The Belgian Tervuren is an elegant dog, renowned for its devotion to both work and family. The Belgian Tervuren breed of dog was named after the Belgian village of Tervuren, the home of M.F. Corbeel, an early devotee of the breed. Belgian Tervurens excel in obedience and agility competitions. They also make good guide dogs and herders. The first impression of the Belgian Tervuren breed is of a well-balanced, medium-size dog, elegant in appearance, standing squarely on all fours, with proud carriage. He is strong, agile, well-muscled, alert and full of life. The male should appear unquestionably masculine; the female should have a distinctly feminine look. The Belgian Tervuren breed of dog is watchful, attentive, and usually in motion when not under command. The Belgian Tervuren is a versatile worker. The highest value is to be placed on temperament, gait, bite and coat. The body of the Belgian Tervuren is square; the length measured from the point of shoulder to the point of the rump approximates the height. Females may be somewhat longer. Bone structure is medium in proportion to height, so that the Belgian Tervuren breed of dog is well-balanced throughout. The head is chiseled, skin taut, long without exaggeration. Expression is intelligent and questioning, indicating alertness, focus and readiness for action. Eyes are dark brown, medium-size, slightly almond shape, not protruding. Light, yellow or round eyes are a fault. Ears are triangular in shape, stiff and erect; height equal to width at base. Set high, the base of the ear does not come below the center of the eye. Hanging ears, as on a hound, are a disqualification. Skull and muzzle measuring from the stop are of equal length. Overall size is in proportion to the body, top of skull flattened rather than rounded, the width approximately the same as, but not wider than the length. Stop is moderate. The topline of the muzzle is parallel to the topline of the skull when viewed from the side. Muzzle moderately pointed, avoiding any tendency toward snipiness or cheekiness. Jaws strong and powerful. Nose black without spots or discolored areas. Nostrils well defined. Lips tight and black, no pink showing on the outside when mouth is closed. Teeth Full complement of strong white teeth, evenly set, meeting in a scissors or a level bite. Overshot and undershot teeth are a fault. An undershot bite such that there is a complete loss of contact by all the incisors is a disqualification. Broken or discolored teeth are not penalized, but missing teeth are a fault. Four or more missing teeth are a serious fault. The neck of the Belgian Tervuren breed of dog is round, muscular, rather long and elegant, slightly arched and tapered from head to body. Skin well-fitting with no loose folds. Withers accentuated. Topline level, straight and firm from withers to croup. Croup medium long, sloping gradually to the base of the tail. Chest not broad without being narrow, but deep; the lowest point of the brisket reaching the elbow, forming a smooth ascendant curve to the abdomen. Abdomen is moderately developed, neither tucked up nor paunchy. Ribs are well-sprung but flat on the sides. Loin section viewed from above is relatively short, broad and strong, but blending smoothly into the back. Tail is strong at the base, the last vertebra to reach at least to the hock. At rest, the dog holds it low, the tip bent back level with the hock. When in action, he may raise it to a point level with the topline giving it a slight curve, but not a hook. The tail of Belgian Tervuren is not carried above the backline nor turned to one side. A cropped or stump tail is a disqualification. The shoulders are long, laid back 45 degrees, flat against the body, forming a right angle with the upper arm. Top of the shoulder blades roughly two thumbs width apart. Upper arms should move in a direction exactly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. Forearms long and well-muscled. The Belgian Tervuren's legs are straight and parallel, perpendicular to the ground. Bone oval rather than round. Pasterns short and strong, slightly sloped. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet rounded, cat footed, turning neither in nor out, toes curved close together, well-padded, strong nails. The Belgian Tervuren's legs are powerful without heaviness, moving in the same pattern as the limbs of the forequarters. The bone is oval rather than round. Thighs broad and heavily muscled. Stifles clearly defined, with upper shank at right angles to hip bones. Hocks moderately bent. Metatarsi short, perpendicular to the ground, parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. Dewclaws are removed. Feet slightly elongated, toes curved close together, heavily padded, strong nails. The Belgian Tervuren breed of dog is particularly adaptable to extremes of temperature or climate. The guard hairs of the coat must be long, close-fitting, straight and abundant. The texture is of medium harshness, not silky or wiry. Wavy or curly hair is a fault. The undercoat is very dense, but commensurate with climate conditions. The hair is short on the head, outside the ears, and on the front part of the legs. The opening of the ear is protected by tufts of hair. Ornamentation consists of especially long and abundant hair, like a collarette around the neck, a fringe of long hair down the back of the forearm, especially long and abundant hair trimming the breeches, and long, heavy and abundant hair on the tail. The female Belgian Tervuren rarely has as long or as ornamented a coat as the male. Ideally, the coat of the Belgian Tervuren breed of dog is rich fawn to russet mahogany with black overlay on the body. Predominate color that is pale, washed out, cream or gray is a fault. The coat is characteristically double pigmented: the tips of fawn hairs are blackened. Belgian Tervurens characteristically become darker with age. On mature males, this blackening is especially pronounced on the shoulders, back and rib section. Blackening in patches is a fault. The chest is normally black, but may be a mixture of black and gray. White is permitted on the chest/sternum only, not to extend more than 3 inches above the prosternum, and not to reach either point of shoulder. Face has a black mask and the ears are mostly black. A face with a complete absence of black is a serious fault. Frost or white on chin or muzzle is normal. The underparts of the body, tail, and breeches are cream, gray, or light beige. The tail typically has a darker or black tip. Feet - The tips of the toes may be white. Nail color may vary from black to transparent. Solid black, solid liver or any area of white except as specified on the chest, tips of the toes, chin and muzzle are disqualifications. The Belgian Tervuren breed of dog seems always to be in motion, never tiring. He single tracks at a fast gait, the legs both front and rear converging toward the centerline of gravity of the dog. Viewed from the side, he exhibits full extension of both fore and hindquarters. The backline should remain firm and level, parallel to the line of motion. His natural tendency is to move in a circle, rather than a straight line.