Pumi vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison

Referred to as the ‘Terv’, this dog from Belguim was created in the late 19th century. He is one of 4 varieties of Belgian Shepherd and he has a long, fawn colored coat. It was in 1892 that the first show for Belgian Shepherds took place and it was the Tervuren variety that won.

Breeders of these dogs gave each of the four varieties their own name, and the name Tervuren comes from a Belguim village. This is where M.F. Corbeel bred dogs, believed to be the foundation of the Tervuren breed.

In World War I, many of these dogs were used by the military for war related jobs. Some of these dogs were imported to America for breeding and in 1959 it was considered a separate breed from other Belgian Sheepdogs.

The Pumi is a small to medium sized dog which comes from Hungary. They have always been used for guarding livestock.

It was in 2004 that the the Pumi was accepted by the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service program. Also in the country of the dog’s birth, the Pumi Club was founded, and in 2011, the dog was also accepted into the AKC into the Miscellaneous class and into the herding group too.

In the UK in 2015, the Kennel Club also accepted the breed standard

Attractively Elegant

The Tervuren is a medium to large sized, well muscled dog achieving heights of up to 66cm. He has an attractively elegant, regal look to him. The dog has a double coat which is weather resistant. The overall length of the coat which is fawn to mahogany is medium to long and the outer coat is straight with black tips. The males have almost like a mane of hair around the neck that you won’t necessarily find with the females. The tail is long and feathery

The Tervuren is Full of Beans

The Belgian Tervuren is alert and intelligent. His has a long-shaped face with a black mask and upright ears that are sharp and receptive to every sound. He is a herding dog and is full of energy – used to having a job that keeps him busy.

If you don’t want your Tervurens to become destruction, you will need to keep him busy and not just keep him cooped up in the back yard. This particular dog breed is a devoted, loyal pet and forms a strong bond with his human family. However, he will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to behave well around children and pets in the home.

The Pumi stands at between 38 and 47cm in height and weighs between 8 and 15kg.

The coat is a fawn, greyish silver or sandy color. The grey Pumi's are thought to be the more common color.

The medium length coat is thick and curly with the top coat being fairly harsh to the touch.There is very little shedding. The dog has semi-erect, semi-floppy ears which are high set. The eyes are small and dark.

With his tight curly coat, his kinky tail and bright expression, you’d think the Pumi was just for entertainment and a playmate, but he is a serious worker too, loving to be busy, whether for work or play.

Temperament:

The Pumi is lively and bold and always ready for fun and action. He is intelligent too, and early training and socialization will be important to keep him manageable and a pleasure to have around. Because he is smart he won’t have trouble learning. They’re good with children and other dogs in the family.

With his beautiful face and lustrous coat, this is a pet that you’re always going to be proud of. Not only that, he is active too, a great watchdog and a fantastic family companion.

To keep your Tervuren spritely and contented, ensure he has a high quality diet designed for active herding dogs. He is intelligent too and training and socialization will turn him into an exceptional pet for you. Provide him with lots of human companionship, give him nutritious food and see that any ailments he has are attended to by the vet and you’ll have your attractive pet around with you for up to 12, 13, 14 or 15 years.

The Pumi is a comical looking dog which some people assume makes him a bit of a lapdog, but this isn’t true. Yes, he loves to receive love and attention from his human family, but he isn’t a lapdog.

He likes to be busy if he can. He is smart and quick to learn and is affectionate, playful, loyal and loving.

His small size allows him to adapt easily to life in the city or the countryside, but he will need to be exercised. If you’re looking for a lively, amicable pet and companion, the Pumi can make an excellent family pet.

Your Tervuren is a robust, healthy dog breed and with the right food, love and attention, you’re not going to have major health concerns with him. Skin allergies, eye problems and hip dysplasia might be something you want to be aware of.

Skin Allergies

A dry, itchy skin with incessant scratching from your pet might require a visit to the vet. If left untreated, an itchy skin and a scratching dog can lead to secondary skin infections and even hair loss. Check for allergies or fleas, and remember that apart from medical management of fleas and ticks, dogs with a dull coat will require a supplement with omega 3 fatty acids.

Hip Dysplasia

A common skeletal disorder with malformation of the hip brought on by environmental- and genetic factors. Recognizing the signs of hip dysplasia is important for your dog to help him with pain.

With the Pumi, you’re really getting a robust little dog. With good care, he can push to 14 years of age and even much older. Of course, as with all other dogs, he is prone to some of the more common dog illnesses.

Hip dysplasia is nearly always one that needs to be listed as it is really a common dog ailment that can lead to lameness.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is an abnormal formation of the hip socket which in its severest form can lead to lameness. Luckily there are advances in veterinary medicine that make it possible for a dog with hip dysplasia to be happy and pain free.

Degenerative Myelopathy:

This is an incurable, progressive disease which effects the spinal cord of your dog and is found mostly in older dogs. It’s very sad because as the disease progresses it can lead to loss of coordination in the hind legs, difficulty with supporting weight with the hind legs and also urinary and fecal incontinence.

This is an inherited disease that sadly might require you saying goodbye to your beloved 4-legged family member.

Regular Brushing is Required

Your Terv is a double-coated dog and he will shed his hair throughout the year. Brushing him at least twice in the week will be necessary to get rid of the hair he sheds. Apart from brushing him and keeping his beautiful coat shiny and healthy, other grooming needs will include clipping his nails and dental hygiene. Brushing his teeth 2 or 3 times a week with specialized dog toothpaste and toothbrush will help with keeping plaque and bacteria at bay.

Feeding

Speak to your vet about feeding your Tervuren puppy as he will need at least 4 bowls of food while he is so tiny. By the time he is a year old, he will be able to have 1 or 2 meals a day. Always make sure you feel him high quality food which can be home-made food or commercially manufactured food.

To ensure he doesn’t suffer with any skin allergies, he will need to have some raw meat mixed into his food from time to time. Always provide fresh water for him and make sure to wash the bowls out often.

Diet:

You can never be slack when it comes to choosing food for your pet. If you can provide him with wholesome food then you will be promoting health and longevity.

If you choose one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure it is the high quality ones full of vitamins and minerals and free from all kinds of colorants and fillers.

Certainly provide him with some home-made food too, but keep it simple and tasty. An excellent home-made diet is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach, all chopped up and mixed in twice a week with the dry kibble.

Every now and again, if you can afford it, you can also give him some raw meat added into the kibble. Plain and simple, your pet will thank you for providing him with an uncomplicated diet, gentle on his digestive system.

Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool water available to him.

Exercise:

Energetic and lively, the Pumi is going to need regular exercise as well as mental stimulation. Show him a tennis ball and his eyes will light up as he just loves a game. Take him on a walk and include him in your ball games.

Grooming:

The Pumi’s coat is medium length and curly and he will need it combed to keep it free of matting. The coat will also need to be trimmed if you don’t want it becoming unruly.He isn’t a heavy shedder but will need his coat being attended to twice a week.