The Belgian Teruvian orTervuren was developed during the 19th century as a herder and protector, and the dog still fills these roles today. In its native land the Tervuren--along with the Belgian Sheepdog, Malinois and Laekenois--is known as the Chien de Berger Belge, or Belgian Shepherd. The name Tervuren comes from a village of the same name in Belgium where M.F. Corbeel, one of the earliest Tervuren breeders, resided. Corbeel owned a pair of fawn shepherds who produced the dog that was then bred with a black Groenendael to produce the Tervuren as we know it today.

In 1892, the first Belgian Shepherd show was held, and the Tervuren bred by Corbeel was deemed the champion. In 1918, the first Belgian Tervuren was registered in the United States. However, the breed did not catch on with American dog owners and died out before the Great Depression. The Tervuren reappeared in 1953 thanks to a small group of dedicated breeders. The Belgian Tervuren was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1959.

History courtesy BreedRetriever.com