History

The beginnings of Belgian cynophily

The history of the Belgian breeds began in 1880, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Belgian Independance. A transitory organization called "Société Saint-Hubert " was founded and they organized an international exhibition in Brussels on 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 July 1880. Imagine, five full days! It took place at the former plaine des Manoeuvres, today the park of the Cinquantenaire. Exactly 976 dogs took part and were subjected to the appreciation of five judges.

Nine dogs from Saint-Hubert participated. Among the shorthaired gundogs, there were seven local pointing dogs "braque", a breed that has been long extinct since. Among the continental pointing dogs with long hair, some were catalogued as being "local ": the breed is also extinct.

Belgian Braque

For the shepherds: only one heading for the continental ones (with long hair, short hair, French, German and local). They were only … nine! One bitch came from France, the other dogs were Turcs, Mirzas, Bergos, in other words all very much indigenous. Ten Collies represented the only shepherdess breed in vogue at the time.

In the group of terriers, the program holds a heading with the "terriers smooth-haired, pitch black, with upright ears, without tail, of Flemish breed, Schipperkes ". You notice that the desire of the schipperkesmen not to see their dog of predilection classified among the toy dogs is a longstanding one: since the start of exhibitions let’s say, he is almost classified among the working dogs.

The success of this exhibition encouraged a large number of amateurs, almost all hunters with gundogs, to finally unite and on 18 February 1882 they created the Société de Saint-Hubert. Just founded, it organized a field trial (field test for pointing dogs) for English breeds. Remember that anglomania reigned as an absolute mistress in this period. It is true that England had taken a serious length ahead. On 15 August, a canine exhibition was organized in Spa joining more than 550 participants including 160 hounds and 194 pointing dogs. This first meeting held in the picturesque garden of the Levooz room was a first success.

On 26 September 1886, King Léopold II wanted to recognize the services rendered by the Société de Saint-Hubert and granted them the title of Société Royale. Queen Marie-Henriette visited the annual exhibitions assiduously, often accompanied by princess Clémentine. She especially liked the Brussels griffon of which she owned some remarkable specimens. The sympathy with which Queen Marie-Henriette surrounded them brought them fame and fortune.

As of the first year, the leaders of the time created the "Saint-Hubert Studbook" (L.O.S.H.) whose first edition appeared in 1883, containing 172 inscriptions of dogs. In particular two terriers smooth-haired, with upright ears, without tail, of Flemish breed, Schipperke. This studbook has continuously been published ever since. In the LOSH studbook of 1887 appear the first two "small russet-red griffons with rough hair, Brussels griffon". Since its first publication, the English and the Germans recognized the Studbook of the Société de Saint-Hubert.

Also in 1882 (on 5 November), the first edition in a long series (until 1970) of the review "Chasse et Pêche " was published. Louis Van der Snickt (1837-1911) became its chief editor. He was the former manager of the zoological gardens of Ghent and Dusseldorf. He had ample experience in breeding and was an excellent observer. The articles he published and illustrated in "Chasse et Pêche" are very instructive and pleasant to read. Several volumes would not be enough wrote Louis Huyghebaert later, to enumerate the services rendered to breeding by this untiring and alert spirit.

In 1888, some amateurs founded the "Schipperkes Club" and were soon followed by the "Club du Griffon Bruxellois ". Our national little devil, the "Schipperke" quickly conquered international well-deserved fame because of its sharp temperament, its noisy vigilance, and its ardent loyalty.

If the literal translation of "schipper" is "boatman", the true meaning of the word "Schipperke" has a very different origin. The sheepdogs in the Flemish areas were called "Schapershonden ". According to the area, one pronounced it as "schaper, scheper or schieper ". This is still the case today. The final "ke " always indicates the diminutive. That is why today the "Schipperke " is rightly classified in the group of the sheepdogs.

The texts are presented in the same form as they were published and in their original language, either in French, Flemish or Dutch. Our goal is to research, gather and transmit all our information to future generations. It is a very time consuming task. The generalization of data processing and the progress made by translation software will allow amateurs around the world to access the knowledge and history of our Belgian breeds.

Jean-Marie Vanbutsele
Translated by Pascale Vanbutsele