No matter what breed you choose, you will always find there is something that just isn't perfect about it. The Belgian Sheepdog is no different. Though for the most part it is a perfectly wonderful pet, sometimes you will find one that is less than perfect. Although you can often eliminate these faults if you buy your dog from a reputable breeder that tests the parents before conception for any defaults, you can't always prevent everything.
One of the things that may affect this breed is fear of the unknown. Though they are customarily dogs of good mannerisms, they can occasionally develop a fear for anything they don't see or understand. It tends to begin when they are puppies, but it usually goes away much like a child's fear of the darkness In rare cases, the fear remains, but it can usually be treated with medications.
They are usually healthy breeds, but sometimes they are subject to some health conditions that require veterinary attention such as cataracts, hip dysplasia, thyroid conditions, and epilepsy. Approximately 17 per cent develop epilepsy, and though they usually do not suffer more than the occasional petit mal seizure, some do suffer more serious effects. This is treatable with medication just as we would treat a human who is diagnosed with epilepsy. In most cases it will not seriously affect the dog, but there are occasions where the medications will cause him to become aggressive. These cases are rare, but they do require you to make a decision between continuing the medication and risking more serious aggressive behavior or discontinuing it and risking a grand mal seizure.
Considering the imperfections of this breed is no reason you should not purchase one for your home and family. None are life-threatening except for for epilepsy if your pet suffers a grand mal seizure, but if he is on medication and does not suffer side effects of the medication that include aggressive behavior, he will still live a long and healthy life. The key is knowing the conditions exist and being able to enlist the help of a veterinarian in order to treat them at the earliest age possible. If your dog is going to develop cataracts, it is usually between the ages of two and four years old. With their compact size, they are less likely to develop hip dysplasia than other breeds such as German Shepherds, but it's important for a potential owner to understand that there is still about an eight per cent chance that it will affect their dog. The important thing to understand is that if your pet develops any of these conditions, you have to be able to treat him as soon as possible for the best results.
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