Before the 19th century, a number of breeds closely related to the sheepdog existed in Belgium. Later, as the need to guard sheep diminished, breeders adapted these sheepdogs into four basic breeds with different colored coats, which fanciers considered to be different forms of the same breed. In the United States, the following three types of dogs are considered to be different breeds, namely, the Belgian Shepherd black hair breed, mixed-color coat breed and bristles breed. However, they have not yet been recognized in the United States. Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael also known as chien de berger), Groenendael, Groenendael.

Before World War I, although still known as a sheepdog or herding dog, the Groenendael was already a multi-functional dog that, combined with good intelligence and ease of taming, could be used for a variety of purposes.