The Belgian Shepherd dog comes from the Northern provinces of Belgium which borders the province of Nord-Brabant in the Netherlands.  It is said that the Shepherds from the Netherlands and Belgium had crossed the borders and a significant relationship developed through the centuries.  At present there is a greater difference between  the Dutch and Belgian Shepherd, but at one point they may have been varieties of the same breed.  Now breeders speak more of the differences than the resemblances.

At this time the most notable difference between the Dutch and Belgian Shepherd is the color.  At one point in time there were fawn Dutch Shepherds along with the many different color brindles seen today.  This is shown in the Kennel Club Belge stud book 1933 to 1937.  There is a preference for a black mask, but not necessary.

The Long Hair
The long hair has a little different background and a different, more moderate character.  There were not many long haired Dutch Shepherds in the Netherlands.  In 1937 the long hair was said to be extinct.  Two long hairs were found and without much history of their lineage, many surprises were found in the offspring.  There was a strict selection of dogs bred and after a number of years, in-breeding problems developed.  They tried cross-breeding with the short haired Dutch Shepherds, but though this brought undesirable qualities.  In 1987 the long hair was bred to a beautiful Belgian Tervuren male with good health, coat, body structure and character.  The offspring were bred back to the long haired Dutch Shepherds and the quality of the long hair became better.