The term Chien de Berger many years ago was loosely applied to any European dog used for herding sheep. However, by 1891 The Belgian Sheepdog was the genuine shepherd's dog, fairly common throughout the greater part of Europe. The modern history of the Belgian Sheepdog begins at the close of the years 1891 and 1898 or thereabouts.

In 1891 a Professor Reul assembled a group of shepherd dogs for the purpose of studying the different types then existing in Belgium. In his survey he noticed three kinds which did exhibit a certain similarity; a longhaired black, a shorthaired fawn and charcoal and a shaggy haired dark ash-gray. Although Professor Reul recommended breeding together only those of similar coat, this recommendation was ignored until 1897 when the Belgian Kennel Club decided to admit only three kinds of coats; the black for long hair, the blackened fawn for short hair and the ash gray for tough hair.

At the same time, there was another farsighted pioneer who deserves mention for the part he played in the development of the Belgian Sheepdog, namely, M. Rose of the village of Groenendael. Years before Professor Reul's survey, M. Rose had been breeding longhaired blacks with some success. Thus the Groenendael which took its name from the village of its birth and early deveopment, was started on its way

The first Belgians came to North America in 1907 (Groenendael type). Most of the breeding in the USA until around 1948 was of this type. In 1948 some Malinois, or shorthaired fawn-and-black dogs, were imported from Belgium. In 1954 and the years immediately following, a number of Tervuren, or longhaired fawn-and-black dogs, were imported, and these have gained some popularity.

All of these different types were registered and shown as Belgian Sheepdogs up to July 1, 1959 when the American Kennel Club established them as three separate breeds with separate show classification being provided for each breed. The Canadian Kennel Club recognizes them all as belonging to the same breed.

Fanciers are rich in praise of the Belgian Sheepdog's many good qualities, particularly those having to do with devoted companionship.

It has long been used overseas as a police dog; in fact, some authorities credit it as the first breed to be thoroughly trained for such exacting duties. During World War 1, hundreds of these dogs were trained as messengers between outflung sectors where human messengers would have met certain death. Many of these dogs gave their lives.