The Belgian Shepherd in Ireland
The first Belgian Shepherd registered in Ireland was a Groenendael in 1969, owned by a Mrs. Pike from Cheshire. The Belgian Shepherd Dog Club was formed in 1976 by the late Betty Gallagher, who worked very hard to promote the breed while trying to ensure that it would not be abused by unscrupulous breeders. She was to make up one of the first Groenendael Champions, namely CH. BELSHEP VANDAL BLEU. The Groenendael has subsequently had a major impact in both the Show Ring and Obedience Rings.
A Groenendael male imported from the UK in 1985 by Rosemary Daly and John Meehan became the first and, to date, only Obedience and Show Champion, namely CH & OBED CH STARGAZER AT LEIRCOTE WITH ABYLITY CDex Udex; Wdex.
Another groenendael imported by Paul and Jean Lawless from the Woodlyn Kennel in the UK, CH & GB CH WOODLYN BLACK JACK AT REVLOCH became the top winning dog in both Ireland and the UK from 1997 to 2001 winning a total of 20 CC’s and 7 RCC’s in the UK, many of them competing against the other varieties and also BOB at Crufts in 2000.
The first Tervueren was imported from the UK into Ireland in 1985 by Paul Lawless, namely CH FOXPITS NORTHERN DANCER and the impact this variety also had in the show ring since then has helped it to become as popular as the Groenendael. The first Tervueren Champion was CH BELAMBA HARVEY WALLBANGER who was imported from the UK in 1986. The highest placed Belgian Shepherd at a general championship show in Ireland to date is the Tervueren CH REVLOCH INCOGNITO, bred by Paul and Jean Lawless, who achieved Reserve Best in Show at the Irish Kennel Club St. Patrick’s International Show in 2000.
In 1986 the first Malinois, a bitch bred by Betty Duffus, was brought in from the UK by Eithne O’Kelly,from Wicklow. GWASLEAS SAPHORINE Cdex; Udex; Wdex. This bitch competed successfully not only in the Show Ring but also in Agility, Obedience and Working Trials up until 1998, when at the age of 12 years she officially retired after taking part in the Eukanuba Jumping Finals at Balmoral and finishing in 4th place overall with a clear round.
In 1994 Paul and Jean Lawless brought in a Malinois bitch CH LANAEKEN SAVOIRE FAIRE, born in quarantine in the UK from Belgium, combining the top show and working lines. She competed successfully against all the varieties in the UK winning a CC, only the third Malinois to do so under the system in place at the time and is the only Malinois to date to gain her Irish Title.
The successes achieved by Irish dogs in the UK have been remarkable. Six GB Champions (two Tervueren, five Groenendael) have been made up, two of which are Irish bred. All the bloodlines have mainly been brought into Ireland from the UK, but the implementation of the Pet Passport Scheme has greatly improved the choice open to breeders who can now avail of bloodlines from further afield. A Groenendael male FAKAISER’S ESPECE DE ETALON WITH ABYLITY was imported from Norway in 1995 by Rosemary Daly and John Meehan under the old quarantine system and a Tervueren bitch imported from Holland under the Pet Passport Scheme by Paul and Jean Lawless in 2001 ZAYRA DI SCOTTATURA AT REVLOCH. A third dog, a Groenendael male, is due in from Belgium in March 2005 by Paul and Jean Lawless DIEGO DU PRE DU VIEUX PONT. In April 2004 the first Pet Passport litter was born, the result of a mating between REVLOCH NORMA JEAN OF HURON and a Belgian male SR URGYEN DE LLIGABOSC.
The Laekenois was recognized by the Irish Kennel Club in late 2003 and the first set of Green Stars were awarded to this variety at the Club’s Working & Pastoral Group Championship Show and again the following day at the Breed Club Championship Show.
