Some dog breeds are extremely common, with endless examples of Golden Retrievers, poodles, Labs, and Chihuahuas available for purchase or adoption. For others, the need and the population is a bit more specialized. And for a few select types of rare dogs, they are literally a dying breed, with few opportunities to see the dogs in action outside of specialty dog shows, and a small pool of breeders trying to keep their legacy alive.
Meet the Belgian Laekenois, one of the rarest dog breeds and the most difficult to find of the four different breeds of Belgian Shepherds. Laekenois is pronounced “lak-in-wah” and is distinguished by closely related Belgian herders due to it rough, curly coat which comes in variations of red, fawn and gray. The Laekenois gained both fame and infamy in the early part of the twentieth century, when their work as faithful messenger dogs among the Belgian resistance during World War II led Adolf Hitler to put a price on the head of any dog of that breed.
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Their population has not recovered and now there are fewer than one thousand dogs left.
Rare Dog Breeds
Most rare dog breeds are rare because they are a subset of other, more popular breeds. This is particularly true among the many, many variation of shepherds. Every region has their own specific breed and a lot of them are not all that different from one another. Belgian Laekenois are similar in many ways to Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, and Belgian Tervuren, use like other regional sheepdog variations have plenty in common with their close relations.
(The same is true for regional hounds and terriers — there are plenty, and some of them are only mildly distinct from others.)
Also remember: dog breed distinctions are not an exact science. There are plenty of breeds that are recognized by one governing body and ignored by another, or considered a separate breed by one group of people, and a color variation or size fault by another. Sometimes what makes a breed is a matter of opinion.
Responsible Breeding
It’s always important for potential dog breeders to be responsible about their activity, not to overbreed their dogs, causing stress on the mothers, or flooding the marketplace with low-quality dogs with disease and temperament issues. But when there are few of the breed left, making sure the stock is healthy and model examples of the dog type becomes even more important.
It’s clear that the woman in this video has a special love for this rare breed, and when you see how adorable and good-natured they are, it’s hardly a surprise.
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