Tornjak vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Tornjak vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed ComparisonTornjak is originated from Croatia but Belgian Shepherd is originated from Belgium. Tornjak may grow 6 cm / 3 inches higher than Belgian Shepherd. Tornjak may weigh 20 kg / 45 pounds more than Belgian Shepherd. Both Tornjak and Belgian Shepherd has almost same life span. Tornjak may have less litter size than Belgian Shepherd. Both Tornjak and Belgian Shepherd requires Moderate maintenance.

History

tornjak - historyKnown also as the Bosnian and Herzegovinian, the Tornjak dog hails from Croatia and Bosnia and is a large mountain sheepdog.

It is thought that this protector of livestock dog has been bred from the Tibetan Mastiff. He is an ancient breed because there are records of its existence coming as far back as the 11th century.

As a working dog, his role of guarding sheep became less and the dog’s numbers diminished. It was during the 1970s that the breed was revived.

belgian shepherd - historyThere are different varieties of the Belgian Shepherd Dog – but these all differ only in color, length and texture of coat. The interesting aspect of the names of the different Belgian Shepherds, is that the names of the different varieties are taken from the individual towns in Belguim from which each variety comes from.

This breed dates back to the middle ages, but it was only in 1891 that Professor A. Reul of the Cureghem Veterinary Medical School established standards for the types and actually separated- and distinguishing them. In the UK they are shown as one breed.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
Origin:
Croatia
Belgium
Height Male:
58 - 72 cm
22 - 29 inches
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
Height Female:
58 - 72 cm
22 - 29 inches
52 - 62 cm
20 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
28 - 50 kg
61 - 111 pounds
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
Weight Female:
28 - 50 kg
61 - 111 pounds
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 7
6 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Croatian Mountain Dog, Bosnian Shepherd Dog
Belgian Sheepdog Chien de Berger Belge
Colors Available:
White with tan, brown or black markings, grey
depends on variety - black with white, brown
Coat:
Long and thick
short- and long-haired varieties
Shedding:
Moderate
Constant, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

tornjak puppy - descriptionThis is a large, strong dog, standing at between 58 and 72cm in height and weighing between 28 and 50kg. He has a long, thick coat which has always protected him from the harsh winters of the countries he comes from.

Common colors for the coat are mainly white with tan, brown, grey or black markings.

Temperament:

The Tornjak is a beautiful dog and also calm by nature, well balanced, intelligent and self- confident. His calm nature doesn’t stop him from being a good watchdog though as he is also alert and brave.

He is more than willing to please his owner and is able to be trained and socialized with ease.

He is a social dog and just loves spending time with hs human family. Therefore efforts should be made not to leave him alone for long periods of time. He forms strong bonds with them and is loving and devoted. Because of his size and energy he won’t suit life in the city on a small property but will be better suited to life in the countryside.

Different Varieties

belgian shepherd puppy - descriptionThe Belgian Shepherd is a well proportioned, muscular medium-to-large dog breed. There are the different varieties but they generally stands at 56 – 66cm in height and weighs anything from 25 to 30kg. You get the short haired Malinois and then you also get the Belgian Tervuren and the Groenendal which are fairly long-haired varieties. Their colour shades vary so you can find black with white markings on the chest and feet, you can find light to dark brown and some are even inclined to be brown.

Not Aggressive but a Great Guardian

All the varieties have long tails, pointed, fully erect ears and black noses. While the Belgian Shepherd isn’t an aggressive dog, he makes an excellent guard dog, being alert, highly energetic and intelligent and easy to train. As with most other dogs, you’ll want to see to it that he is trained and socialized because then he makes a super pet suited to life with a family where there are children and other pets. He has an independent nature and is loyal and protective with his human family.

Characteristics

These are quiet, brave dogs but they can be good watchdogs too.

Calm and balanced, he is capable of being alert too and makes a good watchdog.

tornjak dog - characteristicsWith their human family, they become attached and loyal, not wanting to be separated from anyone for too long. Give him the care this beautiful dog deserves and he'll make you a splendid pet and companion.

belgian shepherd dog - characteristicsEnergy is a big factor with this beautiful dog, so before you consider one as a pet, be sure that you can take care of his exercise needs. He belongs to the working group of dogs so he won’t enjoy just lazing around day after day. He is wired to be herding livestock and that natural instinct doesn’t disappear once he becomes a pet in your home. With so much energy, he wants a nice sized garden and wouldn’t do well cooped up indoors at all.

He is a strong, loving dog, and in exchange for your care of him, he will be a loyal, loving, protective friend who will love you to the end.

Health Problems

tornjak puppies - health problemsMost dogs face one or two health challenges in their lives, but most Tornjaks are healthy and won’t easily get sick.

They’re large dogs so they typically don’t live as long as small dogs. They can live to be between 10 and 12 years of age.

