Mackenzie River Husky vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison

Mackenzie River Husky vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed ComparisonMackenzie River Husky is originated from United States but Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) is originated from Belgium. Mackenzie River Husky may grow 8 cm / 4 inches higher than Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael). Mackenzie River Husky may weigh 17 kg / 38 pounds more than Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael). Both Mackenzie River Husky and Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) has same life span. Both Mackenzie River Husky and Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) has same litter size. Mackenzie River Husky requires Moderate maintenance. But Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) requires High maintenance

History

mackenzie river husky - historyThe name Mackenzie River Husky was given to these huskies by those wanting to name the freight huskies of a certain area. The name took hold in the 1960’s, but the dog began to disappear with the introduction of snow machines.

They’re a mixture of native sled dogs - Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, Staghounds and Wolf. As a mixed breed, they have always been regarded as classic sled dogs.

belgian shepherd dog groenendael - historyLooking much like a pitch black German Shepherd dog, the Belgian Shepherd is a beautiful looking dog. Their roots go back to the 1800s to Groenendael, Belgium. This is where they were bred by a certain Nicolas Rose in 1910. The Groenendael is one of four different Belgian Sheepdog varieties but the Groenendael is sometimes treated as a distinct breed.

They have always been used for their intelligence, serving for instance in the police force and being message carriers in war situations. Originally, Belgian Shepherds were used to herd livestock. It was in 1911 that the Groenendael was registered in the United States, and not much later the first Belgian Sheepdog Club of America formed. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1912.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
Origin:
United States
Belgium
Height Male:
66 - 74 cm
25 - 30 inches
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
Height Female:
66 - 74 cm
25 - 30 inches
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
29 - 47 kg
63 - 104 pounds
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
Weight Female:
29 - 47 kg
63 - 104 pounds
23 - 30 kg
50 - 67 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
6 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
None
Belgian Groenendael, Belgian Shepherd, AKC: Belgian Sheepdog
Colors Available:
White, tan, cream, black, blonde and red.
Black
Coat:
Medium Length to Long - dense
Dense double coat
Shedding:
Moderate
Constant, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

Description

mackenzie river husky puppy - descriptionThe beautiful Mackenzie River Husky stands at 66 to 74cm in height and weighs between 29 and 47kg.

This deep chested dog has a long, straight coat with the colors being typically wolf-like – white, cream, black, tan, blonde and red. He has erect ears, long legs and a long, bushy tail.

Temperament:

This wolf-type dog is strong willed and independent and was always a pack dog. They wouldn’t be described as a good choice for the first time dog owner as they do seem to have some wolf traits and will require a strong, firm, level headed owner.

Large, Strong and Well Proportioned

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppy - descriptionWith his alert, bright brown eyes, the Groenendael, referred to often as the Belgian Sheepdog, has erect ears with a long, feathered tail. The straight, strong legs are also feathered. He is well proportioned, athletic and strong. He has a dense double coat, and this working dog’s coat is black, but you sometimes find some small white markings around his paws and muzzle. The size of the Groenendael is roughly 60-66cm at the withers with the females sometimes being slightly smaller. The weight of the dog is roughly 25–30 kilograms.

He’s a Social Dog who Craves Companionship

The Groenendael is an active, intelligent breed and training and socializing will be necessary to ensure he knows how to behave around his human family. He is a big, social dog and won’t do well when left alone day after day in the back yard. In fact he may even show signs of separation anxiety if you leave him indefinitely. He makes for an excellent family dog, just loving their companionship and he becomes very protective of them.

An Intelligent, Alert Breed

He is used to making use of his intelligence and therefore he will need mental stimulation as opposed to lying around all day. He gets on well with adults, children and other pets, but he needs to grow up with children and not be put among children when he is already an adult. He is loyal and loving to his human family, forming a deep bond, especially with just one member of the family.

Characteristics

mackenzie river husky dog - characteristicsYour MacKenzie River Husky is such a likeable pet to have. True, he does tend to be a bit stubborn and independent but there is nothing that training and socialization won’t do for him. You’ll find him much more obedient and amicable, and he gets on well with children and pets in the home.

He is an intelligent dog too and very energetic so will require an owner who is active, firm and consistent. He thrives on human company and just wants to be around his owner all the time, ready to join in with any activity happening in his life.

He is therefore far more suited to life in the countryside than to the city. Loyal, devoted and loving, a MacKenzie River Husky isn’t only a beautiful dog to own, he promises to offer everything you want in a 4-legged friend.

