About Fauvetnoir

Fauvetnoir Belgian Shepherds  is dedicated to the promotion and improvement of Belgian Shepherds in Australia. Fauvetnoir promotes all 4 Belgian Shepherd varieties but specialises in the Tervueren variety.

The name FauvetNoir is made up of 3 French words 'Fauve' (the colour of our Beautiful Tervuerens) 'et' (meaning 'and') 'Noir' (meaning 'black' which is the colour of the black tips on the coat of the Tervueren (These black tips/overlay are also called Charbonne).  Fauve et Noir (Fauve and Black) using the 'e' for both the word 'Fauve' and the word 'et'   FauvetNoir .

I was born in the Netherlands during the second half of the 50s and migrated to Australia in 1981.  I am a member of the Illawarra and South Eastern Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of NSW, the Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of NSW, the Belgian Shepherd Club of Western Australia, the WA Canine Council, the Club François du Chien de Berger Belge and the Dutch NVBH. (Dutch National Association for Belgian Shepherd Dogs).

My journey with the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren began in 1994 when a Tervueren male called "Bobje" came into our lives and changed it forever. Bobje means "little Bob" in Dutch which was a funny name for a rather tall dog.  I owe this dog thanks for giving me my passion and love for this wonderful breed of  Belgian Shepherd dogs. From Bobje we learned about the unbounded loyalty of the Belgian as well as the need to be close to his owner, the self assured personality, the sometimes initial stand-offish behaviour towards strangers and the unbelievable joy of sharing our lives with one.  Sadly, we lost Bobje in an accident when he was 4 years old. You can see Bobje on the "Rainbow Bridge" page.

In 2002 we bought a Groenendael Female, Beljekali Indian Summer (Zoë) and in early 2003 we bought a Tervueren Female, Beljekali Kimberley Red (half sister to Zoë).   Zoë turned out to have an excellent work ethic and had a promising start in the Obedience and Agility ring. Unfortunately it transpired that she is mostly deaf and at the age of 4 started to have seizures and was soon thereafter diagnosed to be suffering from idiopathic epilepsy.  Kimma was successfully shown in both the All Breeds and Specialty Show rings and gave us our first litter in December 2005.  She was a wonderful mother and gave us 8 beautiful, healthy pups who all live in loving homes where they are much valued members of their family. She broke her leg as a young pup and the resulting injuries are such that we could not ask her to carry another litter.  Because of Kimma's close relationship to Zoë, we decided not to breed on with  her offspring.

In 2004 I imported my first dog from Europe from kennel Van De Schagerwaard in the Netherlands (since moved to Germany).  Since then, Sjouk en Ronald van Haneghem (van de Schagerwaard Belgian Shepherds) have become valued friends and especially Sjouk has proven to be a great source of knowledge re breeding and breedlines of Belgian Shepherds  She has freely shared her vast knowledge and experience of breeding and never ceases to be a wonderful friend, always ready to give advice and information.

2006 brought my second 'import' from Of the Home Port Belgian Shepherds in Belgium.  I spent some time with Inge and Dirk Vanpottalsberghe (of the Home Port) when I was in Holland in 2006 and once again I have gained friends also proving to be very supportive, always ready to encourage and give advice.

In December 2006 I imported frozen semen from 4 European Tervueren males from the Of the HomePort and van de Schagerwaard kennels.

Through goodwill and co-operation, friendships and partnerships have been formed with other Belgian Shepherd Breeders with the aim of sharing resources and knowledge to breed a quality Belgian Shepherd of good stable temperament, health and type. My Sincere thanks goes to these, often more experienced breeders, both overseas and in Australia who realise how important it is to 'young' breeders like myself to have the support and ability to share in the knowledge of those who have been breeding Belgian Shepherds for many years.

During 2008, a lovely female by the name of Kathy Comme un Reve Noir, owned by Belquente Belgians (Lynda Trotter & Suzanne and Justin Harbour)  (temporarily) came to live at Fauvetnoir for a litter with Mike van de Schagerwaard.  This was a very exciting litter as it was our first 'frozen semen' litter and what a success it was! Kathy gave us 8 beautiful puppies (The Fauvetnoir 'C' Litter) one of whom is the very successful Fauvetnoir Cooper's Find who is owned by Bronwyn Durran and became an Australian Champion at the tender age of 14 months.

2008 saw a second litter for Fauvetnoir, our 'D' litter by Enya of the Homeport and Amper Oridix.  This litter produced beautiful deep red colours and some very nice puppies.

2009 saw the long awaited litter between Enya of the Homeport and our very own Aldo Gourou v d Schagerwaard.  This was a litter (Fauvetnoir 'E' litter) I had planned ever since Enya came to Australia and it certainly did not disappoint.  We kept 2 pups from this litter, a male (Fauvetnoir Einstein Factor) and a female (Fauvetnoir Elegance). 

Unfortunately illness in our family demands priority for now, as it should - family must always come first.  Hence no more litters are planned for now.

Aldo had a busy year during 2009, travelling to The Eastern States several times for stud duties.  Erlander Dakota produced 6 beautiful puppies for Tervailles Kennels with Aldo's help and Grimmendans Electra (owned by Deviebelle kennels)  is confirmed in whelp and due in November 2009.

Carla Spelt, November 2009

© Fauvetnoir Belgian Shepherds 2008                                                                         Design by Carla Spelt