Old Danish Pointer vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) - Breed Comparison

Hailing from Denmark, the Old Danish Pointer originates back to 1710 and has been used as a pointing breed for finding game.

Today they are essentially used as pet companions. Morten Bak mated local farm dogs with gypsy breeds, leading to the development of piebald purebred dogs. These were named Old Danish Pointers.

The Laekenois, from a variety of 4 Belgian Shepherds, and one of the rarest, is a working- or herding breed of dog which originated in Belgium. It is believed to have been around since the Middle Ages. The intelligent dog was also used for sending messages during the 1st World War. In most countries, all 4 of the dogs are considered the same breed with different varieties in coat types, but there are some instances where they are recognized as separate breeds.

An interesting aspect of these dogs is that until the advent of dog shows in the 1900s, the 4 varieties were intermixed, and today purebred Laekenois can sometimes give birth to smooth-coated puppies which can be registered as Malinois.

The Old Danish Pointer is a medium-sized, purebred dog standing at between 50 and 60cm in height and weighing between 26 and 35kg.

This beautiful dog is muscular and lean with a broad head, floppy ears and a long thin tail. The coat is smooth and short haired and is white with large reddish brown patches as well as some freckling.He is an average shedding dog.

He has dark brown eyes. He is amicable and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other dogs. Even so, it is best to have him trained and socialized as he becomes obedient and more amicable than he already is. If you decide to go in for breeding your dog, you can expect 4 to 6 puppies.

Temperament:

Quiet, calm and steady, the Danish Pointer is also stubborn, and this is why training and socialization is so important for him.

Outdoors and perhaps on a hunt he becomes highly animated and alive, but back home with his family he is a calm, loving, devoted family pet and loves spending time with his human family. He forms a close bond with his human owner and when he is well trained, he likes to please his owner.

He is intelligent too and finds learning new things easy.

Temperament

The Laekenois is a highly talented dog, highly energetic and extremely intelligent. He will make a superb family pet with owners who are firm and fair with him. The dog is bright, obedient, protective and somewhat territorial. He’ll guard what he believes is his as he is instinctively protective.

He will get on well with children in the home, and he can also be socialized to get on well with other pets in the home. Of course, the way an owner treats the dog, and any other dog for that matter, brings out different temperaments in a dog. To get the best from him he should be trained and socialized from an early age. He will need plenty of exercise if you don’t want him becoming destructive from sheer boredom.

Looks

The body is well proportioned, muscular and sturdy. He has an alert, intelligent face with erect ears, bright brown eyes and the nose black. The hair is dense on the long tail, but with no feathering like with the other breeds. The most common color is fawn with a reddish undertone. The chest is deep and the legs strong and straight. The Laekenois's medium length rough, wire coat can include colors from fawn to brownish and black in between.

Not only is the Old Danish Pointing Dog an excellent hunter, he is also friendly and loving when he is just being a pet.

These dogs are quiet, amicable pets enjoying the time they spend with their human family. He is low maintenance, he gets on well with children and other pets and he doesn’t spend his time barking endlessly at nothing.

When you take this well mannered, quiet, loving dog into your home, you can be prepared to have up to 14 brilliant years of companionship from him.

The Belgian Laekenois is an energetic herding breed dog, and even though he will do well in an apartment if he is sufficiently exercised, big gardens and farms would be first choice for him. Wherever you offer him a home, make sure to exercise him regularly and give him plenty of attention, as he loves his human family.

He’ll make an exceptional watchdog and because he is so intelligent, he learns easily, responding readily to his owner’s instruction. He’ll protect his human family with his life. Social, lively, attractive and bright, anybody who has owned a Laekenois will vouch for his loyalty and devotion, making him a splendid pet.

The Old Danish Pointer is a healthy dog and you’re not likely to be spending too much time at the vet with him.

However there are always dog illnesses that you need to look out for, and hip dysplasia is always on the top of the list.

Hip Dysplasia:

While this disease is more prevalent in larger dogs, it can strike smaller dogs too, and in fact dogs of any age. This is a condition where the hip joint doesn’t form properly, so that arthritis and inflammation sets in. It is very sad as you notice your once active dog becoming increasingly immobilized with pain and discomfort.

Eye and Ear Infections:

Eye infections can include entropion and ectropion – conditions where the eyelids irritate the surface of the eye.

Ear infections too, can cause your pet a lot of distress and he will shake his head and scratch his ears. Inside the ears, it will be red and possibly there will be a discharge. This is also more prevalent among dogs with floppy ears. The idea is to try and keep the inside of the ears clean and dry.

The lifespan of the Belgian Laekenois is between 10 and 14 years of age, and he is a pretty robust breed, not prone to getting sick easily. However, as with most other dog breeds, he is predisposed to some concerning health conditions.

Epilepsy

A frightening health issue in Belgian Shepherds is inherited epilepsy. It occurs in all four varieties. Your dog will have uncontrollable shaking that can last a few minutes. There are many causes of seizures but it is mostly an inherited disorder.

Eye disorders

The most common eye disease is cataracts.

Hip Dysplasia

This is an inherited disease that causes the joints to develop improperly. He may even have difficulty getting up from lying down.

Grooming:

With his short coat, the Old Danish Pointer is looked upon as a low maintenance breed. You can brush him twice a week and at the same time check him over for fleas and ticks, ear and eye infections as well as dental infections.

Check his nails too, as many dogs have been injured when their long nails have hooked onto things and ripped open the flesh. When he gets used to it, your pet will find these grooming sessions therapeutic and relaxing, loving the bonding time you spend with him.

Exercise:

Your beautiful Old Danish Pointer loves to spend time outdoors and he is far better suited to life in the countryside and in the suburbs as opposed to life in the city. Give him the chance to take part in a hunt, and he’ll relish it. He also loves long walks where he can even perhaps be let off the leash as well as the chance to go swimming. He is at his happiest when he is tired at the end of the day from hiking, running, swimming and camping.

Diet:

You can conveniently feed your Old Danish Pointer from the top quality commercially manufactured foods. Just be sure to check the labeling as you want to be sure he gets in the right amount of vitamins and minerals and avoids those foods high in colorants, preservatives and useless fillers.

Keep your dog’s diet simple and nutritious and try to add in some homemade food to his kibble from time to time. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots will keep him healthy and active. You can also try to include some raw meat occasionally.

Make sure he always has access to cool, fresh drinking water.

Grooming

The long, double coat of your Laekenois will need to be trimmed about twice a year otherwise he could look dirty and unkempt. Certainly with the coat he has, you will need to brush him at least twice a week to get rid of all those loose hairs.

Feeding

He is a well muscled, athletic, energetic dog and his food, whether home-made or commercially manufactured, needs to be a high-quality food high in protein and packed full of minerals and vitamins. If you’re not sure about food type, speak to your vet, because as a dog expert, they will advise you on food appropriate to this dog breed and his energy needs. Whether you own a male or female Laekenois, feeding should be such that weight for an adult is maintained around 25–30kg.