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dog - characteristicsYour Belgian Shepherd is an intelligent, active, loyal companion for you. He is highly intelligent too, and will need the right owner who can meet his energetic needs. He therefore wouldn’t do well with in a small place where the owners are couch potatoes. He is a working dog and will require being kept busy.

Provide him with good food, look after that thick, lustrous coat of his, provide him with a warm, dry place to sleep and plenty of exercise, love and attention and he will turn out to be the wonderful pet that makes him such a popular breed.

Health Problems

mackenzie river husky puppies - health problemsYour MacKenzie River Husky, regardless of how healthy he is, can suffer with some common health problems that all dogs are prone to.

Perhaps one of the more common health problems that this particular dog breed has to contend with is cataracts, hip dyslasia and hypothyroidism.

Cataracts:

Many people associate cataracts in dogs with age, little realizing that there are many medical reasons as to why our pets develop cataracts. Cataracts can start as early as 6 months of age, although this is unlikely. They come about because of a disease which affects the lens of the eye, causing the lens to lose its transparency.

You’ll notice a whitish/grey shade in your dog’s eye and this can actually impair vision. Cataracts are particularly the lot of diabetic dogs. It can certainly help to have your dog’s eyes checked by a vet regularly.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is another fairly common problem with Huskies. It’s almost like a death sentence if your MacKenzie is a working dog because it can lead to lameness. The disease can lead to problems in the hip joint which cab be debilitating ad give your dog a lot of pain.

It doesn’t strike old dogs only, but can be the lot of young dogs too. Sometimes treatment will require surgery but there are non-invasive options too. You want to make sure that you don’t allow your pet to become overweight as this can contribute to developing hip dysplasia.

belgian shepherd dog groenendael puppies - health problemsThe Belgian Groenendael is a healthy, strong breed with no major health problems and with an average lifespan of 12-14 years.

As with every dog breed, there will be some health issues to be aware of. Skin allergies, epilepsy, eye problems and hip- and joint dysplasia are some areas to look out for

Dental disease for instance, is a common problem with pets, and your Belgian Shepherd can have serious problems with their teeth. Tartar build-up on the teeth ca take you down a trail of infections and gum disease. If you don’t want to make use of a special canine toothbrush and toothpaste, your vet will do it for you.

Your Groenendael will also be susceptible to ticks, fleas and bacterial and viral infections. As a puppy of 6 – 8 weeks, vaccinations for parvo, rabies, and distemper will be necessary. You’ll also need to be generally watching your pet’s health and to get him to the vet when he shows signs of being run-down and ill.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

mackenzie river husky dogs - caringHuskies like this one will require a good deal of exercise every single day. These are working dogs who have always had a job to do and you can certainly count him in when you do your hiking walks, swimming – you name it. The only thing he will object to is that he doesn’t do well in hot weather. Strong-willed, you’ll want your MacKenzie River Husky trained and socialized if you want him to be a companionable dog.

Diet:

Dogs need to be fed according to the size, their age and their lifestyle. If your MacKenzie River Husky is an active working dog, his food must be the very best and contain enough calories to cover the daily caloric expenses.

Quality and the amount of vitamins and minerals in the food is most important for a dog like this. If you feed him commercially manufactured food, make sure its high quality and not made up of fillers, and other bad stuff. Read the label and understand exactly what’s going into your dog’s stomach.

Simplicity with feeding is best for your pet. Treat him occasionally to cooked chicken, brown rice, pasta and cooked or raw vegetables which can be added into his dry kibble. A dog like this will require some raw meat as well to ensure his coat and eyes are always shiny and bright.

Grooming:

Grooming of the MacKenzie River Husky must be done at least twice a week to get rid of loose hairs.

belgian shepherd dog groenendael dogs - caringThe Groenendael has a double coat and because it is also fairly long, his black coat may well be high maintenance and brushing every 2nd day will be necessary to keep the coat unmatted and to also get rid of those loose hairs. In fact, heavy shedding is part of this breed’s life and while heavy shedding happens twice a year, light shedding continues throughout the year. Sometimes is may be necessary to send him to a dog grooming parlour to snip his hair and to wash it.

Other care routines to watch for -

A healthy, quality diet it absolutely imperative. Speak to your vet about the best kind of wet- or dry food suited to an energetic breed like this and appropriate to his age. You need to include raw meat into your pets diet every day now and then to avoid skin problems. Always ensure a bowl of clean, cool water is available, The bowl will need to be washed out every other day.

make sure his ears are cleaned. Once again you have to be careful when prodding in a dog’s ear and your veterinarian will show you how.

keep him well exercised with long walks and ball games.

Comparison with other breeds

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

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds