Obsidian History
It would be easy to jump to the conclusion that we named our pack of Belgian sheepdogs for the similarity between their glossy, black coats and the volcanic glass produced by the nearby Cascade Range. Actually, the name is a tribute to one our first dogs. Obsidian and his sister Lava were two beautiful Belgian X Border Collies we adopted from a shelter. Their lives spanned our time in grad school and our first jobs as forest ecologists. They were often our only company on long fieldwork trips in the Oregon Coast Range and a great source of entertainment after long days at the university.
We were drawn to Belgian sheepdogs for their trainability and the outstanding competitive drive possessed by many individuals of the breed. For trainers and handlers that are looking for versatility, there's no better choice than a Belgian.
We adopted our first purebred Belgian sheepdog, Chilko, in 2001. Rocky came shortly after, then Rogue in 2004. In June of 2007, we brought home Heart (Kaponomana Heart of Obsidian) as a herding partner for Joan and a breeding prospect. Visit the "Our Pack" for more information about our Obsidian Belgian sheepdogs. We live in a rural area near Corvallis, Oregon where we are surrounded by thousands of acres of public forest available for tracking training or just long dog walks.
We are members of the Belgian Sheepdog Club of America (BSCA), the Northwest Belgian Sheepdog Club, Mutty Paws UKC Obedience Club, and the Willamette Agility Group.
The Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Sheepdogs, also known as Groenendaels or Les Chien de Berger Belge, developed from northwest European stockdogs that were used to manage medium-sized flocks (20-200 head) of sheep. Belgians are a "tending breed" of herding dog. That is, they were used to keep the flock together while grazing or moving along a trail. They do not have a strong instinct to fetch livestock to a handler, but can be taught to do so. Belgians also served to guard the flock from predators and poachers, therefore are larger than most other herding breeds and are vigilant in the presence of strangers.
The American Kennel Club considers the Belgian sheepdog a unique breed that is closely related to the Belgian Tervuren, Malinois, and Laekenois. Other registries, such as the Canadian Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club, consider these as four varieties of the Belgian Shepherd Dog that are distinguished from one another mainly by coat color and length.
Belgian Sheepdogs are an active, intelligent breed that require a close partnership with their human companions in order to be happy and physical fit. We strongly advise those considering purchasing or adopting a Belgian Sheepdog to contact one of the national or regional breed clubs for assistance in determining whether a Belgian is right for you.
Herding photo credit: Mary Burlingame, Petscape Photography
"The first impression of the Belgian Sheepdog is that of a well balanced, square dog, elegant in appearance, with an exceedingly proud carriage of the head and neck. He is a strong agile, well muscled animal, alert and full of life."
From the Approved AKC Standard for the Belgian Sheepdog