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QUES-QUE-CE BELGIAN TERVUREN |
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We
have owned Belgian Tervuren since 1971 and I was active in dogs for some
10 years prior to discovering this special breed.
I have trained dogs since 1956, working with a variety of breeds
and mixed breeds. Priorities
in our breeding program are good temperament, good health and a willing
attitude, along with correct type and soundness. We make every effort to consistently produce happy,
willing healthy dogs typical of the breed and to continually improve with
each generation. A number of dogs from our breeding program have proven
their worth in performance and breed competition and I’d be happy to
refer you to people who have acquired dogs from us.
Tervs
take a lot of effort, especially during the first couple of years.
They need a lot of exercise - being left out in even a large yard
will NOT
provide enough) and that includes mental as well as physical exercise.
That means training, games, tricks and regular exercise to keep
that busy mind and body occupied. Otherwise
your Tervuren will find his own means of entertainment
- and you may not appreciate the results!
One of the most appealing facets of the Belgian personality is the
fact that they notice everything. This
same quality means that most Tervs are quite distractible, especially when
young. They learn easily but
require consistency and fairness in training and do not respond well to
harsh training methods. A
motivational approach is most effective, with an appropriate amount of
firmness once the dog understands the command.
Another fascinating characteristic is that this breed continues to
change in appearance, especially coat color, for the first several years. The
breed was developed in Europe as a herding dog who was also used to guard
livestock so they have a strong chase instinct, can be territorial and
tend to bond very strongly to their owner/family.
Tervuren are usually good with children, but supervision and common
sense should be used, especially with young children. This is true of all dogs J. Most are natural guards once they reach maturity.
Obedience training is a must for this breed!
They are loyal and devoted to their owners and can become
overprotective if not trained. While
a healthy breed in general,
problems in the breed include epilepsy, poor temperament (shyness is most
common, although aggression or hyperactivity can also occur), allergies,
inherited eye defects, OCD (a shoulder cartilage problem) and hip
dysplasia. We only breed dogs
whose hips and eyes have been certified as normal by OFA and CERF, who are
seizure-free, have good temperament, etc. Our own dogs are active but
settle down in the house or outside when nothing interesting is happening.
A Tervuren will follow you from room to room however, just in case
he might miss something...... We
have produced a few shy dogs over the years, but the majority of our dogs
have had good to excellent temperament.
We would be happy to put you in touch with people who have
previously gotten dogs from us.
Tervs
are not for everyone, but are wonderful companions for people who enjoy
the breed’s vigor, intelligence, versatility and great joy in life. Please consider carefully if this is the kind of companion
you want in your life. We
whelp our pups in our dining room where they stay until they are old
enough to start spending time outside.
That way we can spend a lot of time socializing and observing the
puppies and they get used to a variety of people, animals (we also have
cats), sights and noises, such as a vacuum, TV, dishwasher, kitchen noises
and so forth. We try to give
each pup some experience being walked on a lead, riding in a vehicle, and
being brushed up on a grooming table plus lots of individual attention for
each pup. By the time they are ready to go to their new homes, we have
a pretty clear idea which puppy will be the best “match” with each
prospective owner. While you
certainly may have a part in choosing your puppy, we prefer to assist you
in selecting just the right individual for you,
based on each pup’s temperament, personality, activity and dominance
levels, and physical characteristics. Selection is based on your
questionnaire, talking with prospective owners and lots of experience,
plus many hours of observing and interacting with the puppies in the
litter. We
are also active in rescue/rehome work with Belgians and sometimes have
information on dogs that need a new home.
Usually these dogs are a year old
(we have placed dogs as old as 10) or older and come from a variety
of backgrounds. Some are true
“rescues” who may have been abused or neglected, while others may be
wonderful, healthy (sometimes well-trained!) adults who simply need a new
home for some reason. Costs
range from $50 to $400, depending on the dog and the circumstances.
Most or all of that amount would go to the rescue program handled
by the American Belgian Tervuren Club.
Please let us know if you might be interested in an older dog who
is in need of a new home. We
currently have 4
Tervs at home, ranging from 19 months to 12 years.
You’re more than welcome to visit if you’re close enough.
We
do not always have puppies available as we do a limited amount of
breeding. Most puppies
are reserved well in advance of their birth, often before the breeding
takes place. Occasionally a
pup may be available faster, but you shouldn’t count on that.
Cost of our pups is
$800 and we charge the same for all puppies.
We require a $200 deposit after the bitch is confirmed to be in
whelp (pregnant), which is refundable if we do not have a puppy for you
for any reason (but not if you change your mind).
Please feel free to call or write if you have additional questions. Ques-Que-Ce
Belgians Sue
& Larry Mills 24579
Warthen Rd. Elmira
Oregon 97327-9778 tervs@clipper.net
suem@holtintl.org 541/935-3274 www.qqcbelgians.com |