On the occasion that we met our first Belgian Laekenois, we were first and foremost thrilled to finally meet the oldest of the Belgian sheepdog breeds. Our next observation was how marvelous its tousled, wire-haired coat was to the touch. And finally, we were smitten with the lovely temperament of the dog.
We were hooked.
So when we came across the name, “Bleechoven Biter” in reference to this breed, it didn’t jive with what we remembered of the dogs we met at the Belgian Laekenois National Specialty in 2019. They certainly weren’t “biters,” but what, who, or where, was a “Bleechoven?”
Our thanks to R. Margaret Hyatt Currier for suggesting we talk with Pascale Vanbutsele. Through Pascale, we learned of her late father, Jean-Marie Vanbutsele, and his extensive writing about the history of the Belgian Shepherd in books and articles. It was because of them that we are able to share the story behind “Bleechoven Biters.”
In the 1870s through the 1890s, washed cloth – likely linen – was laid out on fields to be bleached by the sun. Especially known for this practice were the good citizens of the area around the Flemish town of Boom, a region with many large “bleaching fields.” Opportunistic thieves were a constant problem, and the ferocious bark and no-nonsense work ethic of the rough coated sheepdog we know today as the Laekenois kept bandits at bay. “All bark and no bite” did not apply to these dogs as they were considered to be hard biting dogs. Two dogs in particular, “Vos,” born in 1885, and his daughter, “Poets,” a light fawn rough haired lass, came from the region and came to be known as “bleaching field biters.” In Flemish, “bleaching field” is “bleekhof” or the plural form, “bleekhoven,” and this is why the breed was known at the time as the Bleekhoven bijter, or Bleechoven Biter.
We encourage anyone interested in the breed history to be aware that Jean-Marie Vanbutsele’s book is still available in French or English in the shop of this website: www.belgiandogs.be. Pascale Vanbutsele has also made an inventory of her father’s book and magazine collection which can be seen at this link: https://belgiandogs.libib.com/.
Image of Älska (aka Akai-san no ko Coup de Foudre á Rafale) by Chiens de Rafale
Coup de Foudre = a sudden unforeseen event, in particular an instance of love at first sight. (French)
Älska = to love (Swedish)
they are neither older nor younger than any of the other Belgians. all the various coats and colors existed in the landrace and when the first standard was created, short haired fawn (malinois), long haired black (groenendael/ AKC Belgian sheepdogs) and wire haired grey (later changed to fawn – the Laekenois) with “all others” (later changed to long haired fawn, the Tervuren) originally not allowed in one registry and allowed in the other. Vos I was actually a herding dog and was the most likely dog referenced in the herding trial of 1892 ”
#5 — Voss, a fine old pale yellow dog, handled by an old man, Mr. Adrien Janssen,
the father of the previous exhibitor. The dog, very careful, works well off the stock,
but always watches; approaches at once on command. It is perfect. There are three
rounds of applause from the grandstand. The public demands “La Brabanconne”!