperament in a Tervuren is exemplified by the dog who, when in public is calm, cool and collected. He will stand for anyone to touch, but he does not solicit this attention from strangers. He should be trustworthy, not worried or anxious looking. He should never be "looking for an escape route" in his interaction with humans. And NEVER should a Tervuren show aggression without threat or extreme provocation!

Let someone the dog knows and loves come by though, and you'll see this same calm, dignified and seemingly disinterested animal turn himself inside out in exuberant and sometimes very vocal greeting!

This is not to say that the gregarious Tervuren does not exist, they do!
But this temperament does not occur "across the board" and this fact must be considered when you decide to add a Tervuren to your life.

This breed was bred to herd. This instinct to work is still alive and well in the majority of Tervuren, and especially in young dogs, this exuberance and need to just do SOMETHING puts them at odds with their humans. A young, energetic and bored Tervuren is "not a good thing". So if you have your heart set on a Terv, you must also make a commitment to find time for the dog, no matter what your schedule is. They need a good bit of exercise (remember, it's a herding breed!) and they definitely need guidance and consistent rules as they learn how to live in your world. Time spent molding the young dog will pay off greatly as you enjoy the next 12-15 years with your Tervuren!

For those who appreciate and celebrate the unique traits that make a Terv a Terv, the relationship will be greatly rewarding! Tervuren make outstanding agility, obedience, tracking, and search and rescue dogs. They make wonderful hiking and camping companions, and are great family dogs when raised properly.

The following quote by the late Mary Dillaway, pretty well sums it all up
" A Belgian is capable of making an executive decision, if you have not trained, you may not like what the dog decides"