Patellar Luxation: 

This is a dislocation of the kneecap, caused by an injury or it can be present at birth. It can cause pain and a limp.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a joint condition that is more often seen in large dogs. The ill-fitting joint rubs and chafes, and osteoarthritis and more pain is the result.

You will have to speak to your vet about relieving the pain for your dog and making him more comfortable. Don’t think hip dysplasia is something only old dogs get – it can develop with young dogs – even puppies. Your veterinarian will examine your pet and suggest different medical and surgical options.

belgian shepherd puppies - health problemsThe Belgian Shepherd is a hardy dog so if you do your part to provide him with good quality nutrition from the food he eats and you exercise him, he’ll reach the 10-14 years allotted to him. Just like with any dog, there will be some minor concerns that you need to watch out for -

epilepsy, eye problems, cancer, skin allergies and hip dysplasia.

remember to check his teeth and for ticks and parasites as both, if just left, can jeopardise his health seriously.

see that he get his first puppy vaccinations at 6 to 8 weeks of age.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

tornjak dogs - caringThe Tornjak needs exercise every day to keep him fit and happy. He will love it when you take down his leash for his daily walk. He is a social dog and will want to be involved with all your activities. He gets on well with other dogs too.

●Grooming:

The Tornjak will require quite a bit of grooming because the hair is fairly long and it sheds. Some dog owners have the hair cut by a professional groomer. Regular brushing certainly helps to reduce lots of dog hair flying around.

The insides of his ears need to be checked for signs of redness as well as the eyes. The eyes should be checked for pus and redness. Occasional dog nail trimming will also be required.

● Vaccines:

Keep his vaccines up to date to avoid deadly canine diseases.

● Diet:

Provide your Tornjak with top quality food. If you feed him with one of the commercially manufactured foods, make sure it is one of the better brands. The inferior brands are filled with bad ingredients that can actually make a dog sick.

Try to include some home-made food which can be added to the dry kibble twice a week as a treat. Avoid human foods such as chocolates, grapes, onions, peanuts and chips as these can give him stomach pain and more vet bills for you.

Stick to wholesome, simple foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. Your Tornjak will love it and it will ensure he has bright eyes ad a wagging tail. Never leave him without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Exercise

belgian shepherd dogs - caringYour Belgian Shepherd is an energetic dog breed who is social and who wants to be included in your family activities. You can’t just keep him cooped up in your back yard and expect him to do well. He’ll need daily exercise – walks, swims if there is water close by, chasing the ball as well as your companionship.

Grooming and shedding

These dogs are shedders so you’ll certainly be needing to watch your clothes for hairs. You will need to give them a good brush at least twice a week to get rid of all that loose hair and to keep his coat shiny and in tip top condition. Also, he likes the closeness the brushing provides between him and his human caretaker.

Feeding your Belgian Shepherd

The Belgian Shepherd is a robust, healthy breed of dog, but many ill dogs are brought to veterinary clinics because they are suffering with itchy skin problems, they have digestive problems and they’re generally run down. This is because they aren’t provided with a varied and balanced diet plan. Apart from eating a quality dry- or wet dog food as recommended by your vet, he’ll most certainly need some raw meat in his diet too.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Tornjak vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  2. Tornjak vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  3. Tornjak vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  4. Tornjak vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  5. Tornjak vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  6. Tornjak vs Samoyed - Breed Comparison
  7. Tornjak vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  8. Tornjak vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  9. Tornjak vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  10. Tornjak vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  11. Tornjak vs Presa Canario - Breed Comparison
  12. Tornjak vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  13. Tornjak vs Labrador Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Tornjak vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  15. Tornjak vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  16. Tornjak vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  17. Tornjak vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  18. Tornjak vs Goldador - Breed Comparison
  19. Tornjak vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  20. Tornjak vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  21. Tornjak vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  22. Tornjak vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison
  23. Tornjak vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  24. Tornjak vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. Tornjak vs Mackenzie River Husky - Breed Comparison
  26. Samoyed vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  27. Alaskan Malamute vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Bullmastiff vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. Great Pyrenees vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  30. Boerboel vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  31. Presa Canario vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  32. Labrador Husky vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  33. Argentine Dogo vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  34. Giant Schnauzer vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  35. Belgian Shepherd vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  36. Belgian Shepherd vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  37. Belgian Shepherd vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  38. Belgian Shepherd vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  39. Belgian Shepherd vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Belgian Shepherd vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  41. Belgian Shepherd vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  42. Belgian Shepherd vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  43. Belgian Shepherd vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  44. Belgian Shepherd vs Alano Espanol - Breed Comparison
  45. Belgian Shepherd vs Antebellum Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  46. Goldador vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  47. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  48. Dogo Cubano vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  49. Dogo Sardesco vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  50. Central Asian Shepherd vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds